BRIEF HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL

NAME OF SCHOOL: FATHER CLOONAN MEMORIAL SECONDARY SCHOOL EMEKUKU
ADDRESS OF SCHOOL: KM 8 ALONG OWERRI OWERRI NORTH – UMUAHIA ROAD BY MOUNT CARMEL CATHOLIC PARISH EMEKUKU
YEAR OF ESTABLISHMENT: 6TH JANUARY, 2001 BOARDING OR DAY: BOARDING
–
NAME OF PRINCIPAL: REV. FR. EMMANUEL DIALA

OFFICIAL SCHOOL EMAIL: faclomssemekuku@gmail.com. 09021508000
 SCHOOL MOTTO: OPTIMUM SEQUERE

Father Cloonan Memorial Secondary School, Emekuku, is a full-boarding Catholic mission school exclusively for boys. It was established on January 6, 2001, by His Grace Archbishop A.J.V. Obinna, with Rev. Fr. Erasmus Okere serving as the pioneer principal and Rev. Fr. Dr. Nicholas Nwachukwu as the second principal.

The school was founded in response to the demand from parents seeking a Catholic education for their male children, particularly in light of the challenges facing the Nigerian educational system. Named after Rev. Fr. P.P. Cloonan, an Irish missionary who dedicated 34 years to pastoral work in Emekuku and surrounding areas, the school aims to instill discipline, academic excellence, and moral training in its students.

The motto of the school, “OPTIMUM SEQUERE” (Go For The Best), encapsulates its commitment to high standards of education and character development. Initially starting with eleven students and seven staff members, the school has since grown to accommodate approximately five hundred and fifty students, supported by forty academic staff and twenty-five non-academic staff. The institution prioritizes student nutrition, providing three meals daily.

Since its inception, Father Cloonan Memorial Secondary School has achieved notable academic success, particularly in national examinations like WASSCE and NECO. The school encourages participation in various extracurricular activities, including sports and social clubs, fostering a well-rounded educational experience.