The Management of Edgerley Memorial Girls’ Secondary School, Calabar has appointed and inaugurated twelve students as prefects for the 2017/2018 academic session. This is contained in a memo signed by the Vice Principal Administration, Pastor (Mrs) Victory Ebong, sent to various Heads of Department and made available to Edgerley Press. It was gathered from the memo that the following students have been certified as prefects: Favour Esin Otu – Senior School Prefect, Ruth Femi Fabiyi – Assistant School Prefect, Mbang Asi Edim – Chapel Prefect, Blessing Clement Uya – Labour Prefect and Eme Ekpo Henshaw –

Assistant Labour Prefect. Others are Edak Okokon Ambo – Sanitary Prefect, Divine Bernard Asor – Assistant Sanitary Prefect, Doris Ironbar – Games/Social Prefect, Matilda Innocent Ovat – Hostel Prefect, Favour Inuen Inyang – Assistant Hostel Prefect, Patience C. Okoro – Bell Regulator and Sylvia Archibong Eyo – Assistant Bell Regulator. Speaking on the occasion to mark the official inauguration of the prefects at the school’s Assembly Hall, the Principal, Elder (Mrs) Iquo Oboko Oku charged the new prefects to above all show unreserved reverence for the rules and regulations of the school. She advised that respect for the rules and constituted authorities are inevitable in achieving effective leadership roles. Elder Oboko thanked the out-going prefects for their service and devotion to duty during their tenure and wished them well in their future endeavours especially the forthcoming SSCE and UTME exams.

Making an acceptance speech on behalf of the newly inaugurated prefects, the Senior School Prefect, Favour Esin Otu expressed gladness and commitment to the onerous task before her. She remarked; “I am so glad to stand before you as the Senior School Prefect for the 2017/2018 session. It is not a right but it’s an opportunity…. On behalf of my colleagues, we promise to obey the rules and regulations of the school, lead by example and also make the management proud of us”. She concluded by soliciting God’s wisdom to always lead the students in the right direction

Earlier in her valedictory speech, the outgoing Senior School Prefect, Esther Mbara says her heart is filled with joy at the occasion: “my heart is filled with joy to stand before you as the outgoing Senior School Prefect”. She continued by thanking the school management, staff, students and her colleagues for their support. According to her “I want to use this opportunity to thank the school management, teachers, students and my colleagues for standing by my side when I needed them most”. Finally, she prayed that God should help the newly inaugurated prefects to perform their duties: “on behalf of my colleagues, I pray that God should help the newly appointed prefects to carry out their duties diligently and effectively”, she concluded.

To be selected as a prefect in EMGSS, one is expected to pass through a rigorous selection committee made up of high ranking staff of the school. Edgerley press gathered that this year’s selection was headed by the Vice Principal Administration, Pastor (Mrs) Victory Ebong. Speaking exclusively to Edgerley Press on the interview/selection process, Pastor Ebong disclosed that the appointees were selected based on certain stipulated criteria which include academic performance, discipline, personal appearance and politeness. Others are regularity and punctuality to school, fluency and ability to express self, honesty and personal comportment among others. The newly inaugurated prefects have assumed duties with immediate effect.