About Us

Holy Child Secondary School, lkom is a Mission School of the Holy Roman Catholic Church in the Diocese of Ogoja. The proprietor of the school is His Lordship Most Rev. Donatus Edet Akpan, who succeeded His Lordship Most Rev. John Ebebe Ayah of Uyo Diocese who took over from His Grace Most Rev. Joseph Edra Ukpo, Emeritus of blessed memory, who took over from his predecessor, the Bishop at the inception of the school, His Lordship, Most Rev. Dr. Thomas M. Gettrick of blessed memory.

YEARS OF ESTABLISHMENT

Holy Child Secondary School, lkom was established on January 19th, 1967 with a record of twenty seven (27) students. The pioneer principal of the school was Mother Mary St. Henry Parker. She served for a period of one year, six months and twenty one days spanning through January, 19th 1967 to August 9th, 1968. Mother Mary Parker’s successor was Rev. Sr. Catherine Duffy who was installed at the helm of affairs on 29th August, 1968 to November 19th, 1970.

The third principal was Rev. Sr. Gabriel Molley. She served for a period of six years (January 15th, 1971 to August 31st, 1977) after a period of interim management: These were all missionary sisters of the Roman Catholic Church and were members of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus (SHCJ).

On July 12th, 1967, Holy Child closed down and evacuated to. Holy Child Secondary School, (Mount Carmel) Ogoja as a precautionary measure owing to the outbreak of the Nigerian civil war. As we know, the civil war had a devastating effect on everything and Holy Child Ikom was not an exception, hence the closure. It is noteworthy, that the two schools (lkom and Ogoja) were managed separately, except for games and other general activities. Be informed also that, most of the students admitted at the time were refugees.

On January 19th, 1968, the school marked her one year anniversary of establishment. On May 3rd, 1968, the Reverend Sisters in charge of the school were permitted to return the students back to lkom. On their return from Ogoja, the first Nigerian teacher, Miss Josephine lgbaji joined the tutorial staff of the college but was soon replaced by Mrs. Margaret Ntiti.

WAEC APPROVAL

Holy Child Secondary School, lkom did not lag behind in any area of development as the school grew to a standard that on October 28th, 1970, the school got recognition and approval as a center for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). The maiden participation of the students in this examination took place in 1971.

GOVERNMENT TAKE OVER OF SCHOOLS:

The year 1977 marked the dawn of a new era as the school was taken away from the missions by the government. It was handed over to the first Nigerian principal – Mrs. Marcelina Bassey after the reign of the Religious Sisters who served the school for a decade (1967 – 1977). Mrs. Marcelina Bassey became the fourth principal of the school and had a brief stint of one year (10th September, 1977 to 21st September, 1978).

Other principals worthy of mention include: Mrs. Cecilia Eyo Ekeng-Ekpenyong of blessed memory who reported to duty as the second Nigerian Principal and fifth in the series of principals. It was during her tenure that the fencing of the school began. She served for six years, from December 1st 1978 to September 25th, 1984. Mrs. Ekeng was succeeded by Mrs. Francisca lje Bassey who became the third Nigerian principal and sixth on the line-up of principals. She introduced the P.T.A. levy of N10.00 only at the time in order to continue the fencing project initiated by her predecessor. She served for a period of five years spanning from September 27th, 1984 to November 17th, 1989.

On December 12th, 1989. Mrs. Veronica Asuquo Ekpenyong of blessed memory assumed duty as the fourth Nigerian principal and the seventh in the series of principals. Through her determination, the fencing project was completed. Mrs. Ekpenyong served for three years (December 12th, 1989 to May 6th, 1992). In the year 1992, Mrs. Theresa Ada Anoh took over reign as the fifth indigenous principal and ninth in the series of principals. She was the last principal who served the school under the government as she is yet, the longest serving principal in the history of Holy Child Secondary School, lkom. Mrs. Aje Eriom, headed the school conscientiously, devotedly and relentlessly for a record period of eight years (September 26th, 1994 – September 28th, 2002).

A FRESH AND NEW BEGINNING

October 10th, 2002 saw the turn of events in Holy Child Secondary School, lkom. When the government officially handed the school back to her rightful owners – the Catholic Diocese of Ogoja. The Metropolitan Arch Bishop Emeritus of Calabar Ecclesiastical Province, His Grace, Most Rev. Dr. J. E. Ukpo was the one behind the wheel to ensure that the Catholic Mission schools in Ogoja were given back to them.

The Governor of the state (Cross River) at the time, Mr. Donald Etim Duke came to terms with the Arch Bishop and gave heed to his appeal. Alas! The long awaited ‘Child’ was finally home and was received with open arms. The Cathedral administrator at the time, who was also the Executive Secretary of Catholic Schools in Ogoja Diocese, Rev. Dr. Patrick Idiku of blessed memory was present to grace the occasion. Also, present on that occasion were some government officials in the education sector in the personalities of Mr. Anthony Bissong and Ntufam Peter Ayuk. The last Principal who served under the government – Mrs. Catherine Aje Eriom, was conspicuously present to perform the handing over exercise. Mrs. Eriom handed the mantle of leadership to Rev. Sr. Veronica llaka Obi who became the first indigenous religious principal of the school after twenty five years (1977 – 2002) that the government took over the school. She was also the fourth principal on the sequence of Reverend Sisters and the tenth overall which the school ever had so far. As a dedicated and diligent personality, Rev. Sr. Veronica worked relentlessly to ensure that the flag of Holy Child never stopped flying. She served for a period of five years (10th October, 2002 – September 3rd, 2007).

On September 15th, 2007, Rev. Sr. Comfort Chioma Amaefule took over office in the school as the second indigenous Religious Sister and the fifth in the series of Sister Principals after the departure of the white sisters. At the time, it was thirty three years running. She was also the eleventh principal the school recorded. Rev. Sr. Comfort continued where her predecessors stopped to ensure that Holy Child Secondary School, lkom maintained her reputation as an institution of “Action not words.”

It is pertinent to note at this juncture that it was during her time that Holy child secondary School, Ikom, introduced for the first time since her inception on January 19th, 1967 a compulsory boarding system precisely on 7th September, 2009 as against the two-dimensional day and boarding system that had been in place. (A decision trailed by wide spread discontentment from both parents and the general public, the same reason presumed might have led to the decline in the population of the school as most parents could not afford the wherewithal to carter for boarding fees. But this (decision), in many ways improved the standard of the school. Rev. Sr. Comfort served unrivalled for three years before passing the baton onto her Successor and incumbent principal, Rev. Sr. Helen Egberi on January 10th, 2011.

Rev. Sr. Helen, upon assumption of office swung into action with her transformation agenda of rebranding Holy Child, returning the school to her glory days. This agenda manifested in projects which have created a Serene learning environment where girls are being groomed to prominence both in academics and character. The Amiable Old-Girls we cannot fail to mention are also catalytic to the new face of Holy Child Secondary School, lkom with their benevolent contributions to the school as there had been a synergy between them and the principal. Rev. Sr. Helen, in her quest to transform the school also embarked on a population drive by returning the school to initial Day and Boarding System in order to salvage the declining population state following the approval of the then proprietor, His Lordship, Most Rev. John Ebebe Ayah in September, 2016. Shortly after, growth in the population became phenomenal.

Rev. Sr. Gladys Arisha Agi resumed office as the principal of Holy Child Secondary School, lkom on the 7th of September, 2018. She took over the mantle of leadership from Rev. Sr. Helen Egberi, who left the institution after serving victoriously for seven years and six months. Rev. Sr. Gladys Agi became the fourth Reverend Sister Principal after the department of the white sisters forty-seven years ago; the seventh person on the line-up of Reverend sisters and the thirteenth principal since the inception of the school in 1967.

She continued where her predecessors ended. Her advent was quite a remarkable one indeed, it brought transformation to the school. In her insight, most of the offices and departments were created. Within the short period of her stay, she tiled the JSS1 classrooms block, computer room, Staff room, admission office, bursary department, painted the entire school, and did the renovation of the perimeter fence. These she did to give the school a new look.

Using her initiative and relentless effort, in collaboration with the P.T.A., she got the school bus to convey day students from their homes to school and back. Through her watch, the extra modern hall donated by the Ministry of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), extra modem toilet by Mrs. Gertrude Ogbeche, extra modem computer laboratory with solar light; donated by Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), 20 street lights (solar) given by the old girls, replacement of the school gate by the P.T.A., renovation of the school entrance at the gate, restructuring of a new sign post by the ’92 set, changing of the wooden doors to iron doors in the hostels, and many more to be achieved.

In order to meet up with the school standard, she worked with her staff and parents to improve the discipline structure of the school. She created a culture that encouraged students to focus on academic excellence and also maintain a positive learning environment for students. All of these were achieved not by her power but through the mercy and love of God. May God’s name be praised forever.

In the history of Holy Child Secondary School, another significant figure came on the 1st of September, 2023. Rev. Sr. Stella Malachy Akpan, HHCJ took over leadership of the school from Rev. Sr. Gladys Agi, HHCJ.

Just barely two months on resumption of office, the environmental transformation has already taken place, re-innovation of co-curricular activities, renovation of necessary things and places and innovation of the school website.

This new spirit is an assurance that the light of Holy Child Secondary School will continue to grow brighter, and many more to be achieved.

To God be the glory.