Our History St, Maria Goretti Old Girls International (GOGI)
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 brought together GOGI members from around the world, fostering camaraderie and continued commitment to our shared mission.
These gatherings have taken place in various cities, including Detroit, Michigan (May 2009), London, UK (July 2011), Chicago, Illinois (July 2013), Houston, Texas (July 2015), Toronto Canada ( July 2017) Manchester Reunion (2019) and
Los Angeles, California (2023), most recently, reunion took place in Boston Massachusetts (2025).
During these biennial reunions, GOGI members elect and approve new executives, ensuring strong leadership and continuity within our organization.
GOGI Yearly Scholarships Award
GOGI has awarded yearly scholarships to 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 $10.000 in scholarships in 2025
Sr. Philippine and Sr. Henrietta. The foundation!!!
Bishop Kelly of the Catholic Diocese of Benin City founded St. Maria Goretti Girls Grammar School on March 4th, 1959. It was the 1 st girls’ secondary school in Benin City and was named the same year that St. Maria Goretti, a young girl who stood for purity in body and mind, was canonized. The school was briefly named in the late 1970s Iden Secondary School after it was taken over by the state government.1From 1959-1962, the school had three principals, but it was under Reverend Sister (Dr.) Henrietta Powers (1962-1985) that the school attained its highest glory.
The school achieved great academic records, by excelling and presenting without rivalry as one of the best results by girls’ schools for the West African School Certificate grade evaluation in the then Western region, and consistently produced some of the highest scoring students in old Bendel State. Several of these students have gone on to achieve academic laurels, and the school has churned out a great number of professional women in Nigeria and abroad.
Current and Past President for G.O.G.I
💻✨ G.O.G.I builds a state-of-the-art Computer Lab for students! Opening doors to tech skills, bright futures, and endless opportunities.
Computer Lab, spearheaded by St. Maria Goretti Old Girls International (G.O.G.I), provides students with modern technology and resources to enhance their learning experience. This project reflects G.O.G.I’s commitment to empowering future generations with digital skills and opportunities.
Celebrating G.O.G.I.
Restoring and Enhancing School Infrastructure
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 stabilit
