The onus for starting the Government College Umuahia fell on an English educator, mathematician, and Anglican priest, the Rev.

Robert Fisher who had been a teacher at the Achimota College, Accra, and education administrator in the Gold Coast, now Ghana.

The Government College Umuahia began in 1929 as a teacher training institute and in 1930, converted to a secondary school.

Fisher ran this school until 1939 when, at the start of the Second World War, he left for England on retirement and was replaced by W. N. Tolfree.

Its students consistently achieve high scores in exam results at SSCE, O-Level and A-Level.

The gallery was looted and destroyed during the Nigerian-Biafra civil war (1967–70), when the school was closed to serve as the General Staff Headquarters of the secessionist Republic of Biafra.

The Government College Umuahia also had an Officer Cadet Corps that offered instruction camps in field drills, and adventure training.

Government College Umuahia also produces an unusual high number of literary elite who influenced African Literature more than any other educational institution.

The National Secretary of the Old Boys Association, Mr Nkem Egbuta stated, "we have begun from the scratch again, trying to restore those values that made Umuahia so prominent and by the Grace of God, we are on the path to achieving that.”[7] In pursuit of the objective, a trust; Fisher Educational and Development Trust was established by the Old boys with directive from the state government.