The purpose of this study is to describe the historical development of secondary education in Eastern Nigeria, taking into consideration the following periods: (1). before the coming of the British, (2) from 1842 to 1960 when Nigeria received her independence from Britain, and (3) from 1960 to 1986. The period between 1960 and 1986 is further subdivided into (a) 1960 to 1967 when the civil war began, (b) 1967 to 1970 when the civil war ended, and (c) the post-civil war era—1970 to 1986.