Eve is an award-winning film director,
acclaimed author of books such as Tangled, Shadows, Through Mist
and
more.
A graduate in Theatre Arts from
University of Jos and Mass Communication, University of Lagos, she
has been dubbed “One of the female emerging writers of this decade”
by the NBAF and “A generational Barrier breaker” by the SAIF.
Her professional career spans over two
decades of extensive performance in theatre, film and TV.
She is an events organizer, Mortgage
loan consultant and is currently President, Afrimedia Events &
Entertainment, LLC and Founder of the American Arts Academy.
She is married to Raphael Otaigbe and
has four children.
Eve serves as Founder/President, GOGI.
Esther Tongo (nee Ovbiebo)
Esther Tongo (nee Ovbiebo) attended St
Maria Goretti in Benin City; class of 1977.
Esther is a business professional with
several years of broad experience in Business Strategic Planning,
Strategic sourcing & Risk Management. Strong entrepreneurial,
team management, executive coaching, and business consulting. Mrs.
Tongo also has several academic publications to her credit.
She is the founder & CEO of a
family business Getsym Enterprises Inc—Consulting firm and Esther’s
Authentic Foods brands, and Esther’s Ready Stew-that is available
nationwide at Wal-mart, Safeway, SuperValu/Jewel Osco, ethnic stores,
and online
www.readystew.com.
Esther’s education include: MBA
degree (1999); M.Sc. degree Economics, -Purdue University, (1987);
Business and Computer Science (59 credits), Highline College,
Seattle, WA (1982 – 1985); and BSc. - Washington State University,
Pullman, WA (1982).
Esther is married to Dr. Dwin Tongo -
he has PhD in Chemical Engineering. They are blessed with three sons
in universities.
Mrs. Tongo also finds time to engage in
community activities. She is co-sponsoring a backpack back-to-school
event for African American kids in the Chicago area, is active within
the Haiti education committee at St. Thomas Catholic Church in
Naperville, IL and feed the hungry and homeless at Hesed House,
Aurora, IL, participates with Habitat for Humanity, has been a
speaker at several forums, and is equally active in many USA and
African communities.
Esther Tongo can be reached either by
email at esther@getsym.com
or by phone on 630-355-0111.
Esther Tongo serves as GOGI Vice
President.
Dr. Francisca Oboh-Ikuenobe
Franca received B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees
in Geology from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo
University) in Nigeria, and a Ph.D. degree from the University of
Cambridge in England, where she was a Commonwealth Scholar.
She has been a faculty member at
Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T,
formerly University of Missouri-Rolla) since 1991 and is currently
Professor and Head of the Geology and Geophysics program.
Franca is active in several
professional associations, is a member of the Optimist Club of Rolla,
and an advocate for the Down Syndrome Association of Greater St.
Louis.
She is the recipient of several awards
and honors, including faculty excellence awards and Woman of the Year
Award at Missouri S&T.
She is married and has two sons and a
daughter.
Franca serves as GOGI Public Relations
Officer.
Dr. Grace Ofili Okoli
A passionate educator, Grace graduated
with the Maria Goretti class of 1977.
Grace received a B.Ed (1982) and M.Ed
(1986) from the University of Benin and the University of Ibadan,
respectively, and obtained a doctorate from Edgewood College in
Madison, Wisconsin.
She is currently a principal at Royce
Elementary School in Beloit, Wisconsin.
Grace is a member of the Association of
Wisconsin School Administrators (AWSA) and the National Association
of Elementary School Principals (NAESP).
Among other things, she is the founder
of EDucate Africa, a non-for-profit organization that collects books,
materials, and supplies to send to school-aged children in various
countries in Africa. The organization also provides professional
development for teachers and organizes community based pre-school
education in rural places in Africa. Involved in many short-term
mission trips to Africa.
She is married to Daniel Okoli, and
they have two children.
Grace currently serves as GOGI
Executive Secretary.
Cordelia Osidele (nee Esangbedo)
Cordelia graduated with the Maria
Goretti Class of 1984.
She graduated from The College of
Pharmacy, University of Benin in 1990.
Currently, she is a Clinical Pharmacist
with CVS Caremark Pharmacy, San Antonio, Texas.
She is a Certified Immunizer and holds
a Certificate in Diabetes Disease State Management.
Cordelia is married to Dr. Olufemi
Osidele and they are blessed with two sons, Tobi and Deji.
Cordelia serves as GOGI Assistant
Secretary.
Bose Oviasu (nee Ogbeifun)
Bose graduated with the Maria Goretti
class of 1982.
She received a Bachelor of Science
degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Edo State
University, Ekpoma in 1992, and a Master of Science degree in
Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the University of Detroit
Mercy, Michigan, USA, in 2003.
Bose is the President/CEO of Trustcare
Group Homes Inc. and also the President of Anointed Care Services
LLC, both in Michigan.
She is a member of the Board of
Trustees of Faith Redemption Center Church.
She is blessed with a family of three
boys, Samuel, Christopher and Emmanuel.
Bose serves as GOGI Financial
Secretary.
Magdalene Nelson Olagunju (nee Twakor)
Magdalene attended St. Maria Goretti
from 1977 to 1982.
She received a B.Sc. degree in
Biochemistry from the University of Benin in 1986, and a B.Sc. degree
in Medical Laboratory Sciences from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in
1990.
She is a member of the American Medical
Technologists.
She is currently employed as a medical
laboratory technologist with Kaiser Permanente in Georgia.
Magdalene is married to Kola Olagunju.
They have two adult sons and a 6-year old daughter, Elizabeth.
She is a devout Catholic, Catechist and
Blessed Sacrament adorer.
