*The school’s old girls mark 40th anniversary of leaving alma mater

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

Members of the Class of 1982 of Saint Maria Goretti Girls’ Grammar School, Benin City, have pleaded with the Edo State Government to consider returning the School to the Catholic Mission to enhance the education of the girl child.

The old students, under the auspices of Saint Maria Goretti Old Girls鈥� Association (SMAGOGA), made the passionate appeal in Lagos, recently where they marked their 40-year reunion after leaving the school.

The event saw several old girls from all walks of life across the world gather to reminisce on their time at the school.

The theme of the reunion was: 鈥淲omen, Wealth and Winning.鈥�

Mrs. Grace Bose Ojougboh, member of the alumni association and Deputy Director at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), in her remarks at the event,聽 called on Mr. Godwin Obaseki, Edo State Governor, to consider returning the School to the Catholic Mission towards reclaiming the school’s age long glory.

Ojougboh said: 鈥淣ow, more than ever before, there is need to empower and raise girls who are pious, confident and equipped with the skill and capacity to function as leaders and nation builders in the 21st century.

“We believe our alma mater is poised to deliver on this even more with its management being under the Catholic Mission.鈥�

She stated that, the Class of 1982, over the years, had joined hands with the national body of St Maria Goretti Old Girls Association to give the school a facelift as well as support the students through award of scholarships and skills acquisition.

Mrs. Ijeoma Isiolu, an old girl of SMAGOGA and seasoned banker, lamented the very poor state of the school since it was taken over by government.

She said the association looked forward to the time when the school would be returned to the Catholic mission.

Another member of the Class of 1982, Henrietta Iweze, a lawyer, also spoke on the need for women to support women and the importance of winning and creating wealth.

Iweze emphasised that women should be open to change and stressed the need for women to always give value wherever they find themselves.

Mrs. Maureen Okoro-Sokoh, a human resource consultant and Managing Director, Estymol Group, urged her classmates to use the opportunity of the reunion to really come together and empower one another in different ways.

Speaking in the same vein, Mrs. Ononuju Irukwu, a financial expert and wealth adviser with First Bank of Nigeria Limited,聽 also member of the Class of 1982, stressed the need for women to be empowered through education and financial inclusion.

Irukwu stated that financial literacy opens doors and more opportunities for women and helps them to make informed decisions.

The walk down memory lane by members of Class of 82 brought a lot of nostalgic feelings of joy and gratitude for the wonderful time spent together at the school and the training and discipline they received in their formative years which, they agreed, have molded them into women of excellence.

The Class of 1982 set also took the opportunity of the reunion to visit the Heritage Homes, located in Anthony Village, in聽 Lagos State, to reach out to the less-privileged in the society while plans are in the works to visit their alma mater in Benin City, Edo State capital.

Saint Maria Goretti Girls’ Grammar School was founded on March 4, 1959, by the Catholic Mission.

It was the first “All Girls” Secondary School in Benin City.

The School was named after St. Maria Goretti as it was established the same year Maria Goretti, a 12-year old girl, who stood for purity in mind and body was canonised by the Catholic Church.

Late Rev. Sister Dr. Henrietta Powers, a member of the Missionary Order of the Sister of Our Lady of Apostles, was the 4th Principal and the trailblazer from 1961 to December 1984 when she retired from service.

She managed the affairs of the school and raised women, who have become excellent women, breaking barriers, changing and impacting their communities in all spheres of life.

The Grammar School in its heydays under the Catholic Mission, was said be the school of choice for people, who wanted an all-round spiritual, moral, vocational and academic development for the girl child.