HISTORY OF BISHOP SHANAHAN COLLEGE ORLU
Origin
Bishop Shanahan College Orlu, otherwise called BSC Orlu, was established in 1949 by the Marist Brothers of Schools in memory of one of the Missionaries by name, Bishop Shanahan (1871-1943). The motto of the school is ‘DUC IN ALTUM’ which is a Latin phrase meaning ‘Aim at the Highest’. It is established as a boys’ school. The school was sited in Eluama Village in Orlu Community, where His Majesty, Eze Patrick Achilonu, (Igwe of Orlu) was the traditional ruler. The founders of the school, as their names implied, had interest in establishing schools. Their major goal was to train the less privileged and also to get capable young men, who could assist in propagating the good news of the gospel and especially the Catholic faith.
Infrastructure
The school took off with the following structure (buildings):
- One storey building, which houses classrooms; principal’s office; vice principal’s office; dean’s office; the staff room; the bursar’s office and the chemistry laboratory.
- The physics and the Biology laboratories that were built separately.
- One storey block with Technical workshops on the ground floor; the college chapel and two classrooms on the first floor.
- Six staff quarters; three dormitory blocks for students and one dinning hall. Other structures were later constructed to take care of the teeming students’ population.
The first principal of the school was Rev. Fr. M. Frawley, who administered the school from 1949-1951. The names of the other principals who served in the school in succession are as follows:-
- Rev. Fr. M. Frawley 1949-1951
- Rev. Bro. Conleath 1951- 1954
- Rev. Bro. Aloysius 1954- 1955
- Rev. Bro. Conleath 1955-1956
- Rev. Bro. Damian 1957-1959
- Rev. Bro. Justin 1959-1964
- Rev. Bro. Raphael 1965- 1969
- Hon. D.S. Agim 1970 – 1971
- Bro. Andrew Iwuagwu 1971-1972
- Mr. O. Amu-Nnadi 1972- 1973
- Mr. R.C. Ekwueme 1973- 1975
- Mr. A.E. Okwuoha 1975- 1977
- Sir F.C Iheme 1977 – 1981
- Sir G.I. Duru 1981- 1986
- Sir P.C.Udeozor 1986- 1989
- Sir S.U. Anosike 1990-1997
- Mr. D.I. Agbirigba 1997 – 2002
- Sir. E.E. Akuakanwa 2002-2008
- Dr. E.C. Okoli 2008-2009
- Dr. D. O. Chibueze 2009- 2011
- Rev. (Dr.) Justin Odurukwe 2011 – present