This is Sacred Heart College Aba, a missionary Catholic High School for boys, located in Aba City, Abia State, in Eastern Nigeria. The school was established in 1957, three years before Nigerian independence in 1960, by the then Catholic Bishop of Owerri, the Most Rev. Bishop Joseph B. Whelan, (C.S.Sp), with Rev. Fr. Raymond Kennedy as the school's first principal and the Most Rev. Dr. Gregory Ochiagha, the Bishop Emeritus of Orlu, as the first indigenous Principal. 

 Rev. Bishop, Joseph B. Whelen      Rev. Father Raymond Kennedy    Most Rev. Dr. Gregory Ochiagha

This school was one of the most admired High Schools in Eastern Nigeria because of its reputation for both scholastic excellence and athletic prowess. However, with the advent of the Nigerian Civil War which began on July 6, 1967, and ended on January 12, 1970, the then Military Government took over Missionary Schools in Eastern Nigeria. The military takeover of schools inflicted devastating blows on the schools' infrastructure, depleted their academic curricula, and eroded student and teacher morale for learning.

However, in the mid-1980s, with the return to democratic government, many of the schools were returned back to the original owners.  Since then, concerted efforts have been made by the Catholic Diocese of Aba and some other concerned organizations to return Sacred Heart College to its past glory as a citadel of learning and a cherished institution committed to grooming young boys into respectable and productive members of society. One such organization committed to returning Sacred Heart College to its past glory is Saharco Old Boys Association, USA, otherwise known as SOBAUSA.

(Before Renovations)

SOBAUSA is a fraternal alumni organization of former students of Sacred Heart College, Aba, residents in the United States of America, Canada, and Europe. The organization was inaugurated in 2001 in Atlanta Georgia, with her membership participation and contribution towards the improvement of their alma mater enshrined in the organization's Charter. During SOBAUSA's inaugural meeting in 2001, the membership appraised the depth of decay and neglect of their alma mater's erstwhile beautiful landscape and infrastructures and collectively resolved that they had a moral obligation to contribute their quota to ensure that the great institution, Sacred Heart College, Aba, which groomed and equipped them with necessary survival skills, was rescued from further dilapidation and possible extinction. Some of SOBAUSA's contributions towards Sacred Heart College's rescue mission since its inauguration in 2001 include:

1. Renovation of the School's Assembly Hall/Auditorium

2. Fencing and securing the parameters of the school from trespassers/intruders

3. Financial contributions towards the rebuilding/renovation of some of the dormitories

4. Endowment of scholarship and athletic funds for students by SOBAUSA members. 

5. Provided media equipment and Laptops

6. Provided trophy to encourage athletic competition

In fact, following cash donations and other educational resources from SOBAUSA to the school in 2013, the population of the school grew from 125 to almost 400 within one year. It is now the fastest-growing high school in the region.

 

(After Some Renovations)

During the past few years, the alumni organization embarked on building a state-of-the-art library to enhance learning and bridge the digital divide in education. The library has now been completed and making a big difference for the institution. We give thanks to our various donors for your contributions.

 

The library officially opened in 2022

The organization's current project is to build modern dormitories to replace the old-aged and dilapidated ones. SOBAUSA is asking for your financial help to achieve this goal. To make a donation, please go to www.gofundme.com/saharco-library-project. Click on the donate button to help the students at this Christian High school reach their academic potential. Your donation is tax-deductible. Thank you for your donation. For more information, please contact the Chairman of the Saharco reimagined committee, Dr. Charles Okorie, at [phone redacted], or via his email address: [email redacted], or [email redacted]

(Inside one of the classrooms)

You can monitor the progress of all our construction projects by visiting the association website at, www.saharcoalumni.org  Once again, thanks for your contribution.