The Government College Umuahia Old Boys Association (GCUOBA) successfully took over their alma mater through a Deed of Trust, signed with the Abia State government in 2015, following the presentation of a comprehensive Master Plan for the Fisher Educational Development Trust Fund, which was established by the Old Boys (Rev. Robert Fisher was the founding principal of GCU in 1929). 

Once the transition was complete, the association put a halt to new student admissions to give the current students a chance to graduate, allowing the establishment of elevated standards for future cohorts. 

The Old Boys organized themselves into class WhatsApp groups, diaspora networks, and global platforms, fostering a spirit of healthy competition. By 2022, they had successfully raised an estimated sum of N3.5 billion (before the Naira's devaluation). Each class selected various college projects to support, including the renovation of classrooms, the dining hall, residential houses, the library, and laboratories.

The Old Boys' initiative to restore Government College Umuahia is among the few groundbreaking examples in Nigeria. Other institutions like Government College Ugheli, Government College Ibadan, CIC Enugu, CKC Onitsha, and DMGS have since adopted similar approaches, inspired by the Umuahian method.

Having completed the restoration of GCU's infrastructure, the Old Boys recognized that a conducive environment is just one aspect of education. They established a School management committee staffed by Old Boys to oversee the college's operations. This committee regularly engages with parents, teachers, and the Abia State government to ensure collaborative governance.

New student admissions resumed in 2022 following the graduation of all remaining legacy students, and were conducted in strict accordance with Umuahian and international standards and principles of meritocracy.

It has become clear that government entities are ill-equipped to manage educational institutions, as their focus is divided among various constitutional responsibilities and they often lack the necessary resources in light of competing economic and social priorities.

Given this context, we call upon both federal and state governments to consider transferring the administration of certain secondary and tertiary institutions to willing and capable Old Boys who aspire to emulate the Umuahian model.

Old Boys from other schools and colleges interested in taking charge of their institutions should adopt the GCU model and develop a sustainable plan, just as the Umuahians did that ensures a strong educational system for their institutions and, by extension, the nation.