EGOGA Gets New Exco, Awards Members, Launches Website

The Egbu Girls Old Girls Association, Owerri, Imo State (EGOGA) has ended its 3rd Reunion and Winifred Hubbard lecture with the election of a new set of officers to lead the association for the next 3 years.

The 4- day Reunion had its theme as “Mentoring For Girl Child Safety and Empowerment”

At the AGM, a part of the reunion, Mrs Daisy Sams-Uchegbu Eke emerged the Global President, Global Vice President 1, Mrs. Ndidi Albert-Oguara, Global Vice President 2-Mrs Ijeoma Odoemenam.

Mrs. Ugonma Cokey was elected Global Secretary, Nkiru Egere, Global Assistant Secretary, Global Financial Secretary, Mrs Kachi Chris-Ebochuo, Global Treasurer, Lady Barrister Mrs Chiaka Mogaha, Global PRO, Rev. Dr. Mrs Christy Okolocha, and Welfare Officer, Mrs Elsie Omotuyole. The immediate past president, Mrs Ijeoma Enekwa remains an exco member as Ex-Officio

The officers who were sworn in by Justice Vicky Isiguzo will officially take over on January 1, 2026.

At the Winifred Hubbard lecture named after the first principal, the wife of the former governor of Ondo state, Dr Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, Dame Comfort Obi, Publisher of the Source Magazine, Mrs Lizzy Ebi, owner of Future View and first female stockbroker in Nigeria, Justice Vicky Isiguzo and 17 others were awarded Alumni Champions.

The recipients were awarded in recognition of the contributions and development and significant impacts on Egbu Girls Secondary School and the Association.

Dr Anyanwu Akeredolu who was also the chair of the lecture, described the reunion as “revisiting our roots, honouring our beginnings, and reconnecting with the institution that shaped the women we have become”

“For me, Egbu Girls’ Secondary School is not just a name. It is a memory. It is history. It is home” She declared.

According to her, “Reunion matters because, reunions such as this go beyond nostalgia; they have purpose, they allow us to reconnect with the girls we were. They allow us to celebrate the women we are now. They remind us that the foundation of our lives was laid here—in Egbu Girls’ Secondary School”

Describing the theme as timely, she used the opportunity to highlight some of the challenges faced by the girl- child including; barriers to education, gender-based violence, cultural stereotypes, limited economic opportunities, and a widening digital divide.

She said mentorship, safety, empowerment, guidance, education, protection are not merely words—but lifelines for today’s girl child.

The former first lady stressed the need for continued mentorship, support, and guidance to the younger generation as well as the need to prepare them for the opportunities and challenges of the future.

“Mentorship is the bridge that helps girls cross these obstacles. It provides direction where there is confusion, strength where there is doubt, and opportunity where doors appear closed”, Dr Anyanwu-Akeredolu stated.

She commended the association for taking it upon itself to restore the school through rebranding the school to reflect modern educational and infrastructural standards.

“Our collective action sends one clear message to society: When you train a girl, you train a nation. And when that girl succeeds, she returns to uplift her community. What we are witnessing here is the ripple effect of girl-child education. When you empower a girl with knowledge and skills, you do more than educate her—you liberate her; you protect her, you open the world to her”, The former first lady asserted.

The Rt Rev Prof Emmanuel Iheagwam (RTD) while speaking, reminiscenced on the negative impact of the civil war and hand over of the school to government and the inability of the diocese to bring the school back to its original state.

He however, expressed gratitude that help came from an unexpected quarter- the association.

Prof Iheagwam said that the 60 bed space modern dormitory will give the school a face lift, but warned, taking an example from the Bible, that in spite of having rich people, it won’t be easy because there would be Sambalats and Tobiases who would try to frustrate it.

He however encouraged members not to be discouraged or demoralized as the same people will be the first to commend the project.

According to Ugonma Cokey, the Global Public Relations Officer, a key highlight of the Lecture/Luncheon was the launch of EGOGA website, a medium for shared experiences. The website categories has the history of the school, the association, the constitution, membership registration page, vision, mission, core values, motto of the school and a picture gallery of all its events and other categories.

State chapters, class sets and individuals launched the website, noting that the launch was to support the completion of the over #300 million naira ultra modern dormitory.

The reunion ended with a thanksgiving service at the All Saints Cathedral, Egbu.