By Olivia Obijiaku
Charles Heerey Memorial Juniorate (CHMJ) Urualla, Ideato North L.G.A Imo State, Nigeria Old Girls Association (CHOGA), elected new members of her executives into various positions on Sunday, June 15, 2025. The very successful election held in a zoom meeting, allowing old girls from across the globe to take part in the exercise.
Elected members who volunteered to serve in different capacities were screened by the Electoral Committee and declared eligible, after their profiles and manifestoes were presented to the general forum.
Voters were accredited within stipulated period of time, by logging into the Zoom meeting with their Juniorate name and set only, A voice call of accredited members followed, after which, no logging in was allowed, as the voice call ended the accreditation process.
Voting was by electronic raising of hand and counting by the umpires. Maximum decorum was maintained, and the group platform was locked until a day after the election, to allow proper dissemination of information.
In her message of appreciation, the Outgoing General President of the Association, Rev. Sr. Maria Celine Agonsi, IHM, thanked God for the successful online election and for the successful Golden Jubilee Celebration of the school in 2021.
”For the first time, our Association held her maiden ONLINE ELECTION. This had its benefits and challenges, but today, the Lord made it possible. Thank you Lord. It couldn’t have been done in a physical means, because, CHOGA Members are living in different parts of the world.”
Despite the challenges encountered before the Golden Jubilee Celebration, “God crowned it with the gift of our wonderful celebration of our Golden Jubilee which brought us together and more closely from 2021, because, via the social media, more members were invited to the general body and our numbers increased both in the general group and in different classes/sets.”
She described the election which would usher in the 3rd substantive general executives into office, as a milestone in the history of the Association.
“Yesterday again, another great history was made by the successful General election of our new executive members, thereby, ushering in the 3rd Substantitve General President in the person of Lolo Lady Ezigbo Justina Ibe and her team. To our God, we offer a joyful praise, who works in His own best ways.”
“Dear Sisters, our new President and Team, I congratulate and welcome you to this special service to our Members and our Alma Mater. We are with you in this service. The light of Christ will lead you and our Mother Mary will be there always with you.”
“My dear members, thanks so graciously for coming out to vote yesterday, despite all the network challenges and the time differences. It is really amazing to see that such number came out to vote. I congratulate you all for working hard to get those who will lead us. To those who couldn’t make it due to Network issues, sorry (ndoo nuoo).”
“To our dear Mrs. Prisca Okonkwo, thank you for purchasing the zoom link with over #130,000 for a one month subscription for CHOGA use and you asked us to forget about the money. God reward you trillion folds. Thank you.”
The outgoing President paid homage to the Sisters of Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM), the custodians of the Juniorate, for taking care of their second home.
“I salute you all on behalf of our Association. Thank you for remaining our Mothers and for taking care of our Juniorate. We thank you, beginning with the Rev. Mother Maureen Akabugu and the Former Mother Generals and the entire Rev. Sisters. We continue to promise our loyalty to our Alma Mater; and the collaboration between the CHOGA Alumnae Association, our Alma Mater and our IHM Mothers.”
“Concerns will be addressed right away. Misunderstandings among members will be settled, because, Eziwnanne amaka, anaghi azu nwannem na ahia.”
“To my beloved electoral committee members, I salute you all with special love of God. Thank you for containing all that you met in the course of this service. Thank you for your maturity and commitment. Chukwu gozierem unuooooo. You have demonstrated your Love for our Association and Alma Mater. May God continue to reward you abundantly!”
Addressing the need to continue making progress, she implored members who are lagging behind to “turn to a new page and move ahead. We cannot be marking time. It’s not good to remain redundant.”
Sr. Agonsi thanked them in advance for their understanding, apologizing in a spirit of humility, to the Association and her members, for any gray areas during her tenure – on her behalf, her team and the different groups she served with, praying that they remain united.
The incoming President, Lolo Lady Ezigbo Tina Ibe, nee Okoro, thanked members of the Association for the opportunity given to her and her team to serve. She thanked her predecessor, Sr. Agonsi, for her hard work; and the Electoral Committee, chaired by Rev. Sr. Dr. Mary Jane Aririguzo, for the successful outcome of the election.
She promised “all CHOGA members that the light handed over to me and my team will continue to shine brighter and brighter, spreading and sparking higher and higher by the grace of God.”
“I will do my best and be honest, hardworking, patient, and open to welcome new ideas. Respect, commitment will be my benchmark. My manifesto will be my work document and it says it all. We, the Executives will abide by our words of affirmation. We all volunteered and we will stand by it.”
Lady Ibe solicited continued support from members so that their tenure may be successful.
Some of those voted into the twenty offices of the Association, include
:
Justina Chinyere Okoro – President
Rev. Sr. Jane Oge Madu – General Secretary
