Saint Maria Goretti Girls’ Grammar School was founded on March 4, 1959, by the Catholic Mission Proprietor, His Lordship Bishop P.J. Kelly of blessed memory. It was the first “All Girls” Secondary School in Benin City. The School was named after St. Maria Goretti because it was established the same year Maria Goretti, a 12 year old girl who stood for purity in mind and body was canonized.

At inception, the school was located at the present Bishop Kelly’s Pastoral Centre along Airport Road, Benin City. It had a two-room block of classrooms and a Principal’s house. The school had three principals between 1959-1961.

Rev. Sister Henrietta Powers, a member of the missionary order of the sister of Our Lady of Apostles, was the 4th principal who directed the affairs of the school from 1961 to December 1984 when she retired from service. It was during her tenure in 1962 that the school moved to its present permanent site at Ugbekun quarters, Benin City.

It had a Day School system until 1964 when boarding facilities were introduced. The amenities in the school then were moderate but properly managed. There was a serene and conducive atmosphere for learning. Sister Henrietta worked relentlessly to ensure that a very high standard of academic performance was maintained by the students. The first class of 22 who enrolled for the West Africa School Certificate Examination in 1955 scored 91% but the school maintained a 100% in WASC Examinations several years after.

In fact, the best overall students in WASC Exams for many years in the then Bendel State came from St. Maria Goretti Girls’ Grammar School. Sister Henrietta’s dedication to duty, persistence on high standards and resultant excellent performance of her students at the school certificate examination earned heran Honorary Doctorate Degree Letter (D.Litt) from the University of Benin in 1982. She was conferred with the Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) by AlhajiShehu Shagari, former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. She was also honoured in the United States in 1994 with the Aviers Award.

Sister Henrietta believed firmly in all round development of the student, spiritually, morally, vocationally and academically. She encouraged the participation of her students in music, sports, quizzes, debates, festivals of Art and culture. The School excelled in all its activities from academics to sports, cultural events, arts exhibitions, march pasts on children’s Day and several other competitions. The school has had seven indigenous Principals after Sister Henrietta’s retirement. In 1980, with the Unity Party of Nigeria (UNP) free education policy to eradicate illiteracy,St. Maria Goretti Girls’ Grammar School II was founded to operate in the afternoon. In January 1985, the two schools were merged. The school was then made up of six Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) and one Senior Secondary School (SSS).

The general decline in our nation’s standard of education has grossly affected the high moral and academic standard and discipline of this great institution. Fifty-six (56)years after, St. Maria Goretti Girls’ Grammar School, Benin City is a shadow of its old self with no boarding facilities and over populated with inadequate staff. The question now is whether the takeover of schools from the Missionaries is/was a curse or blessing.

The present Executive Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole has however renovated the school’s infrastructure.

We wish to also commend the Governor and members of his Executive Council for also restructuring the former schools into a Senior and one Junior Secondary School.

The National Association in 2012 at the 13th National Convention commissioned Rev. Sister (Dr.) Henrietta Power’s Biology and Chemistry Laboratories in a grand ceremony attended by both National and State Government functionaries.

Over N35million was realized for the project.

In July 2014, the National Association commissioned the renovated Physics and Home Economics Laboratories in honour of Rev Sis Henrietta Power. Also commissioned was the SMAGOGA Photo Gallery at the same occasion.