It is usually necessary to know how a good journey was started for appraisal of the current situation and to determine the way forward. So it is with the Queen of the Rosary Secondary School, Nsukka. However, it may be nice to be as brief as possible. From records available, the establishment of the Queen of the Rosary Secondary School (QRSS), Nsukka can be traced to the deep concern of the Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary (MSHR) founded by Bishop Shanahan of Southern Nigeria. The aim was for the spiritual and educational upliftment of the female folks within and outside old Nsukka province, now Enugu North Senatorial Zone. It is worthy to state that there was no other girls’ secondary school in the zone at that period.

Prompted by this motive, the missionary congregation duly supported by the Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha, during the Episcopacy of Rt. Rev. Dr. Charles Heery, successor of Shanahan, initiated the project that metamorphosed into establishment of this great citadel of learning in January 1961- barely few months after the birth of the first indigenous higher institution of learning in Nigeria — the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The acquisition of land where the school now situates was made possible by Rev. Sister Mary John who was one of the residents in the Convent attached to St.Theresa’s Parish —now the Diocese centre of Nsukka. However, the school started with just about thirty six (36) students under the leadership of the premier principal- Rev. Sr.Mary De Lourdes with five Irish lay girls who volunteered to work as missionary teachers. The first principal was succeeded by Rev. Sr. Mary des Victories, now of the blessed memory. May her soul rest in peace, Amen.

At the end of her tenure, she was succeeded by Rev. Sr. Mary Edith O Donnell who piloted the affairs of the school till the advent of the Nigerian civil war in 1967. The three leaders worked so assiduously for the development of the school that by the break of the war, the name “Queens” was already a famous slogan among all girls desiring to attain secondary education. In the villages and towns, the students of “Queens” were all pride to reckon with both in morals, discipline and academics. The school has so far produced quality ladies of timber and caliber in every sphere of life and we are proud of them.

Unfortunately, most things built by these erudite principals were not only brought to a standstill but also damaged during the three years of the civil war (1967 to Jan 1970). To the chagrin of Catholic Mission, all the schools in the then East Central State were taken over by the Government of Ukpabi Asika at the end of the civil war in 1970. The state Government then changed the name of the school from Queen of the Rosary Secondary School, Nsukka to Girls’ High School, Nsukka but thanks be to God that today, the school has re-gained its original name as Queen of the Rosary Secondary School (QRSS), Nsukka.

According to record, many of the students who came back after the war to continue their education including the new intakes were polluted by the war effects, with lots of indiscipline and unruly behaviours in them. The first post-war principal, Mrs. Regina Njoku, who took over the leadership then was short lived in her reign as she left after barely four months to hand over to Rev. Sister Joseph Theresa Agbasiere, who was nicknamed “Iron Lady” because of her strict measures in controlling the students’ behaviours effectively. The school eventually started shinning again in academics, morals and all other areas of life endeavours, and the standard was raised higher. The period of Sr. Agbasiere’s reign was historic because it was a time of ‘restoration’ and we all know that re-formation is more difficult than formation.

This was her encounter and she sailed through successfully. May her gentle soul rest in peace, Amen. Worthy of mention was Mrs. P. Ezeilo who succeeded Sr. Agbasiere in 1973. Her reign was also historical because though she was neither a Reverend Sister nor a Catholic, she held the tenets of the institution to the extent that it was difficult to discover that she was of the Anglican Communion. Many religious societies flourished during her time. Academics, morals and sports were highly promoted by her with the help of the Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary (MSHR) and the Bishop in reign-Bishop Eneje of the blessed memory. May he rest in peace Amen. Mrs. Phoebe Ezeilo signed off in 1979 when she was appointed the chief supervising principal of the zone. Other principals followed in succession but notably among them was Mrs. Monica Eze as her works were not only outstanding in academics, morals and sports but also in celebrating and hosting successfully the Silver Jubilee in 1986, when she uplifted greatly the image of the school. She is now of blessed memory. May her soul rest in perfect peace, Amen. Another very hard-working principal was Mrs. Rose Asogwa, who is now Barrister (Mrs.) Rose Asogwa. She chaired the Golden Jubilee Central Planning Committee. We thank God for her and pray God to reward her accordingly. Worthy of mention also is Mrs. Vero Obi, who served the school as the principal from 1996 to November 2009. She contributed her quota immensely as an experienced principal and handed over the mantle of leadership to Mrs. Eunice N. Onah in Dec. 2009.

Mrs. Onah is working tirelessly to ensure that the motto of the school- “Diligeter Bonum Querere” and the school goal of “Achieving Moral and Academic Excellence” are upheld and realized respectively. She does that with the co-operation of the present School Administrator/Chaplain, Rev. Fr. Andrew Eze.

In recognition of the special status of the school in the Zone and State in general,successive State Government have continued to give attention to some infrastructural and teaching needs of the school. In 2010 for instance, the open school hall was renovated by the State Government as a 2007 project. …and more