# Dennis Memorial Grammar School, Onitsha

Dennis Memorial Grammar School, Onitsha, popularly known as DMGS Onitsha, is an all boys secondary school located in Onitsha. It is one of the oldest secondary school in Eastern Nigeria.

## History

On August 1, 1917, Archdeacon T. J. Dennis was torpedoed by the German Destroyer at sea on his return trip to England and got drowned. Afterwards, an executive meeting was held, under the chairmanship of Bishop Tugwell, on 19th September 1918 at Christ Church Onitsha and it was resolved that a fund be opened with the object of perpetuating the memory of late Archdeacon Dennis. It was later proposed, with approval of the Parent Committee of the C.M.S., to use that fund in building a secondary school dedicated to the memory of Archdeacon T.J. Dennis. The foundation stone was laid by Colonel Moorhouse, C.M.G., D.S.O., Lt. Governor of Southern Nigeria, on February 2, 1923. Mr. C.A.A. Barnes, a Gold Coast architect and surveyor designed the school building free of charge. The school was formally opened on 25 January 1925 by the Church Missionary Society in memory of the Late Evangelist and Scholar; Archdeacon T.J. Dennis, who was responsible for the translation of the Bible to Igbo language. The first intake consisted of nineteen boarders and forty-six day students. Most of the students came from Onitsha and the surrounding towns where the missionaries had worked for over half a century and where people had begun to appreciate the economic value of English education.

## Curriculum

The school offers curriculum and courses that can serve students from any part of the world.

## School extra curricular activities

During the tenure of Rev. Jones and Rev. C.J Patterson as principals, the school made a name for itself in the field of sports. It also won academic laurels by the unprecedented number of passes of its students in the Cambridge School Certificate Examination.

## Principals

Followings are the principals of Dennis Memorial Grammar School(DMGS), Onitsha since its inception:
* Rev. J. C. Taylor (Briton)1925 - 1928.
* Rev. J. D. Jones (Briton)1928 - 1932.
* Rev. Canon. C. A. Foster (Briton)1932 - 1937).
* Bishop. C. J. Patterson(Briton) 1935.
* Rev. E. D. C. Clark (Briton) 1937 - 1950, the longest serving Principal of DMGS.
* Rev. P. J. Ross (Briton)1950 - 1954.
* Dr. S. J. C. Cookey (Okirika)1954 - 1960.
* Mr. S. O. Ogoazi (Onitsha)1960 - 1972, an eminent old boy of DMGS Class of 1939, the 1st old boy Principal.
* Rev. Canon. H. D. O. Chiwuzie (Oba)1972 - 1974.
* Chief A. A. Ezenwa (Agbalanze Udelegbaola of Abagana & Deputy Gov. with Governor C.C Onoh, 1974 - 1975.
* Mr. C. O. Agunwa (1975 - 1976).
* Mr. E. A. Okoye (1976 - 1977).
* Mr. E. O. N. Aghaegbuna (1977 - 1979).
* Mr. H. A. Offor (Oraifite) (1979 - 1983), an eminent Old Boy.
* Sir. Joel Nnaemeka Ezeukwu(Ozubulu) 1983 - 1989, an eminent Old Boy of DMGS class of 1947.
* Sir. Victor Uchenna Obidike (Nibo)1989 - 1997- an illustrious Old Boy of DMGS 1956 set.
* Sir. K. B. C. Nwokeabia (Obosi)1997 - 2000, an eminent old boy of DMGS 1961 set.
* Sir. Eric Kanu (Ndikelionwu) 2000 - 2002, an eminent old boy.
* Ven. Thomas Ubaka Mbanugo (Onitsha) 2002 - 2008, an eminent old boy of DMGS 1965 set.
* Sir. Robert Onyebuchi Aralu (Nnewi) 2008 - 2014), an eminent old boy of DMGS 1971 set.
* Mr. Eugene Ijezie (Ozubulu) 2014 - 2016.
* Rev. Canon. Chigozie Anieto (Umunnachi) 2016 till date, an eminent old boy of DMGS 1996 set.

## Notable alumni

Some notable students of DMGS include
* Harford Anierobi (retired senior Administrative Officer)
* Isaac Iweka (the distinguished pioneer Civil Engineer, now the Eze of Obosi),
* Wilfred Mbanu (retired Rev. Canon bf the Anglican Church)
* Isaac Nwangwu (retired Civil servant),
* Alfred Ogbolu (a retired civil servant),
* Jonathan Ogbonna Ekeocha (a retired educationist)
* Walter Onubogu (a well known medical practitioner).