In the year 1957, the need to establish an indigenous Qua Iboe secondary school in Igalaland arose as a result of the dire need to satisfy the graduates of the existing primary schools without opportunity for further education. Mr. P.I. Ebikuo and Rev. (Dr.) D.M. Akwu who at that time were just finishing from Teachers College, Gadiri, facilitated the campaign for the establishment of the secondary school and helped to galvanize the positive action of the Qua Iboe Church leadership in Igalaland.

   By 1958, a decision was taken by the indigenous members of the church to raise money for the opening of a secondary school. A compulsory levy was declared –one pound per male and ten shilling by the female members. The C.M.M.L. Mission contributed immensely.

   The role of prominent members of Qua Iboe church leading political offices as Late Elder P.S. Achimugu, Hon. D.A. Ogbadua, D.O. Enefola (then the Supervisor of the mission primary schools) amongst others were very vital in securing the necessary authorization for the establishment of the school. The decision to site the secondary school in Ochaja was because of its central location in Igalaland.

TAKE-OFF

   Permission was granted in 1959 for the establishment of the school. Consequently, the school was founded on 10^th February, I960 as Ochaja Secondary School, Ochaja. The School was started as a full boarding co-educational institution with Mr. J.R. Johnson as the first Principal, with two other staff, Mrs. Johnson and Mr. S. Odoh. The first intake was thirty students. They graduated in 1964 with a percentage pass of 87.

   The first motto of the school was “Know the Truth” culled from John 8:32.

   The first head boy was Williams Ifadi, now Prof. William Ogala, a professor of Pediatrics in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

   In 1961, a decision was taken to provide teachers for all the primary schools established in the fifties with Grade Two teachers. Propelled by this desire, in 1962, a Teacher Training College was established on the same Ochaja directly opposite the secondary school. This made the schools to be referred to as Ochaja Educational centre. This programme continued up till 1973 when the Kwara State Government directed that all teachers training colleges should be phased out. Both schools now became Ochaja secondary School, with the teacher training site as Hill Side Campus and the Secondary section as River Side Campus. Late Elder D.O. Enefola was appointed the principal of the merged schools.

   In 1978, a decision was taken to separate the two campuses into two separate secondary schools, each existing on its own. The Hill Side Campus was to exist as Girls’ Secondary School, solely for girls. The River Side Campus to be retained as it was but to train boys alone. This proposal was approved and the Girls’ school took off in 1978 with Mr. J.I. Idachaba as the Principal of the Girls’ school, while the Boy’s school had Mr. E.S. Abah as the Principal, the first old student to become the Principal of Ochaja Secondary School.

   With the creation of Kogi State in 1991, the Boys’ section was upgraded to a Special Science School and the management transferred to Kogi State Science Board, with headquarters at Lokoja. The current Principals are Mrs. Ruth Ochada for the Girls’ Secondary School and Elder P.S. Ameloko for the Boys’ Secondary School.

   Today, the two schools still have the Qua Iboe Mission (U.E.C.) as the proprietor but run by the State Government in form of grant in aid. Any decision by the government on the schools is thus taken in conjunction with the mission.