The Francis and Fidelia Ibhawoh Foundation, in partnership with the Community Sports and Educational Development (CSED) Initiative, has rewarded the hockey players of St. Maria Goretti Girls’ Grammar School, Benin City, with cash gifts following their impressive outing at the 2025 National Youth Games in Asaba.
The school’s hockey team won a silver medal for Edo State at the Games held in July 2025, further reinforcing the institution’s long-standing reputation as a powerhouse for hockey development at the secondary school level.
The presentation ceremony took place at the school’s hockey ground and attracted key stakeholders in sports and education.
In attendance were the Executive Director of the Edo State Sports Commission, Sabina Chikere, and Dr Celestina Aletor, who represented the school’s Old Girls’ Association. School authorities present included the Principal of the Senior School, Mrs Abieyuwa Abu-Osagie, alongside Edosa Osaigbovo, Earnest Iyare and the school’s hockey coach, Sylvester Aigbo.
St. Maria Goretti Girls’ Grammar School remains unique in Nigeria as the only secondary school with a hockey Astro Turf pitch. Its hockey tradition dates back to the early 1970s, when the school was under the management of the Catholic Mission in Benin City.
Addressing the students, Chikere urged them to remain committed to both their academic work and sporting careers, noting that excellence in sports can open doors to wider opportunities.
She cited Dr Aletor as a shining example, recalling that the former school hockey player earned a Federal Government university scholarship due to her outstanding performance.
Chikere also highlighted Aletor’s contributions as a former principal of the school and her continued role in advancing the interests of the Old Girls’ Association.
In her remarks, Dr Aletor outlined several developmental interventions undertaken by the association, including the establishment of a state-of-the-art IT laboratory, the acquisition of over 30 sewing machines, head-dressing equipment and a fully equipped Home Economics laboratory.
According to her, the aim is to provide students with access to vocational and life skills while still in school or immediately after completing their WAEC or NECO examinations. She also disclosed that the association recently donated a brand-new school bus to further support the school’s operations.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of cash gifts to 14 former hockey players who graduated in July 2025, as well as 22 current students of the school.
Some members of the current hockey squad are junior secondary school students identified through the school’s talent development programme.
To further strengthen the team, the two NGOs announced plans to supply the school with 25 pre-loved hockey sticks.
They are also exploring opportunities for the players to participate in the “Sporting Coders” programme, an initiative that combines sports participation with coding and digital skills training.
The Sporting Coders programme was successfully piloted in April 2024 in Bayelsa State by the netball team of Tare Pet School, where 12 of the 21 participating students later secured admission into universities across Nigeria.
The organisers stressed that the initiative demonstrates how Nigerian secondary school students can successfully balance academics and sports with the right support from parents, school authorities and coaches.
They also called on the Ministry of Education to complement these efforts by providing qualified vocational education teachers to ensure that existing equipment in the school is effectively utilised.
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