Abia Government Inaugurates New Board to Reposition Government College Umuahia Amid High Tuition Concerns

The Abia State Government has inaugurated a new Board to oversee the restoration of Government College Umuahia (GCU)—one of Nigeria’s most historic secondary schools—amid ongoing concerns over its high tuition fees.

Founded in 1929 by Rev. Robert Fisher, alongside Government College Ibadan and Government College Zaria, GCU was once the pride of Eastern Nigeria and Igbo land in particular. It produced iconic figures such as literary giants Chinua Achebe and Chukwuemeka Ike, environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, Biafran war commander Gen. Alexander Maduebo, Nollywood legend Lazarus Ekwueme, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, footballer Samuel Chukwueze, top journalist Onochie Anibeze, and retired DIG Azubuko Udah, among others.

Decades of neglect reduced the once-prestigious institution to near-ruin—until its Old Boys Association, alarmed by the steady decay, proposed to take over management. Their request was approved by the State Government, leading to a notable turnaround in infrastructure and overall environment.

However, this rebirth came with a cost: tuition fees that reportedly exceed ₦1 million per academic session, prompting public outcry and protests from parents and education stakeholders.

To address these challenges, Governor Alex Otti, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Kenneth Kalu, inaugurated a new Fisher Educational Development Trust (FEDT) Board on Thursday at the Government House, Umuahia.

Speaking at the event, Gov. Otti reaffirmed his commitment to reviving the state’s education system:

“We are building a better society through deliberate action—fixing roads, hospitals, and schools like Government College Umuahia. Our goal is to create an environment where our students can compete globally.”

He emphasized that education is central to his administration’s vision of reinventing Abia State and vowed not to allow any sector to remain stagnant.

The newly inaugurated Board will be led by Dr. Chinedu Ahiwe, National President of the GCU Old Boys Association. Dr. Ahiwe expressed appreciation for the Governor’s support and described the inauguration as a new dawn for the school.

He said the Board is a “special purpose vehicle” created to drive the school’s long-term restoration and noted that the pioneer Board had laid a solid foundation over the last 11 years.

Acknowledging the high fees as a barrier to poor families, Dr. Ahiwe hinted at reforms:

“We’ve heard the cries. We saw the protests. I remember a woman who once cried in front of me because her child couldn’t afford the fees. That touched me deeply.”

He promised that the new Board would review the fee structure, expand scholarship opportunities, and explore ways to ensure that talented children from underprivileged backgrounds gain access to the school—just as he did in 1967.

“My father was a church agent with no real income. But I got in through merit. That’s the story we want to replicate for today’s generation.”

Also present at the inauguration were the Deputy Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Austin Meregini, and the Chairman of the Umuahia Capital Development Authority, Mr. Kingsley Agomuo, who also joins the new Board.

As the GCU restoration project enters a new phase, all eyes are on the new leadership to strike a balance between excellence and accessibility, ensuring that the school reclaims its legacy without pricing out the very people it was built to serve.