Nigeria: Mercy Girls’ High unveils plans to commemorate it’s golden jubilee, solicits support
By Chinyere Ogbonna- Mercy Girls’ High School situated in Umuezeala Owerre in Ehime Mbano Southeast, Nigeria was founded in 1966 by the Late Catholic Bishop of Umuahia Diocese, Bishop Anthony Nwedo.
The school was founded as a Preliminary Training College Ehime, (PTC) and was later converted to a secondary school in 1966 with the name Mercy Secondary School, Ehime by the then Bishop of Umuahia, Bishop Anthony G. Nwedo of blessed Memory. According to reports, the School was taken over by the then South-eastern Government for about forty years(40) and was given back to its rightful owner, the Catholic Diocese of Okigwe in May, 2010 and renamed, Mercy Girls’ High School, Umuezeala Owerre as against Girls’ High School Umuezeala Owerre, the name for which it was known as while it was under the management of the state Government.
On the return of the School to the Catholic Church, infrastructure in the school were in deplorable state. In fact, to state the least, it was in a sorry sight. The school has been a shadow of its old self.
However, authorities in the school under the leadership of the Principal, the Reverend Father Paul Nwagwu, embarked on a lot of renovation exercise previously started by Rev. Fr. Kela Ambrose and Rev. Fr. Dr. Bernard Okafor to give the school a befitting look, employed qualified teachers to improve on the quality of teaching, as well as non-academic staff to run the school.
Meanwhile, some of the projects that have received attention are some hostels, the principal’s office, security stand and some parts of the collapsed fence which posed a security threat to the students, especially those in the boarding house as well as the toilet facilities which is almost completed.
According to the Principal, the Reverend Father Nwagwu, the school operates both day and boarding Programmes and participates in academic competitions with other schools within the state. The Principal is therefore, calling for support from all well-meaning sons and daughters of Ehime-Mbano to come to the aid of the school in whatever form they may wish to take the school to the next level.
“Our activities have indeed been challenging, hence your timely intervention would most appropriately be appreciated by the school authorities, the community where the school is situated and the Catholic Diocese of Okigwe. We face serious challenges in the following areas”
“Due to the fact that many students left the school three to four years ago, we have had to do with not being able to pay the teachers adequately. The school lacks basic infrastructures like, computers, school bus, lister, sport facilities, school hall (which was ruined by fire) etc. The buildings are almost dilapidated. Our major challenge is to repair the collapsed school fence, facing the school football pitch and to expand computer laboratory for the students.
What is heart-warming is that the current Principal of the institution, the Reverend Father Nwagwu has gone a step further to a laudable initiative to mobilize the old girls of the college across the country and in the diaspora to partner with the school authority to give the school a befitting look. The Old girls on their part, have been reconnecting with one another to see how they can support their Alma Mater, where the foundation of whatever they are today was laid. They are also working hard to support the school to restore its past glory. I tell you, they have been incredible!
Also heart-warming is that many of the girls have attained enviable heights in various professional spaces. In December, 2017, a couple of the old girls of the institution, converged on the school premises to form the Mercy Old Girls’ Association.
Maiden Officers to steer the affairs of the association were elected during the gathering with Professor Ugomma Ebirime, nee Orjiakor emerging the President of the association, Mrs. Ijeoma Nwaokorie, nee Ndubuisi as the Vice President, while the Reverend Dr.Franca Anyanwu, nee Otumbadi, was elected as Secretary.
Others are Dr. Eunice Ehosiem who emerged as the Financial Secretary and Mrs. Florence Nwankwo, nee Akaegbu who was elected the Treasurer, while Lady C.C Odimma, was picked as the Public Relations Officer, PRO for the association.
Elsewhere in the diaspora, Dr. Pauline Joy Igwe, nee Njoku has been coordinating the affairs of the association and efforts of the old girls’ in both local and in the diaspora.
First Senior Prefect, Mercy Girls High School Old Girls’ Association, Attorney Pauline Esoga.
President Mercy Old Girls’ Association, Prof. Ugomma Ebirim
The Vice President of the Old Girls’ Association, Chief Mrs. Ijeoma Nwokoria shared her experience of the old-school days.
“Mercy Girls’ High School stands to be the bedrock on which the foundation for what I am today was built. Yes and truly in our days, it was not easy, but it was worth it. If it were easy, we would not have the great calibre of ladies and women of great influence that our great institute has produced over the years.
“My memories of the then Mercy Girl’s high school and the Mercy Girls’ high school of today showcases a tremendous improvement that highlights the beauty of its existence, while retaining the essence for which it was found and that is; Hope for the girl child to be educated and becoming much more than what the society thinks about female education. Long live Mercy Girls’ High School”.
Vice President, Mercy Girls High School Old Girls’Association, Chief Mrs. Ijeoma Nwokoria
“Congratulations Mercy Girls High school. Comptroller of Customs (Chief Mrs) Ijeoma Stella Ndubuisi Nwokorie. Vice-president”.
Speaking on the golden jubilee, the principal, the Reverend Father Nwagwu who was excited to be heading the institution as it marks its Golden jubilee, said being the head of the institution at this time was divinely designed.
” I feel being the Administrator of this school, Mercy Girls’ High Ehime at this period of time is divinely orchestrated. God has a purpose for it and the purpose he has for it can never be far from rebuilding this once noble institution to an enviable academic height, bringing her to her former glory, a step which I feel would guarantee the future of the girl child. The work has already begun and I am happy it is happening in our own time. God be praised”.
“A few ladies had earlier thought of coming together to form the Alumni association but didn’t succeed. I think they could not achieve their agenda simply because the association was cut off from the realities on ground confronting their Alma mater if I may say, no meetings were conducted in the school for once”.
“However I came on board, saw the school in a sorry state, and began to reach out to the old girls for assistance, which later on gave birth to what we have today as Great Alumni of Mercy Girls High School, Ehime Association with its inauguration on the 30th of December, 2017. I must commend Dr. Pauline Obikaonu for supplying me with a few numbers that kick started the WhatsApp group chat, a community interactive forum connecting every member. May God sustain this brain child of ours with His love, understanding and growth through Christ our Lord. Amen”.
