The first indigenous principal of the Christ the King
College (C.K.C.) Onitsha in Anambra State, the Very Reverend Father Nicholas
Chukwuemeka Tagbo, has transited to eternal life, at the age of 87 year old,
reports ITRealms.
Fr. Tagbo, an indigene of Awkuzu in Anambra State, was himself, an alumnus
of CKC and was the 10th principal of CKC
between 1963–1972, while his students include many men of substance
amongst whom are the His Grace, Valerian Okeke, the Archbishop of Onitsha; His
Grace, Hilary Okeke, the Bishop of Nnewi; Ex-Gov. Peter Odili; Ex-Governor
Peter Obi; Gov. Willie Obiano, just to mention a few.
ITRealms gathered that under his watch, CKC won Nigeria's
first ever world cup in Dublin in 1977, which added to the school’s soaring
reputation and for a region coming from a three-year civil war.
Fr. Tagbo who was the first indigenous Catholic priest from
Awkuzu, was also known for moulding his students’ in character and learning
while encouraged them to strive to live above the common ways of life, and to
choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong.
ITRealms gathered that Fr. Tagbo on
leaving CKC was sent to Government Secondary
School Afikpo (GSSA) between 1973
and 1976.
Under his watch, GSSA commenced the move from Enugu to
its original campus in Afikpo in 1973, following intervention of some notables
like Ofia Nwali, Dr. Akanu Ibiam, and Aja Nwachukwu.
Reacting to late Fr. Tagbo’s demise, one of his former students,
Dr. Fidelis O. Mkparu, described him as simply “a good man” stressing that “To
say that Fr. Tagbo is special is an understatement.”
Born in a town new Jos in northern Nigeria on 21st August 1929, Fr. Tagbo, was sent by his parents to live with his grand-father
in Awkuzu, Anambra State where he attended Saint Theresa Primary
School and later attended Christ the King College (CKC), Onitsha.
Also, he taught junior seminarians at All Hallows Nkpor, near
Onitsha before enrolling at Bigard Memorial Seminary Enugu in 1951
and in 1952, left to attend National University Dublin, Ireland where he
studied Chemistry and Mathematics.
In 1956, Fr. Tagbo returned to Bigard to complete his
theology studies and was ordained a priest on July 31, 1960. By 1962 he was appointed the first black principal of CKC
Onitsha, where he spent all his years as school principal at CKC except for the
three years he was at GSSA (1973-1976). He retired as a school principal in
1985.
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