Although the prime objective of the missionaries that arrived the shores of Oro nation in the early twentieth century was the spread of the Gospel, The Methodist Lay Missionaries who arrived Oron in the late 1902 established an educational institution called Oron Training Institute in 1905; and a training institute for Girls in 1943 at James Town before transferring to the present site of Mary Hanney secondary school, Oron.

For the Catholic Mission, the Catholic Faith in the ancient city of Akani Obio of Oron dates back to 1905 when the courageous Reverend Father L. Lena (SPS) pioneered an adventure in Calabar and landed on the Creeks of Ekeya Okobo in Okobo LGA (former Oron LGA) where he started a community work in honour of the Apostle Peter. As an ardent missionary, Father Lena moved southward after the evangelization of Okobo Clan to Esu Ebughu in the present St. Patrick’s Quashi Parish, Ebughu, Mbo LGA, and established a station in honour of the Archangel Michael in 1910. Although the foundation of the present St. Mark’s Church was laid by Rev. Fr. Lena in 1909, its canonical erection as a station was under Rev. Fr. Joseph Craft in 1916.
Just four years before Mary Hanney Primary school was converted to Secondary School for Girls in 1961, what is known as Infant Jesus Model School was born on 8th February, 1957 as a Teacher Training College for women with Rev. Mother Marie Theresa Akwe HHCJ as the pioneer principal.The reverend sisters helped to erect all the buildings in the premises except the four-classroom block in front of the hall, and through the instrumentality of the late Justice Okon Anwana Esin who was the then P.T.A Chairman of the school, and the strong support of Mrs. Ann Medekong, the treasurer. Collaboratively, they were able to secure building materials from former Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, Eket for the timely completion of the project in the ’80s.

Since its inception on 1st February, 1957, the school flourished on a continuum for a decade before the outbreak of hostilities of the Nigerian Civil war in 1967 and the school, like most of its contemporaries in the South Eastern Region of Nigeria went underground till after the war in 1970. The school was resuscitated with the resumption of full academic activities when Rev. Mother Mary Dermot (S.H.C.J) from U.S.A. became the new principal. The euphoria generated by the development was however, short-lived as the College was virtually closed down and merged with the Holy Child Teachers’ Training College in Ifuho, Ikot Ekpene local government area.
Since nature abhors vacuum, the college’s premises became Catechetical School for the training of Catechists. Shortly after, His Lordship,Most Rev. Dr. Brian Davis Usanga (RIP) (then the Bishop of Calabar/Uyo Diocese/Ecclesiastical Province) moved in the Seminarians to safeguard the premises. This again, was short-lived as the Seminarians in turn evacuated the compound in 1979 for their permanent site. Paradoxically, the abandoned premises attracted intruders from all nooks and crannies. In order to forestall total the ugly development, the Catholic Women of St. Mark’s Church, Esin Ufot, Oron, sent a delegation to the Handmaids Sisters (the original owners of the school) in Ifuho to return to Oron and re-take possession of their compound. The move was spearheaded by the late Madam Rose Inyang, who led a few others to Ifuho to persuade Mother Maria Theresa Akwe, then the Superior General to send her Sisters back to Oron, this was to focus attention on pre-primary and primary education. Sister Mary Labore Ogu, who was the Pioneer Headmistress, arrived with Rev. Sister Mary Therese Una to open the new Nursery School, and Infant Jesus International Nursery School, Oron was posthumously born on 2nd October, 1979.

The new school started with twenty-six kids on roll. Just one year after, the mantle of leadership fell on Rev. Sister Mary Angela Itiat, and the school was approved to run Primary section. A year after this approval, Rev. Sister Justina Obiajunwa assumed duties as the new Headmistress on 21st September, 1983. However, Mrs. Josephine Johnson was induced by sheer force of circumstance to manage the school from 20th January, 1984 to 5th March, 1984 when she was relieved by Rev. Sister Mary Alphonsus Akpan, while Rev. Sister Christiana Ogunbiyi took over on 15th September, 1986. She was followed by Rev. Sister Mary Daniel Obot on 7th January, 1991. Rev. Sister Elizabeth Offiong took over the mantle on 7th July, 1998, and continued till the Silver Jubilee Celebration of the college in 2004. She eventually handed over to the current principal Rev. Sister Lawrencia Essien, who has been at the helm of affairs of the secondary school arm since February, 2005.

Interestingly, there have been auxiliary hands that have, in no small measure, contributed to the academic advancement and uplift of the institution. They include late Rev. Sister Mary Scholastica Afaha, Sr. Lillian Nwakonye, Sr. Rose Okon, Sr. Theresa Essienuko, Sr. Christiana, Sr. Benedicta, Sr. Bernadette Ogika, Sr. Theresa Nnadi, Sr. Florence Ugochukwu, Sr. Theresa Aguta; late Sr. Anthonia Udofia, Sr. Philomena Echua, Sr. Regina Etim, Sr. Mary Abolo, Sr. Celina Obieke, and Sr. Christiana Idem (R.I.P). Others are Sr. Janet Okorie, Sr. Justina Umeh, Sr. Georgina Ekanem, Sr. Rosemary Omicha, Sr. Helen Egbere, Sr. Patricia Alu, Sr. Maria Agera, Sr. Stella Essien, Sr. Agnes Akpan, Sr. Cecilia Essien, late Sr. N. Augustine Okon, Sr. Maureen-Aguh, Sr. Fedelia Onuoha, Sr. Eilen Iwuh, Sr. Immaculuta Umana and Sr. Philomena Akim.

They helped in molding the children with reverence for God and sacred sense of purpose; desire to develop personal potential leadership attributes; cooperation, responsibility, accountability, loyalty to family, friends, school and society; and sensitivity to the differences and needs of others.