An Illuminating Renaissance On Asa Grammar School/Asa High School, Asa.
By Sir Don Ubani; KSC, JP
Sunday(Nkwo) 12-01-2025.
On his return from his academic sojourn in the United States of America in 1956, a very illustrious son of Asa, Chief O C Ememe, popularly known as Voice of Moscow, conceptualised and initiated the idea of Asa People building and establishing a Secondary School. Chief O C Ememe, being an Intellectual, knew that Education was the fastest and most sustainable means of guaranteeing Social Mobility for his People. He also was convinced that establishing a Secondary School in Asa would give Asa a wider publicity and recognition outside its shores, as many students could be attracted from far and wide.
As at 1956, the calibre or quality of Men like Chief O. C. Ememe were very few in Nigeria in general, and Asa in particular. Therefore, Chief O. C. Ememe had no difficulty in convincing Asa Leaders of Thought that establishing a Secondary School was a necessity that should not be jettisoned.
Asa Grammar School eventually took off in 1962, three years after its Initiator, Chief O. C. Ememe, The Voice of Moscow, had been elected into the Federal House of Parliament, as it was then called, on the platform of National Council of Nigerian Citizens, NCNC, now defunct, to represent the very good People of the then Aba-South Federal Constituency, which is today known as Ukwa-East and Ukwa-West Federal Constituency. Chief Ememe was successfully re-elected in 1964 but as an Independent Candidate, as he had cause to disagree, on principles, with the Leadership of NCNC, consequent upon which the Party refused to give him her ticket to contest in the General Election of 1964. Asa Grammar School was conceptualised as purely a Boys’ School.
The biggest financial contributor to the building of Asa Grammar School, Asa, was J. E. Adiele of Omuma-Uzor in Asa-North. He was obviously the richest Asa Man as at that time.
In order to guarantee effective and result-oriented management of Asa Grammar School, Asa, Asa Union, which was the Umbrella of all Cultural Organizations in Asa Land, decided to hand the College, as it then was fondly called, to the Anglican Church. It was the Anglican Church that, in its wisdom and preference, employed the services a Dublin trained Mathematician and Physicist, Mr Moses N Onwuma of Ihie-Obeaku, as the first Principal of Asa Grammar School. Mr Onwuma, known for discipline, was, like Chief O. C. Ememe, a Politician. He was the Chief Whip in Eastern Regional House of Assembly, Enugu.
One interesting aspect of Nigeria’s democracy in the First Republic, October 1st, 1960 to January 15, 1966, was that the Membership of the various Regional Houses of Assembly, and the National Assembly were on part time basis. That meant that every Legislator had a legitimate occupation. Chief O. C. Ememe, himself, was Principal of Eastern Commercial College, Aba. Politicians of that era were no parasites.
Asa Grammar School was strategically located on the highway that links Aba to Port-Harcourt, and Mr M. N. Onwuma devoted his time, energy and mental prowess to the development and growth of the College. Students from all parts of defunct Eastern Region, based on merit, were admitted into the College.
Before the outbreak of Nigerian Civil War, otherwise known as Nigeria/Biafra War, 1966-1970, the College was able to prepare and present her first batch of Candidates for the West African School Certificate Examination in 1966. Of course, the Students made Mr M. N. Onwuma proud, as they came out in flying colours.
At the outbreak of the war, the Head of State of the new Republic of Biafra, Lt Col Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu, appointed Mr M. N. Onwuma Administrator of Aba Province. As nature abhors vacuum, Mr Otanna was posted as Principal to Asa Grammar School, Asa.
Lest I forget, I have always believed and asserted that the Nigeria/Biafra War started in 1966. I hold this opinion, contrary to those who claim it started in 1967, because pogrom that witnessed the massive massacre of the Igbo in the North of Nigeria took place in 1966.
The said war disrupted functionality of Asa Grammar School, Asa, as Schools in Eastern Region of Nigeria were shut down for security reasons.
The War ended on January 15, 1970 following a formal treaty of surrender to the Federal Government of Nigeria led by General Yakubu Gowon, by the Acting Head of the Federal Republic of Biafra, Major-General Philip Effiong, as General Ojukwu had flown out of Biafra and taken refuge in Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), where President Felix Houphouet-Boigny, who had earlier recognized Biafra as an Independent Country, granted him asylum.
I got admitted into Class 1 of Asa Grammar School in the Second Term of 1970. Mr Moses N. Onwuma had come back as the Principal. He wielded great influence on the Students. He had an intimidating mien. No body could look straight into his eyes.
By then, the College was operating from Ozaa Central School, Umuadienwe-Asa, and had been turned into a mixed institution, Boys and Girls. The College could not take possession of its premises at Ezebudele, now Ezendioma, as it was being occupied by Officers and Men of 167 Bomber Battalion of the Nigerian Army. Asa Grammar School, Asa, therefore, shared the premises of Ozaa Central School with the pupils of the Primary School.
At the end of the War, things were so difficult that it was not inconceivable to imagine running a boarding system. Almost all the Students were day students, as they lived in the surrounding villages, except few of us that lived in what appeared a Semi-dormitory in a hall directly opposite Ozaa Central School.
I was the only Class 1 Student (toad) that lived in that Semi-dormitory. Snrs Eric Akanwa and Barr Nduka Edede, alias Sukuli, were in Class 2. Others were in Classes 3, 4 and 5. I now recollect, with nostalgia, the likes of my cousin, Mr Chima Erondu, alias Boyaa, who advised my late father, Chief Emmanuel Wigwe Ubani, to pull me out of Primary School and send me to the College, Engr Andrew Ogbonna, Snrs Victor Amuta, his cousin, Snr Chidi Amuta, Snr Nkwazema, alias Pedro, from Owerri, Snr Okechukwu Agada, a fine footballer with the nick name Espayiola, a Senior Student and footballer that we called Olando and a Snr Student that had me as his ‘boy’, J J Chanton, I think from Owerri area.
At that time, we had such Teachers as Messrs C. C. Anyamele who was the Vice Principal and who taught us History, J C Nwagbara who taught us Agriculture, Mazi Asiegbu that taught us Igbo, J. J. Jebosa from Asaba and Ndubueze both of who taught us Accounting, Alloy that taught us French, Ikeogu that taught us English Language and Dr Jacob Anuruegbe that taught Mathematics and Sciences. It was a very interesting period.
By the second term of 1971, that was in my Class 2, the Leaders of Asa, led by the likes of Chief O. C. Ememe, famous Industrialist and former Member of defunct Eastern Regional House of Assembly, 1964-1966, J. E. Adiele, A. A. Kanu, and others, had successfully negotiated a partly return of Students of Asa Grammar School, Asa, to the original compound of Asa Grammar School, Asa, sharing the premises with 167 Bomber Battalion of the Nigerian Army. It was also in that year that the Government of defunct East Central State led by its Sole Administrator, Mr Ukpabi Asika, who later became the Ajie of Onitsha, changed the name of the School from Asa Grammar School, Asa, to Asa High School, Asa. Happily, by early 1972, in my Class 3, the Army was ordered to vacate the premises of Asa Grammar School, Asa. We heaved a big sigh of relief.
There is no doubt that Asa Grammar School, Asa or Asa High School, Asa has produced a lot of People, both Men and Women, who have made their marks in different areas of human endeavours, be it in Academics, Professionalism, Public Services, Private Sector, Politics or Governance.
It is quite unfortunate that most of the persons groomed and produced by the College have not returned to the College what they received from it. Yours Sincerely is not an exception.
A major misfortune struck again at Asa High School, Asa, between 2009 and 2010 when some hoodlums took to extreme criminality of Kidnapping for ransom in Asa Land. In order to fight and subdue that terror to humanity, the then Governor of Abia State, Senator T A Orji (Ochendo), with the assistance of the then Abia-born Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Azubuike Ihejirika, had to bring in the Army. Asa High School was chosen for the Army to operate effectively.
I do not know by what financial arrangements an alternative premises was developed for Asa High School, Asa, where it is presently located, approximately some poles away from the original compound.
The Leadership of the Alumni Association of Asa High School, Asa, deserves a pat on the back for having sustained the tempo of camaraderie, in the absence of good responses from Members, whether actively or inactively. Without their concerted and spirited efforts, the resurgence of interest that is now being witnessed would not have been the case. Dr J. O. Anuruegbe, Barr Friday Ikechi Nwogwugwu, Chief Reginald Ezenta, and, quite recently, Sir Esiaba Iwezor, have really done well in keeping the light of our Alumni aglow. They deserve commendation.
I would wish to suggest that the occupation of our premises by the Army should not constitute a major obstacle to our interest in doing what we should do as to give back to the institution that led the foundation of our intellectual growth. Since a compound has, alternatively, been provided for Asa High School, Asa, and very proximal to the original premises and the School is ongoing, we need not brood over that. If properly managed, the nearby presence of the Army could even be advantageous to the School.
I humbly think that by the time we would meet, either physically or virtually, virtually more preferably because of those in the diaspora, certain realities could be taken into consideration. One of them would be to have a discussion with the Honourable Minister of Education to request for financial assistance in order to develop the present premises to a status that is befitting to our expectations of what our Alma Mater should look like.
The second issue that might beg for our consideration could be if we could plead with the State Government to hand the School over to the Alumni Association, to manage, just like the Alumni Association of Government College, Umuahia, has succeeded in doing. This angle may have to be looked into because going by the way Public Schools are generally run in the State, not much of a pride should be expected from the School. But if the Alumni Association takes it over, inject good management, and, of course, some funding, the performance rating of our Alma Mater, Asa High School, Asa, would swell beyond imagination. I forsee light at the end of the tunnel, wishing all an Illuminating renaissance.
Sir Don Ubani is, among other things, an Essayist, Blogger, Social Activist, and former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Abia State.
