UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA FACULTY OF ARTS DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES METHODIST COLLEGE UZUAKOLI, 1923-2012 BY OGBONNAYA, EMEKA DANIEL PG/MA/11/58522 A THESIS PRESENTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF ARTS (M.A) DEGREE IN HISTORY SUPERVISOR: DR. J.O.AHAZUEM AUGUST 2014 TITLE PAGE METHODIST COLLEGE,UZUAKOLI 1923-2012 BY OGBONNAYA, EMEKA DANIEL PG/MA/11/58522 A MASTER THESIS PRESENTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS (M.A) OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA NSUKKA SUPERVISOR: DR. J.O. AHAZUEM APRIL, 2014 APPROVAL PAGE This thesis has been approved by the Department of History and International Studies, University of Nigeria Nsukka. BY ________________________ _____________________ Dr. J.O. Ahazuem Dr. Apex .A. Apeh Supervisor Internal Examiner _________________________ _______________________ Dr. Paul Obi-Ani External Examiner Head of Department ____________________ Dean, Faculty of Arts CERTIFICATION Ogbonnaya, Emeka Daniel, a post-graduate student in the Department of History and International Studies with registration number, PG/MA/11/58522 has satisfactorily completed the requirement for the course and research work for the award of the degree of Master of Arts. The work embodied in this thesis is original and has not been submitted in part or full for any other diploma or degree in this university or any other university. ________________ ________________ Dr. J.O. Ahazuem Dr. P.O. Obi-Ani Supervisor Head of Department DEDICATION To all Old Boys of the Methodist College Uzuakoli, who have kept the flag of excellence flying in their various fields of endeavor. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS In a study of this nature, it is of great importance to recognize the efforts of all whose assistance contributed to the accomplishment of this work. I am most gratefully indebted to my supervisor, Dr. J.O. Ahazuem, for his fatherly advice and scholarly criticism that are very necessary in any historical research. In the course of writing this essay, he was always around to direct and guide me, I say thank you.My profound gratitude also goes to my lecturers in the Department of History and International Relations, for their assistance and guidance that have nurtured my intellectual and moral growth. My appreciation goes to my mum, Obioma Ogbonnaya for her love and prayers that prove most valuable in trying times. To my siblings; Sharon, Gina, Ify, Onyi, Edu and Eze, I am most indebted to you all for your understanding and support throughout the period of my academic pursuit. I also wish to acknowledge and appreciate my colleagues and friends Chinyelu, Ekaette, Obiamaka, Chiamaka for being more than friends to me, to Wisdom Uwakwe for being a friend closer than a brother and Bright Alozie for his scholarly guidance in making some correction to this work. I remain grateful to my Cartographers Nachi and Ndichie for painstakingly drawing maps worthy of an academic work and to all who have in one way or another contributed towards this thesis, God in his infinite mercies will grant your heart desires. TABLE OF CONTENTS Title page ………………………………………………………………………… i Approval page …………………………………………………………………… ii Dedication ……………………………………………………………………….iii Certification …………………………………………………………………….. iv Acknowledgements ……………………………………………………………….v Table of Contents ………………………………………………………………... vi List of Illustrations ……………………………………………………………… viii List of Abbreviations …………………………………………………………….ix Abstract ………………………………………………………………………….. x CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ………………………………………… 1 Background of the Study ……………………………………………………….. 1 Theoretical Framework ……………………………………………………….. 6 Statement of the Problem …………………………………………………….… 9 Purpose of the Study …………………………………………………………... 10 Significance of Study …………………………………………………………... 10 Scope of Study ………………………………………………………………… 11 Literature Review ……………………………………………………………… 11 Sources, Methods and Organisation. ……………………………………………...19 CHAPTER TWO: METHODIST COLLEGE UZUAKOLI 1923-1960……….. 21 Land Acquisition ……………………………………………………………….22` Building of the College ………………………………………………………... 25 Growth and Development. ………………………………………………………. 26 CHAPTER THREE: METHODIST COLLEGE, UZUAKOLI 1961-1970 ………….. 36 Curriculum ……………………………………………………………………… 37 The development of the Study of Igbo Language and Culture .………………….. 38 Development/Expansion………………………………………………….………. 40 Indigenous Administrators of the College..………………………….................... 42 Methodist College during the Civil War ………………………………..………. 44 CHAPTER FOUR: THE COLLEGE UNDER GOVERNMENT CONTROL, 1971-2012… 47 Government Control …………………………………………………………………. 48 Changes and Developments ………………………………………………………… 49 Uzuakoli Methodist College Old Boys Association (UMCOBA) …………………… 51 Profile of some Old Boys …………………………………………………………….. 55 CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION.................................................65 BIBLIOGRAPHY …………………………………………………………………..…69 Primary Sources Oral interviews Archival Materials Secondary Sources Books Journals and Articles Unpublished Materials and Project List of Illustrations Map I – Map of Nigeria Showing all the States……………………………………..…….1A Map II – Map of Abia State ...............................………………………………..………. 1B Map III – Map of Uzuakoli Showing its Villages ……………………………………..… 1C Map IV –Map of Methodist College, Uzuakoli…………………………………………….20A Fig. 1 – College overhead Tank used to refine Oil during the Nigerian Civil War…….…. 44A Fig. 2 – Classroom Building destroyed during the War …………………………………..43A Fig. 3 – Ibiam Hostel left to rot during Government Control………………………….....49A Fig. 4 –One of the hostel rooms at the Castle hostel ……………………………………. .49A Fig. 5 – College Gate donated by UMCOBA-USA ……………………………………… 53A Fig. 6 – College Chapel renovated by former NDDC chairman Onyema Ugochukwu……53A Pic. 1: Udo Udo Okure, first indigenous Principal of the College………………………….42A Pic. 2: Michael Okpara, Premier of Eastern Region of Nigeria…………………………….55A Pic. 3:Edwin Ogebe Ogbu (D.O.B), as Chairman UN Committee against Apartheid……….57A Pic. 4: The Late Chief N.C. Okoronkwo during an Ila Oso Festival in Uzuakoli…………… 61A List of Abbreviations BRAP - Biafra Research and Production Directorate CMS - Church Missionary Society CSSP - Congregation Sanctis Spiritus DOB - Distinguished Old Boy ETC - Elementary Training Centre FNDP - First National Development Plan HETC - Higher Elementary Training Centre MINED - Ministry of Education NAE - National Archives Enugu NCC - Nigeria Communication Commission NDDC - Niger Delta Development Commission OKIDIST -Okigwe District PM - Primitive Methodist PMMS - Primitive Methodist Missionary Society RIVPROF -River Province SAP - School Access Programme UK - United Kingdom UMCOBA - Uzuakoli Methodist College Old Boys Association UMDIV -Umuahia Division UMED - Umuahia Ministry of Education UMPROF -Umuahia Province UN - United Nations USA - United States of America WAEC - West Africa Examination Council ABSTRACT Missionaries, as agents of European churches established schools because education was deemed integral to the main purpose of evangelization. As time went on, graduates from Methodist College, Uzuakoli that was established in 1923 began to make inroads into politics and civil service of pre and post independent Igboland and environs. The roles that the Methodist Missionaries played in manpower development through the Methodist College, Uzuakoli has not received the recognition it deserves. This study attempts to bridge the knowledge gap by outlining the history and achievements of the College in the period under review (1923-2002). The appreciation of the numerous contributions of the Methodist College, Uzuakoli to society in terms of manpower developments in Igboland and environs will greatly help to guide reformers and policy makers to draw a lesson or two from the achievements and failings of the College. The study applies an interdisciplinary approach from religion and education to complement the historicity of the work. Data from a variety of sources that includes Primary Sources (oral interviews, archival and official document) and Secondary Source (books, journals, articles, and project works, theses and dissertation as well as seminar papers) are explored to balance the outlook of the work. CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION Background of the Study Uzuakoli is an ancient chiefdom in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State. It is made up of five villages: Amamba, Eluoma, Ngwu, Amankwo and Agbozu. It is believed that Ozu had five brave sons whose names were Oma, Ngwu, Mbah, Nkwo and Ozo. When these sons grew up, they built their homes a little further away from their father’s, which became the central meeting point. It is from their five homes that the five villages which make up Uzuakoli developed. The five villages united to form Uzuakoli, a compound of the names of their father, Ozu, and their grandfather Akoli, the name was corrupted to Uzuakoli by the railway authorities and Uzuakoli is the version generally used today1. Uzuakoli has a total landscape of 28.8 square kilometers, bounded in the North by Lohum; East by Ozuitem; and South by Ubani and Lodu Imenyi, respectively. It falls between 7.32 and 8.36 East of the Equator. The climate of the area does not differ from the rest of the rain forest belt of Eastern Nigeria. Uzuakoli enjoys a warm tropical climate with well- defined wet and dry seasons2. Prior to the establishment of colonial rule in Igbo hinterland,