Nicholas Chukwuemeka Tagbo was born on 21st August 1929 in Jos, Northern Nigeria to Nwankwo and Agbomma Tagbo of Ichiora kindred of Iruezike, Isiorji Ifite Awkuzu, Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State.
His mother, Agbomma, a very beautiful woman, had originally come from Igbu village Awkuzu.
In time young Nicholas was enrolled at St Anne Catholic School, Jos but that was a brief spell as he was taken to Awkuzu for enrollment at St Raphaels’ Catholic School, Awkuzu.
He had five younger siblings including a Catholic nun, Reverend Sister Gertrude Tagbo,
Upon completion of elementary school he entered Christ the King College, Onitsha in 1945 and graduated in 1949.
He taught part time at All Hallows Junior Catholic Seminary, Onitsha, and later enrolled at Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu in 1951 shortly after St Paul Catholic Seminary was renamed Bigard Memorial Seminary in 1950.
It should be noted that St Paul Catholic Major Seminary was originally established in 1924 in Onitsha and was later relocated to Eke, and to Okpala and finally to Enugu where it was renamed Bigard Memorial Seminary in 1950.
In 1924 only nine students, including John Cross Anyogu, were admitted as seminarians while the following year in 1925 only Iwene Tansi was admitted as a student.