About Us

In 2002, Evelyn Otaigbe (nee Ikuenobe) started an email trail to contact Goretti alumni in Diaspora. The first informal meeting was held in Atlanta, Georgia in 2002 and was attended by Owen Imachukwu (nee Agahahowa), Mediatrix Osayi (nee Idada), Odegua Oboh and Evelyn Otaigbe. In 2007, St. Maria Goretti Old Girls International Inc., was founded by Evelyn Otaigbe and incorporated as anon-profit organization by Francisca Oboh-Ikuenobe, Mediatrix Osayi, Owen Imachukwu and Evelyn Otaigbe. This group with Nosayaba Adadevoh (nee Enobakhare) formed the “CORE team and planned the first Goretti Old Girls International reunion in Atlanta, Georgia.

Subsequent reunions have been held in Detroit, Michigan (May 2009) and London, UK. (July 2011), Chicago, Illinois (July 2013), Houston, Texas (July 2015). The 2017 reunion is planned for Toronto, Canada in July. Elected Executives (officers) are approved during the biennial reunions. GOGI’s sister organization based in Nigeria (SMAGOGA, St. Maria Goretti Old Girls Association) was founded in 1975.

about-img-1GOGI has awarded yearly scholarships to current students of St. Maria Goretti Girls Grammar School in Benin City, Nigeria since 2009. Three Senior Secondary School (SSS) students were awarded a total of $1,250 in scholarships in 2009.about-img-2

​During the 2010-2011 academic year, scholarship awards to the tune of $3,200 were given to seven Junior Secondary School (JSS) students and 16 SSS students. A further thirteen JSS and nine SSS students also received $2,900 in scholarships in 2011-2012. In 2013-14, 22 students were awarded $4000.00. The 2015-16 essays are already in the grading process by our Scholarship Committee, which will be followed by our annual scholarship award ceremony.

GOGI has also provided support to Cosudow Human Trafficking Women’s Shelter in Benin City, Nigeria in 2013. ​In the United States, GOGI donated funds to the International club at St. Maria Goretti High School in Hagerstown, Madison to support its activities in 2009. In addition, GOGI embarked on a collaborative venture with Six Flags Great America to obtain reduced price tickets for various underserved inner city youths in 2013.

about-img-3One of GOGI’s vision is to promote health. In October, 2013 GOGI sisters showed support and participated in creating awareness for early screening, early detection of Breast cancer by sharing stories, wearing pink and interacting with individuals in their communities to promote cancer awareness and prevention.

GOGI current projects include the expansion of the computer lab as well as embarking on a healthcare initiative in the school. Some GOGI sisters have donated health products anonymously to the school during their private visits. GOGI is also currently raising funds to expand the computer lab and also to host quarterly general health screen.

GOGI is committed to:

  • Volunteerism, GOGI supports and promotes various charitable organizations by participating in or contributing to their activities, especially those promoting the interest of women and young girls.
  • Encouraging St. Maria Goretti alumni and friends to invest their money/time/talents in the communities where they reside and make it a priority to empower women, men and children to achieve sustainable economic stability.
  • GOGI also has supported and still supporting the special needs population and their respective families which is a very dear group to some of our members.
  • Encourage and support the educational, professional and legitimate business aspirations of Saint Maria Goretti Girls Grammar School alumni, provided those aspirations are consistent with the best interest of women and human race.
  • Promote the economic, educational, cultural, scientific and social progress of St. Maria Goretti Girls Grammar School and its students, and to liaise with the government, charitable foundations, companies and other non-governmental organizations to achieve this aim.