Grassroots NGOs honour St. Maria Goretti Girls’ Grammar School
The Francis and Fidelia Ibhawoh Foundation, in collaboration with the Community Sports and Educational Development (CSED) Initiative, has rewarded the hockey team of St. Maria Goretti Girls’ Grammar School, Benin City, with cash gifts in recognition of their outstanding performance at the 2025 National Youth Games held in Asaba, Delta State. The team represented Edo State and clinched a silver medal at the competition.
The presentation ceremony took place at the school’s hockey ground and attracted several dignitaries, including the Executive Director of the Edo State Sports Commission, Sabina Chikere. The Old Girls’ Association of the school was represented by Dr Celestina Aletor. They were received by the Principal of the Senior School, Mrs Abieyuwa Abu-Osagie, alongside members of staff and the school’s hockey coach, Sylvester Aigbo.
St. Maria Goretti Girls’ Grammar School is uniquely positioned as the only secondary school in Nigeria with a hockey astro-turf pitch. The school’s rich hockey heritage dates back to the early 1970s, during the period it was managed by the Catholic Mission in Benin City.
Addressing the students, Sabina Chikere urged them to remain committed to both their academic and sporting pursuits. She encouraged them to emulate Dr Celestina Aletor, a distinguished alumna and former hockey player whose excellence in the sport earned her a Federal Government university scholarship. Dr Aletor, a former principal of the school, continues to play a key role in advancing the interests of the Old Girls’ Association and engaging external partners to restore the school to its former status as one of the leading girls’ schools in Edo State.
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Dr Aletor highlighted several interventions by the Old Girls’ Association, including the establishment of a state-of-the-art IT laboratory, acquisition of over 30 sewing machines, head-dressing equipment and a fully equipped Home Economics laboratory. These initiatives are aimed at exposing students to vocational skills that can be useful during or immediately after their WAEC or NECO examinations. She also disclosed that the association recently donated a brand-new school bus to the institution.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of cash rewards to 14 former students who graduated in July 2025 and 22 current members of the hockey team, some of whom are in junior secondary school as part of the school’s talent identification programme. To further support the team, the two NGOs also pledged to donate 25 fairly used hockey sticks to enhance training and performance.
In addition, the NGOs are exploring opportunities to enroll the students in the “Sporting Coders” programme, which combines sports participation with coding and digital skills training. The programme was successfully piloted in April 2024 in Bayelsa State, where 12 out of 21 participating netball players gained admission into Nigerian universities. The initiative underscores the potential for Nigerian students to successfully balance academics and sports with adequate support.
While commending the continuous efforts of the Old Girls’ Association in providing skills development opportunities, stakeholders expressed hope that the Ministry of Education would complement these efforts by deploying qualified vocational education teachers to ensure the effective use of the donated equipment.
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