Hussey College Warri

Hussey College was founded on 3 February 1947 as the first college in Warri by three Itsekiri personalities, Chief Ogbemi Newe Rewane, the late Ologbotsere of Warri, his brother Alfred Rewane and Chief Elliot Nekapenami Andrew Begho, the late Iserigho of Warri kingdom.[3] Their aim was to establish a secondary school that would offer qualitative education to young men and women in Warri and beyond - Nigeria.

The motive of the founding fathers was to redress the vacuum situation following the relocation of Warri College, the then Government Secondary School in the city to Ughelli as Government College, Ughelli in 1946 and the founding of Urhobo College in Effurun (outskirt of Warri) by Urhobo Progressive Union (UPU) in 1946. It became pertinent and urgent for the need of a secondary to be sited in Warri to fill in the vacuum. Chief O. N Rewane and Begho filled this vacuum with the founding of Hussey College in Warri through private entrepreneurship.

The idea to establish a school was first mooted in 1935 by both men, then barely in their twenties, at the Government College, Ibadan where they were students. Rewane and Begho along with Mr V. A. Savages (B.A. Hons) did the spade work to ensure that the school became reality. At inception Rewane was treasurer, Begho the manager and Savage, the pioneer principal. They were educationists per excellence.

Hussey College Warri, from inception became cosmopolitan with students' intake across the length and breadth of Nigeria. It was a college of both academic and athletic excellence and the breeding ground of future leaders in various department of national life. Hussey College has established itself as the most distinguish and credible secondary school in Warri and Nigeria in general.

A Cross Section of Hussey Boys Model College Students in School Uniform

Hussey College Anthem sums up the ideals of the founding fathers of the school.

Hussey College Anthem

Hussey College we are proud of you

You as our good mother has brought us up

To do thy good and refrain from bad

As good citizens we owe our thanks to thee

May God send His divine peace

To those who made the state

And pour His reign on them

That they may live to enjoy their work - Hussey College

We thy children always pray for thee

That anything which is good may come from thee

We thy children always pray for thee

That anything which is good may come from thee

UP HUSSEY!

Formerly, before the conversion of Hussey College into Hussey Boys Model College (only boys’ school), Hussey College used to have seven competitive houses: four boys’ houses and three girls’ houses.

The boys’ houses were:

• Dore (red)
• Ikoli (yellow)
• Nana (green)
• Seville Dawes (blue)

While the girls’ houses were:

• Ejimogho (yellow)
• Iye (red)
• Otsowode (blue)

The boys’ houses competed among fellow boys’ houses while the girls’ houses also competed among fellow girls’ houses. Unlike in other mixed schools where boys and girls share the same house name, Hussey College operated unisex houses. These houses competed for medals, laurels and points in the school annual inter-house sports (Hussey College Annual Inter-House Sports Competition) which pulled huge crowd from all over Warri and beyond – especially the invitation relay events, which was a delight to watch and highly talked about in town, usually added glamour to the inter-house sports.

During the school annual inter-house sports competition, Seville Dawes House often had the upper hand among the male houses, with its arch-rival being Dore House. However, in some years, dark horse like Ikoli House usually acted as giant killer to come first. And the minnow Nana House (with mother-luck on their side) usually pulled surprises in their rare few lucky years too.

While Otsowode House dominated the female houses, with her bitter arch-rival being Iye House, but in some years, Ejimogho - especially years she had elite talented athletes - usually bamboozled her way to clinch first spot.

While the rivalry between Seville Dawes and Dore – and other male houses – was mere healthy competition left behind on the athletic field, the rivalry between Otsowode and Iye – in extension Ejimogho – was bitter and often carried over to the classrooms.

The roster of former principals and teachers of Hussey college could pass for a mini who is who in the polity. They were part the team that moulded and groomed future leaders and nurtured the institution into a centre of excellence. A bronze scroll containing the names of pioneer principals and early teachers as a tribute to their worthy contributions was unveiled during the 60th anniversary celebration of the school.

• Mr. V. A. Savages (B.A. Hons) - The pioneer principal.
• Eng. R. S. Mckenzie - The second principal.
• Mr. G.C. Pillai - Principal (1963–1965) appointed by Chief O.N. Rewane, Chemistry teacher (1961–1963)
• Chief E. A. Adeyemo - The first indigenous principal.
• Justice F. O. Awogu, Phd
• Mr. Amata
• Mr. Afam Mordi
• Mr. Igodan
• Mr. Godwin P. Alufohai
• Chief Michael Ojeifo Ojo – A popular principal in the 1980s.
• M. A. Usiomoifo - A principal in the late 1980s to early 1990s (1988–1991), was transferred to Edo State immediately after the creation of Delta State in 1991.
• Dr. Joseph Anidu Egenege - A principal in the early 1990s immediately after the creation of Delta State from Bendel State, later Associate Professor of Health Education, Dept of Public and Community Health, Novena University, Ogume, Delta State, Nigeria.[4]
• Mr. J. M. Edah
• Mr. Ikimi
• Rev. T. U. Aliagba
• Mrs. Omabegho
• Mr. Peter Okotie[5][6]
• Mr. Hendrix O. O. Ajuyah [7][8]
• Chuks

• Dr. Alex Ekwueme - Former vice president of Nigeria who was Physics Master between 1950 and 1952.[9][10]
• C. O. Lawson - Who later became permanent secretary and secretary to the Federal Government.
• Justice Victor Ovie Whisky - A jurist who served as a Chief Judge of the Benin High Court in the late 1970s and later as the chairman of the Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO) from 1980–1983.[11]
• Justice S. A. Ajuyah - Who was an English teacher.
• Professor Eskor Toyor - Marxist economist
• Professor S.I.M. Ogwo
• Dr. U. U. Udoh
• Dr. J. B. Akingba
• Nze Sam Onyewuenyi.
• Abel Guobadia - Former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Commissioner for Education and later Commissioner for Finance in the former Bendel State (now Edo and Delta) between 1979 and 1983.[12]
• Chief (Mrs.) Betty Efekodha - Hon. Commissioner, Ministry Of Women Affairs, Community and Social Development, taught Literature in English and English Language.[13]
• Mrs. A.N Okocha. Seasoned teacher, she taught so many years in the school, from Yoruba as a national language far back in 1988 to social studies and History in the 90s and a strong disciplinarian
• Mrs. Igbesoko, The famous Geography teacher that taught SS1 students Geography in the 90s, she retired in 1997
• Mrs. E.C. Pillai - Health Sciences teacher, 1961–1965
• Mr. M.G. Philipos - Vice-Principal and Head of the Department of Chemistry, 1968–1986
• Mrs. A.O. Philipos - Head of the Department of Mathematics, 1971–1986
• Mr. T.D. Cherian - Vice-Principal and Head of the Department of Physics, 1969–1987
• Mrs. Cherian - Mathematics teacher, 1973–1987
• Mr. Anthony Gogo Agbasoga- Notable French teacher. Nana House Master.
• Ms. Catherine Onoriose - French teacher
• Mrs. Agbam - Home Economics teacher
• Mr. Ajah -
• Mrs. Dorus F- Fine Art teacher
• Mrs. Roli Uduaghan (née Touyo) Former student and Home Economics Teacher
• Mr. VRC Nwokocha VP Admin
• Mr. Onwuamaeze (Coach Physical Education teacher) Late

The role call of old students who have passed through the school attests the fact that the ideas of the founding fathers have not been in vain. Some notable old students have passed through the school and made their mark in different walks of life.

The list of the Hussey's old students who have distinguished themselves in national service confirms that the school was indeed a breeding ground for future leaders. These include: