It is to the glory of our most High God that we write to express our gratitude to all and sundry for the immeasurable support and encouragement we received during our just concluded 90th Anniversary Celebration and Award ceremonies of the Nigerian Girl Guides Association. I wonder what we would have done without the co-operation from all states, including our Patrons and Matrons.

It was an exciting experience to all, right from the arrival day. The float was a beautiful sight to behold as we spread our joy round the entire Lagos metropolis - a team went round Lagos Island and Surulere, another team to Mile 2 and beyond and the third team went to Ikeja including the secretariat at Alausa and the Deputy Governors Office. The joy was very infectious and workers came out in droves and joined the 550 guides to celebrate.

Our Opening Ceremony which also was an opportunity to honour some of our Role Models was generously hosted by the Lagos State Patron, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola. The Queen's College Hall was packed with Guests and members. Zones entertained the audience; what a beautiful collaboration - the true guiding spirit was exhibited by all. Our youth's visibility involved, as among other things, they read the citations, served as ushers, and stewards.

Our President, Past Chief Commissioners, and Past National Officers including our Trustee Rt. Rev. George Bako joined in the celebration of our commitment to the service to humanity, through raising well behaved, self-actualized girl children and the young women.

A lot of lectures, interactions, group works and socialization took place during the eight days camp and all enjoyed the exposure and experiences acquired. Despite the heavy down pour on Saturday 5th September, the Guides were out on the Environmental Sanitation day at Yaba. Again, we served with joy and the community benefited by our presence.

Our spiritual life was not ignored. We had the Jumat prayer at the Mosque and on Sunday we went to the Methodist Cathedral, Yaba and were part of their church Harvest festival. Our closing ceremony was as exciting as our opening ceremony. We ended with a state Night where all the states exhibited their crafts, wares and food delicacies. The feasting was a real show of sisterhood. Of course our dinner suffered because many people forgot to go to the dinning hall for dinner.

Tuesday morning, the day of departure witnessed real, mixed feelings; yet we must part to meet again. We must go home and tell the good news through improving our guiding activities. We must be able to truly impact on the lives of the girl child and the young women, and ensure that they discover their potentials, and together, we can empower them through education.

It is impossible to recognize all our Role Models and Mentors during this ceremony. We had to hold back some of the names for our one hundred years (centenary) celebration of Girl Guiding in the World. Such names, including their pictures and citations with emphasis on their guiding activities should be sent to us not later than 31st December 2009. Endeavour to meet the deadline as no late entries will be accepted. This should be accompanied. With Goodwill messages from states and individuals.

- Full Page N35,000.00 (thirty five thousand naira)
- ½ Page N 20,000.00 (twenty thousand naira)

We are publishing the Goodwill messages from our National Patron Dame Patience Good luck Jonathan and our Lagos State Patron Mrs.Abimbola Fashola in this Newsletter since many people did not have copies of these massages.

We apologise to our Imo State Patron whose photograph was inadvertently omitted in the Anniversary brochure. . We are therefore publishing this two omission in this Quarterly Newsletter which infact will be read by guides and non-guides all over the Federation and beyond. We indeed regret these omissions.

The last quarter of this year will be very busy for a number of reasons.

- Mrs. Alice Waweru will be on an assessment visit on behalf of WAGGGS on
  30 / 10 / 09 to 3rd November 2009.

- We shall have a one day retreat on Wednesday 4th November 2009.

- Our last Exco for the year will be on Thursday 5th and Friday 6th November   2009.

We are requesting that
(1) All State Reports are forwarded to the Zonal Chairman / Deputy Chief       Commissioner who will make a comprehensive report on the states within the       zone

(2) All statistics are e-mailed to the National Secretary before mid October 2009       to enable us prepare our own reports on states.

* Note that defaulting states may be seen as inactive and so will not be     reimbursed with their travel allowances to Exco.

We need the schedule for State Centenary Celebration of the Girl Guides Association to enable us include them in the 2010 Plan of Activities. We shall appreciate your early and prompt response to our request for information to enable us serve you better.

Let me on your behalf thank Mrs. Ansa Uko, the Chairman and her team - members of the 90th Anniversary Planning Committee, - for job well done. No doubt, they spent time, energy, financial and material resources in the service.

Let us all thank them for all their sacrifices and pray for God's grace over them.

We also thank all the States that made it to the Anniversary Celebration. We know and appreciate your efforts especially the states that did not have the expected support from their Patrons. We will continue to remind the State Patrons and Matrons that we are there to help them reach out to our teeming girls and young women who need their encouragement to excel.

We convey our appreciation and gratitude to the good and caring Patrons, may your shadow never grow deem. 2010 is Centenary Celebration, you will later be briefed on the celebration details.

Once more, it was a beautiful and successful outing and we thank you for your various contributions towards the successes we achieved. It was a collective effort and may God bless you all really good.

Dame (Dr) Christie Toby Chief Commissioner.