Christ the King College, Onitsha

Christ the King College, Onitsha (CKC), popularly known as CKC Onitsha, or Amaka Boys, is an all-boys secondary school in Onitsha, Nigeria. It is ranked the number 1 (the best) high school in Nigeria and 36th in the top 100 best high schools in Africa as of February 2014. It was founded on 2 February 1933, by the late Archbishop Charles Heerey, CSSP, and his fellow Irish missionaries. Bishop Heerey remained the proprietor of the school until his death in the spring of 1967. The chief mission of the school is to develop indigenous manpower and leadership skills from the vast pool of Nigerian youths and in a Roman Catholic tradition and environment. The first principal of the college was Rev Fr. Leo Brolly and the first student to be admitted into the college was Peter Charles Obi Nwagbogu^[2]

History

CKC was affected adversely by the Nigeria civil war (1967–1970). Most of its infrastructure was destroyed. The school was taken over by the East Central State Government in 1973 and renamed "Heerey High School", after its founder. However, following representations by its alumni, the school's name was changed back to its original name, "Christ The King College (CKC)" in 1976, and the pre-war first indigenous principal of the school, Rev. Fr. Nicholas Tagbo, was also brought back that year to reorganize, rebuild, and re-energize the school. CKC was finally returned to the Catholic Mission by the state government on 1 January 2009.^[3]

The school

CKC is located on Oguta Road in Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria. Its motto is Bonitas, Disciplina, Scientia (Latin) (Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge). As of February 2014, the school is currently ranked the number 1 (the best) high school in Nigeria, and 36th in the top 100 best secondary schools in Africa.^[4] The school's colours are White and Royal Blue. The college has active alumni associations in Nigeria (Abuja, Benin-City, Enugu, Lagos, Onitsha, Owerri, and Port-Harcourt), and in the United States ("Christ the King College Onitsha Alumni Association USA").

School Population

Throughout the years prior to the civil war, the school's population was pegged at 600 to ensure appropriate student/teacher ratio and high-quality education. After the civil war, in the 1970s, the student population ballooned to over 4,000. However, following years of reorganization, the school’s student population is now 2,597, split between (Grades 7- 12); Junior Secondary School (1,350) and Senior Secondary School(1,247).^[1]

Sporting and Extra-curricular Activities

The school plays Association Football, track and field athletics, handball, hockey and lawn tennis. Its football (soccer) team won the World Secondary School Championship in Dublin, Ireland in 1977.

Houses

The dormitories are classified as school houses for administration, management and sports competition purposes. The current houses are: Tagbo, Brolly, Azikiwe, Heerey, Okagbue, Modebe, Arinze, Aniogu, Mbanefo, Orjiakor, Allagoa, Butler, and Flanagan.

The pre-civil war Houses were: St. Charles, St. Gabriel, St Williams, St Michael’s, and St. Joseph.

School publications

• The X-Ray (Students)
• Bonitas (Students)
• The Amaka Gazette (Alumni)^[5]
• Amaka’s Voice (Alumni)^[6]

List of principals

• 1st Rev Fr. W.L. Brolly: 1933–1937
• 2nd Rev. Fr. M Flanagan: 1938–1941
• 3rd Rev. Fr J. Keane: 1942–1943
• 4th Rev. Fr. A. Callaghan: 1943
• 5th Rev. Fr. M. Flanagan: 1943–1948
• 6th Rev. Fr. M. Clifford: 1949–1953
• 7th Rev. Fr. W Butler: 1953–1954
• 8th Rev. Fr. J. Keane: 1955–1956
• 9th Rev. Fr. J. FitzPatrick: 1956–1963
• 10th Rev. Fr. N. C. Tagbo: 1963–1972 (First indigenous principal)
• 11th Chief A.A.O. Ezenwa: 1973–1974
• 12th Rev. H. Chiwuzie: 1974–1975
• 13th Mr. P. E. Ezeokeke: 1975–1976
• 14th Rev. Fr. N.C. Tagbo: 1976–1985^[7]
• 15th Mr. M. N. Enemou: 1985–1987
• 16th Rev. Dr. V. A. Nwosu: 1987–1996
• 17th Mr. J.E. Chukwurah: 1996–1997
• 18th Mr. E. C. Umeh: 1997–2000
• 19th Chief N. E. Olisah: 2000–2008
• 20th Chief A. Obika: 2008–2009
• 21st Mr. E. Ezenduka: 2009–2010
• 22nd Rev. Fr. Charles Okwumuo: 2010–present

Source: Honor Roll of CKC Principals, 1993–2011^[8]

Notable Alumni

Francis Cardinal Arinze

• Olisa Agbakoba (b 29 May 1953) lawyer, former president of Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, and human rights activist.^[9]

• Justice Anthony Aniagolu, judge and chairman of the 1988–89 Constituent Assembly^[10]

• Justice Chukwunweike Idigbe, Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria^[11]

• Gov. Peter Obi (b 19 July 1961) governor of Anambra State^[12]

• Archbishop Valerian M. Okeke (b 20 October 1953) Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Onitsha since 1 September 2003^[13]

• Dr. Pius N.C. Okigbo (6 February 1924 – 2000) economist from Ojoto^[14]

• John Munonye (April 1929 – 10 May 1999), one of the most prolific Nigerian literary writers of the 20th century, and author of "The Only Son" (Aftican Writers Series) among many others.

• Justice Chukwudifu Akunne Oputa (b 22 September 1924) (retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria), former Chairman of the Human Rights Violation and Investigation Commission (popularly called Oputa Panel)^[15]

• Prof. Patrick Utomi (b 6 February 1956) Founder Lagos Business School, African Democratic Congress presidential candidate (2007)^[16]f
• Ezeolisa Allagoa 1st Indigenous Chief Judge of Old Rivers State and Amanyanabo of Nembe

External links

• Alumni web site

References