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The Government College Umuahia – one of Nigeria’s most prestigious boarding school for boys – has an intimidating list of alumni: famous statesmen, leading writers and artists, world-class engineers and scientists, Mandarins of the civil service, top members of the military high command, entrepreneurs and financiers, bankers – an array of stars, who have over the years, as the school’s song always did compel them, continued to “shine as one.”
It is a remarkable heritage. The “Umuahian” as an alum, or “oldboy” of this school is called, is expected to rise above the lot in any competitive environment. He was prepared for it by the traditions of the school, long-established to challenge extremely brilliant and extraordinarily talented kids, often specially selected to attend this very remarkable school, which was the British colonial attempt to model the English boarding school, Eton, in the colonies in a remarkable time. That’s why Umuahia wa