The first lady of Edo State, H.E Betsy Obaseki, a foundation student of Federal Government Girls College (FGGC) Benin has inaugurated a number of high profile projects implemented by herself, and the FGGC Benin Old Girls’ Association to commemorate the school’s 50th anniversary. The projects were officially commissioned on Saturday, October 14, 2023 in the school premises in Ugbowo, Benin-City.
The projects include solar-powered streetlights, the schools sick bay upgraded to a full fledged health centre, the renovated junior and senior dining halls and the unveiling of Atiti, the statue of an FGGC Benin student with outstretched arms standing on top of a globe.
The school’s 50th anniversary coffee table book titled ‘Coral Beads’ was also unveiled by the first lady.
In her address, Mrs. Obaseki, one of the 72 pioneer pupils admitted into the college in 1973, said the school had produced many outstanding old girls, whom she urged the pupils to emulate.
She underscored the need to maintain the school’s legacy and traditions and pass same to the younger generations.
The school’s alumni also embarked on various projects, according to their classes, to celebrate their alma mater’s golden jubilee. They include scholarships worth N150,000 annually for 10 students over five years; cash prizes to best students in the academic year from JS 1 to SS 2; new school signboards; computers with periodic maintenance; lawn mowers; Public address systems, musical instruments and sports equipment.
Principal of FGGC Benin, Mrs. Osamudiame Aghedo thanked the school’s alumni for the putting up a show stopping celebration during the school’s 50th anniversary in Benin.
In a letter to the FGGC Benin Old Girls’ Association, Mrs. Aghedo said the projects and time invested by the alumni to make the four-day event memorable was well appreciated, adding that it would inspire the current students to succeed.
She said: “On behalf of the management, staff and students of Federal Government Girls’ College, Benin; I wish to express our profound gratitude to all of you, our revered old girls for your time, finances and other invaluable things you committed into celebrating our 50th Year Anniversary and also for the numerous projects that was executed in the school within this period of the celebration.
“We are proud to have you as our old girls and what you have done so far has greatly amazed us beyond imagination.
“Indeed, we are glad that you have shown our girls dedication and the determination to succeed.”
The four-day event which started with an inter-school debate competition on Thursday, October 12 and culminated with a thanksgiving service on Sunday, 15 at the school, had in attendance over 287 old students from various parts of the country and abroad.
The old girls participated fully in the anniversary activities – from giving career counseling to mounting medical outreach, and joining the current students as they danced during the festival of arts and culture.
Some of them even took out time to visit their various dormitories to relive the experience they once had as students albeit momentarily. They were generally impressed with the state of facilities in the school and level of hygiene.
