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From Okey Sampson, Umuahia Enugu
For Governmrnt College, Umuahia, formerly Fisher High School, founded in 1929, by Rev. Robert Fisher of blessed memory, is internationally renowned as the alma mater of literary giants, including Chinua Achebe, Christopher Okigbo, Gabriel Okara, Elechi Amadi and Chukwuemeka Ike, as well as the celebrated artist, Ben Enwonwu.
In a deliberate and historic move, Abia State Government, the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) and the Government College Umuahia Old Boys Association (GCUOBA), Great Britain and Ireland Branch, are pushing for the premier secondary school to be recognised by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as a World Heritage Centre.
To achieve this, a delegation from NCMM recently visited the Government College, Umuahia, and successfully concluded the official technical assessment of structures on ground.
Speaking during the visit, Mr. Chukwudi Onwudinanti, representing the Government College Umuahia Old Boys Association, Great Britain and Ireland Branch, disclosed that the branch conceived, coordinated, and funded the heritage initiative, in collaboration with the National Commission for Museums and Monuments.
He emphasised the importance of the visit, which he said represented a significant milestone in the ongoing effort to secure the designation of Government College Umuahia as a national monument, while laying the foundation for its eventual inclusion on Nigeria’s UNESCO World Heritage tentative list.
He said, “The commission undertook a comprehensive two-day technical inspection of Government College Umuahia, during which the delegation examined the College’s outstanding educational, architectural, literary, and cultural heritage.
“The team inspected the College’s principal heritage assets, including the Assembly Hall, Administration Block, Fisher House, Niger House, Nile House, Simpson House, the historic Library and the wider campus landscape, while also reviewing ongoing restoration works and the comprehensive heritage documentation prepared in support of the proposed designation”, Onwudinanti stated.
The National President of the Old Boys of the College, Dr Chinedum Ahaiwe, warmly welcomed the NCMM delegation and commended the Great Britain & Ireland Branch for conceiving and driving the initiative.
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Represented by the First National President of GCUOBA, Sir Onyi Wamah, Dr. Ahaiwe conveyed the full support of the National Executive Council for the project, describing it as an initiative that would preserve one of Nigeria’s greatest educational institutions for generations yet unborn and called on Old Boys across the world to rally behind the vision.
Other officials of GCUOBA, including the national treasurer and Secretary, Dr Nwaji, expressed appreciation to the NCMM for undertaking the assessment and commended the GCUOBA, Great Britain & Ireland Branch, for initiating such an ambitious heritage project.
The delegation met with government officials and were granted audience by Governor Alex Otti, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Emmanuel Meribeole.
Governor Otti reaffirmed his administration’s determination to restore the historic identity of Government College Umuahia, describing the initiative as timely and of national significance.
He noted that the institution, established in 1929, remains one of Nigeria’s foremost educational landmarks whose legacy deserves preservation for future generations.
Otti, expressing full support for the initiative, endorsed the proposal that Government College Umuahia should first be declared a state monument before progressing towards national monument designation and, ultimately, Nigeria’s UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List.
The Abia State House of Assembly, through the Deputy Speaker and the Chief Whip of the House, gave commitment to the proposal.
Following presentations on the historical significance of Government College Umuahia and the proposed national monument designation, members of the House reaffirmed their commitment to preserving the college’s exceptional heritage through necessary legislation.
Also, members of the Fisher Educational Development Trust (FEDT), through a Trustee of the Fund, Dr. Okey Madukwe, equally reaffirmed their commitment to the heritage initiative. He commended the foresight and leadership of the GCUOBA, Great Britain & Ireland Branch, under the leadership of Dr Chidi Okorie, for conceiving and driving the initiative.
In all, the NCMM delegation led by the Director of Heritage Services, Mr. Abubakar Usman, said the engagement centred on preserving the college’s historic architecture and laying the institutional foundation for its eventual nomination to the UNESCO World Heritage framework.
The delegation reviewed the comprehensive heritage dossier prepared for the college, together with historical records, conservation proposals, architectural surveys, restoration reports, and supporting documentation demonstrating Government College Umuahia’s exceptional significance as one of Nigeria’s foremost educational heritage institutions.
The delegation also held extensive technical discussions with representatives of the Government of Abia State, the Fisher Educational Development Trust, the School Management Council, the college’s management, the GCUOBA, and members of the Reverend Robert Fisher Heritage Initiative Team.
