The history of secondary education for girls in Nigeria is closely linked to the work of Christian missions. In Eastern Nigeria, the Catholic mission, particularly the Holy Rosary Sisters, played a crucial role in establishing schools that enabled girls to pursue formal education at a time when opportunities were limited. One prominent example is Owerri Girls’ Secondary School (OGSS), located in Owerri, Imo State, which officially opened in 1955. The school represents the transition from missionary‑led education during the colonial era to locally managed institutions in the post‑colonial period, contributing significantly to the empowerment of women in the region.
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Founding and Early Years of OGSS
Planning for the school began in or around 1954, with formal establishment occurring in 1955 by the Holy Rosary Sisters, an Irish Catholic congregation active in education and social welfare across Eastern Nigeria. The founding Principal was Rev. Mother Mary Catherine Laboure (sometimes spelled Laboure or Labore), who assumed office on January 2, 1955.
From its inception, OGSS operated as both a boarding and day school for girls. The Holy Rosary Sisters had been present in Igbo land for decades, promoting girls’ education, teacher training, and vocational centres. The school’s early curriculum combined academic subjects, English, mathematics, science, and humanities, with religious instruction, moral formation, and community service activities. Over time, the school’s facilities and programmes grew, establishing a reputation for discipline and educational excellence.
Missionary Education in Colonial Nigeria
In the 1950s, the Eastern Region of Nigeria was undergoing rapid social change, including urbanisation, rising literacy rates, and the early stages of self‑governance. Secondary education for girls, however, still lagged behind that available to boys. Mission schools, especially Catholic ones, were critical in accelerating access for girls.
These schools operated within the colonial framework: the British regional education ministries formalised schooling but relied heavily on missionaries to deliver it. For OGSS, this meant balancing a curriculum consistent with colonial standards with Catholic values, moral formation, and community outreach.
Institutional Development and Curriculum Evolution
OGSS expanded from modest beginnings into one of the prominent girls’ secondary schools in the region. According to the school’s website, it “started in 1955 and has been the leading school in the Archdiocese of Owerri and Imo State respectively.”
Over the decades, the curriculum evolved to align with Nigeria’s junior and senior secondary system. Today, senior secondary students can pursue Science, Arts, and Commercial tracks, enabling specialisation according to interest and career aspirations. Boarding and day facilities continue to operate, and the school emphasises both academic performance and moral/spiritual formation. Daily prayers, religious classes, retreats, community service, and sacramental preparation remain central.
Social and Historical Impact of OGSS
At a time when schooling for girls in Eastern Nigeria was still relatively rare, OGSS provided a critical path to social mobility and professional advancement. Access to full secondary education enabled many girls to pursue careers in teaching, nursing, and administration, contributing to the region’s trained female workforce.
The existence of a strong alumnae association, including a chapter in the USA, reflects the lasting influence of the school’s graduates. OGSS’s history also illustrates the broader pattern of localisation of education leadership: foreign missionary sisters laid the foundation, but over time Nigerian administrators and educators assumed management and teaching roles, ensuring continuity in the post‑colonial era. Today, the school remains under the proprietorship of the Archbishop of Owerri Archdiocese, Most Rev. Dr Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji.
Challenges and Continuity
Like many mission‑founded schools in Eastern Nigeria, OGSS faced significant disruption during the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970). The school was closed during the conflict and reopened afterward. In 1997, the then East Central/East Central State government took over mission schools, including OGSS. In September 2010, the school was handed back to the Catholic Church (Archdiocese of Owerri) and restored under mission proprietorship.
Despite these challenges, OGSS has maintained its Catholic identity, boarding/day structure, and continued focus on academic and moral formation. Today, the school advertises well‑equipped laboratories, a Virtual Learning Centre, and a daily programme emphasizing both academic achievement and character development.
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Legacy of OGSS
Owerri Girls’ Secondary School has played a foundational role in shaping female education in Eastern Nigeria. By providing quality secondary education and moral formation at a time when options were limited, the school opened avenues for women’s professional and civic participation before and after independence. Its story demonstrates the enduring influence of mission‑founded education and the importance of localising management in the Nigerian context. The combination of academic standards, boarding stability, and moral/spiritual formation continues to make OGSS a model for girls’ schooling in the region.
Author’s Note
The founding of Owerri Girls’ Secondary School in 1955 under the leadership of Rev. Mother Mary Catherine Laboure and the Holy Rosary Sisters marks a key moment in the history of girls’ education in Eastern Nigeria. More than a centre for academic knowledge, the school has emphasised character formation, leadership, and civic responsibility. It withstood the challenges of war, management transitions, and changing educational policy, yet continues to cultivate young women who are academically prepared and morally grounded. OGSS stands as a testament to the enduring value of mission‑founded education in empowering the girl child.
References:
1. Owerri Archdiocese Schools Trust Fund. “Owerri Girls Secondary School – Brief History of the School.”
2. OGSS Official Website. “Principals’ Speech – Owerri Girls Secondary School.”
3. Association of Owerri Girls’ Secondary School Alumnae USA. “About Us.”
4. Eluwa, J.A. Doing Ministry in Catholic Nigeria: Education and Evangelisation in the Archdiocese of Onitsha (1928–1948).
