BRIEF HISTORY OF M.C.A., UTURU
The Marist Comprehensive Academy, Uturu is one of the Educational Institutions owned and run by the Marist Brothers of the Schools in Nigeria. The Marist Brothers is a religious congregation (Religious Order) in the Catholic Church, founded in France in January, 1817. The Pope gave the Institute Pontifical Rank approval in 1863.
The Marist Brothers’ mission is the Christian education of young people. Marist Brothers arrived in Nigeria in December, 1949 and started the education of young people in bishop Shanahan College (BSC) Orlu and in the College of Immaculate Conception (CIC) Enugu. The Marist Brothers have since built other schools in Nigeria, like the Marist Comprehensive Academy, Uturu.
The MCA, Uturu took off on 9th September, 1981 with a population of 15 (fifteen) students. For its first classroom, it used the workshop of another institution of the Marist Brothers in Uturu, namely; the Marist Rehabilitation Centre Hapeville. It was on 26th September, 1982 that the school moved to its present location, with the name “Marist Institute of Management”.
Soon after, the staff, the students’ population, and the teaching equipment began to increase and improve. On 21st January, 1983, the Marist Brothers provided six new typewriters for the school. Two youth corpers were posted to the school on 20th September of the same year, and on 25th of the same month, the school was re-named “Marist Comprehensive Academy”.
The foundation staff members as in 1984 were: Rev. Fr. Thomas Ezeakku the first Principal, Rev. Br. Austin Ibe of the blessed memory, Late Rev. Br. James Dike, Rev. Br. Fidelis Arong, the current Vice Principal of the school Rev. Br. Chigozie Udeaja (Principal from 1996 1998), and Rev. Br. Isaac Ali. Others were Mr. John Emeka Oliver, Mrs. Jane Ojukwu, Mr. Christopher Nweke (currently HRH) Eze C. Nweke working with A/C Department, etc. On 6th July, 1984, a formal application for Government approval of the school was made to the Director of Education, Ministry of Education, Owerri… In response, and on 20th of July, 1984, a team of officials from the State Ministry of Education inspected the School for Government possible approval. Then, on 29th April 1985, a letter, Ref MOE/J/PV/2/VOL 1/129 dated 26th April 1985, brought the great news: Government had approved Marist Comprehensive Academy, Uturu.
On 24th July, a letter from the same Ministry reached the School with the information that the school had been recognized by the West African Examination Council (WAEC) to present her students for any external examination conducted by the body. In anticipation, the School had held its first entrance examination on 14th July, 1984, at six different centres, namely; Uturu, Owerri, Orlu, Aba, Enugu, and Nsukka. The final interview of prospective students was held on 11th August, 1984. A fully Government Approved Secondary School, M.C.A. re-opened on 14th September, 1985 with an encouraging student population and staff. By 21 April, 1985, M.C.A. had a st population of over 300 students and 18 tutorial staff. On 27th September, 1988, the school started operating the Junior Secondary School programme. About 84% of the students presented for the May/June 1996, SSCE were successful.
The school was also doing well in areas of sports. In July 1991, it won the Eze Eluagu of Isuikwuato Soccer Competition, both Senior and Junior, carried the trophies. The school also had its tenth Anniversary on 10th October 1991. It was a ground celebration. As far back as 1986, Mr. I.E. Ezuruike visited the school and was so impressed by its progress and achievements that he donated Fifty Naira to the school. It was quite a large sum of money at the time.
