MY JOURNEY TO NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ABA part one
BY Percy Ihekerenma Omenazu
n my time as a pupil in the eighties, National High School Aba was the only model school in the former Aba Division (The former Aba Division is made up of all the areas in Abia South Senatorial Zone and half of Abia Central Senatorial zone). Not only that, National High School Aba was one of the most respected institutions in the entire Eastern Region. It was a great challenge having opportunity to be in this school established during colonialism. The only school in same category the school in the present day Abia State is Government College Umuahia. As pupil, I made my ambition known to everybody around me that I would be at National High School. It was known as Ibo National College (Ibo NACO) before its change of name. Something just reminded me of my journey to the prestigious school and I decided to share.
One of the greatest challenges I faced in my last year in Primary School was posed by my friend and class mate whom I met in their class as I was introduced in the class from a class I dominated for a long time. I was always coming first before the change and I saw myself always falling behind Odichimma Dike who was always taking the first position. The challenge was great because some elders who believed that National High School Aba was out of reach for the ordinary people told me that if I must make it to the NACO Varsity, I must be the best in my school. Meanwhile, I had already been pinned down to second position as a result of my inability to surpass Odichimma in every exam we took. This gave me concern as a child. I would not like to lose that simple ambition of wearing white upon green.
To my surprise, when the result of the Common Entrance Exam was flashed, I was not the best and Odichimma was also not the best. I rejected the result. It was when we were told of the cut off mark for Model School that I relaxed. In my school we were over 10 pupils that scored above the cut off. Hence, we were subjected to writing another Entrance Examination for the Model school with pupils from other primary schools across the state. We were still in Imo State.
On the day of this examination that was written at the Premises of National High School along Port Harcourt road in 1988/1989, I was carried away by the beauty and organization of the school compound. Every tree had a tag of its name both English and botanical. Every path was well weeded. The Nigerian flag was positioned at the middle of the compound. The football pitch was totally green and organized. The health centre was a small building with beautiful flowers round about. The handball pitch was there close to the beautiful office we learnt to be the Principal's office. The beautiful path that leads to the staff quarters. I saw vehicles comfortably running in the compound with no threat to the progress of the academic business. I had already made up my mind as a child to be there even when I had no points to back my ambition up. Now, I had seen and nothing, absolutely nothing would stop me from being there. I wrote the short examination with full confidence of returning there for registration.
It took a little while before the result was out. I moved with my mother to the Zonal Inspectorate Office behind today's INEC office in Aba South. As we marched into the office, we met a woman who attended to us. The woman brought out a long note book which she opened. While she was searching for my name, I was faster than her. I sighted my name and noticed that it was not marked. I noticed that some names were already marked. I moved back a little and made a movement that could have resulted to crying. The woman who had also sighted my name noticed my movement, she abruptly asked me:
"Don't you want to go to National High School?"
Immediately she asked me this question, I realized I was wrong in my hasty conclusion about the marked and unmarked names. My spirit returned. I answered her by just nodding. A childhood dream had come to pass. I couldn't control my happiness. The people in same office started laughing as they congratulated me. I didn't know they were also observing my reactions. The woman told me:
"So this office would not have accommodated us if your name was not found in the list?"
Honestly, crying could have been a mild way to express my disappointment if it hadn't worked. I was full of appreciation to God. A few weeks later, I proceeded to the school campus for registration. Other things that happened will be said later.
I made it to National High School Aba on merit.
Glory be to God.
I am proud of National High School Aba.
I am proud of Ibo NACO.
I am proud of the NACO VARSITY.
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