In October 2022, under the golden skies of Lagos, a new chapter began. Trefoil Guild was birth in Nigeria with the efforts of the Pioneer Country Chair, Her Excellency, Dame Christie Toby. Dame Christie Toby held the position of the Chief Commissioner, Nigeria Girls Guide Association, NGGA; the zenith of Girl Guiding in Nigeria. She was determined to see that girl guiding does not end at the zenith of NGGA. She ignited the flame heralding the birth of Trefoil Guild Nigeria; an adult arm of guiding where older guides can continue mentoring the girls and women alike in leadership, character, human capacity building, skills acquisition, human rights activism to protect the rights of women and girls as well as teaching them the importance of protecting the values of womanhood, which is key to adding value to the nation. Dame Christie's foresight connects the ''Guild'' to observe International activities inline with the United Nation's vision as well as that of the Nigerian Girl Guides Association, NGGA; making sure there is harmony in guiding across Nigeria. In synergy with the new Chief Commissioner of the Nigerian Girl Guides Association, Deaconess Rhoda Thomas, the Trefoil Guild Nigeria was formally inaugurated; October 2022, a moment that echoed the resilience and passion of women who refuse to let the Guiding light dim.
TREFOIL GUILD NIGERIA 2022 NATIONAL CONFERENCE
ADDRESS BY THE COUNTRY CHAIR HER EXCELLENCY, DAME DR. CHRISTIE A.G. TOBY
Protocol
We give God all the Glory for the enabling Grace to see our second Anniversary of the Trefoil Guild Nigeria.
May I, on your behalf, appreciate our dear President, Her Excellency, Dame Abimbola Emmanuella Fashola, who is never ever tired of ensuring that Girl Guiding and all its arms, including Trefoil Guild Nigeria perform optimally.
Our dear Chief Commissioner, who is at all times, ready to listen, advise and make quick contributions and interventions on all matters whenever the need arises. You are highly appreciated and we pray that your shadow never grows less. To my dear sisters, the KEEPERS OF THE FLAME, through all the very active State Co-ordinators, all your hard work and show of love towards our girls, especially the vulnerable are highly appreciated. I am confident that by the time we read or listen to reports or listen to State Reports, we will come to appreciate these dynamic leaders appropriately. Indeed the labourers are few but the harvest is much".
Let us therefore resolve in this Conference to ensure we reach out and seek ways to make life more meaningful.
As Adult Guides. We must encourage our up - coming ones - our girls and young women in as many ways as will be possible to walk the talk as responsible adult. By this, we will be able to, impact on the communities they live in.
We must endeavor as we promised to "help other people at all times reach out and touch lives.
Last year, our theme was "TREFOIL FLAME IGNITE" and so for the past one year, we have done just that -"The guiding light remains shining in our various States.
This year, our Theme is "OUR WORLD, OUR PERFECT FUTURE" Indeed with our vision, of ensuring we have "An equal world where all girls can thrive" Our Mission of ensuring that
"Girls and young Women develop their fullest potentials as responsible citizens of the world; as well as our promise "To do our duties to God and our countries to help other people at all times, and to obey the Guides Laws" We believe with a little more energy, we can actualize these dreams.
It is our prayer that God will grant us His Grace to interact, learn from each other, network, reassess ourselves and with great resolve, recover our last grounds and achieve greater success in the next one year.
Our girls and young women need us to, through the assistance of:-
i. Our children ii. Our friends
iii. Contacts that will help them grow and excel.
It is really heartwarming when we read or see the enormous impact Trefoil Guild Nigeria is making on our girls and young women and in fact go a step further to impact on our boys too.
It is my earnest prayer that in the coming years, these KEEPERS of the FLAME will continue
Conference
ensure that our Guiding Light will continue to blaze higher and wider.
Let me specially appreciate our guests and friends who have shown us great love by sharing this fellowship with us. We will continue to extend our right hand of fellowship because there are so much we can do together to continue to build up confidence as well as put smiles of the faces of those coming after us.
On behalf of the entire Trefoil Guild Nigeria, I want to very profusely thank the Rivers State Coordinator and the entire Trefoil Guild, Rivers State.
- They negotiated to get our hotel rate drastically reduced
- They taxed themselves to feed all the delegates
Your conference bags, T-Shirt and programmes are at their cost - It is our sincere prayer that God blesses each and every one of you beyond your expectation.
All States that sent goodwill messages have in no small way helped in making our 2023
Conference Brochure very rich with your pictures and write - ups.
As we depart from here, to our various destinations, we pray that our father in Heaven blesses us and grants each and every one of us, journey mercy to our various destinations.
Emerging as the Founding Country Chair, Trefoil Guild Nigeria, Her Excellency, Dame Christie Tobie has a team of executives to champion the course of leadership for the period of three years tenure.
Dame Christie Tobie Country Chair (Pioneer Country Chair)
Rt.Hon. Elizabeth Ativie Vice Country Chair
Asime Dandison-Brown National Secretary
Grace Frank Ojobo National Treasurer
Grace Akwe Gotip National Project Coordinator
Lolo Martina Enwo-Igariwey A Zone Coordinator
Rev. Elizabeth O. Adeyemo B Zone Coordinator
Nkechi Agorom C Zone Coordinator
Dame Christie Toby served well, grooming women leaders and mentoring girls in all ramification.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Achievements of the Pioneer Country Chair, Her Excellency, Dame Dr. Christie Toby
1. First Annual Conference – Lagos (2022)
Theme: “Trefoil Guild Ignite”
• The official inauguration of Trefoil Guild Nigeria was successfully conducted.
• Election and swearing-in of the Pioneer Country Chair, Dame Dr. Christie Toby, alongside the pioneer national executives.
• This conference marked the formal birth and institutional foundation of Trefoil Guild Nigeria.
- NGGA Trefoil Guild Handbook launched
• 2. Second Annual Conference – Port Harcourt (2023)
Theme: “Our World, Our Perfect Future”
• Conducted the election of additional National Officers, strengthening the national leadership structure.
• Inaugurated the Constitution Drafting Committee, chaired by Dr. Amalu, with Hon. Justice Oluwaseun Shogbola as Alternate Chairperson, and Barr. Daba Iketubosin as Secretary.
- Celebrated 80 years of global Trefoil Guild
- On behalf of Trefoil Guild Nigeria, Dame Dr. Christie Toby pledged support towards the construction of the Nigeria Girl Guides Association (NGGA) National Building in Abuja.
3. Third Annual Conference – Jos (2024)
Theme: “Our World, Our Thriving Future”
• Led a national community service intervention addressing gender-based violence.
• On behalf of Trefoil Guild Nigeria, presented a cheque of ₦1,992,000 (One Million, Nine Hundred and Ninety-Two Thousand Naira) to Salamatu Ibrahim to offset her hospital bills and procure a prosthetic hand.
• The beneficiary was a survivor of severe domestic violence, whose arm was amputated following an assault by her husband.
4. Fourth Annual / International Conference – Ogun State (2025)
Theme: “Embracing the Future: Innovation and Leadership in Guiding”
• Fulfilled the earlier pledge by presenting a ₦3 million cheque to the Nigeria Girl Guides Association (NGGA) as project support.
• Successfully steered the National Trefoil Guild Constitution through its Third and Final Reading, leading to its formal adoption as the Guild’s legal governing document.
• Supervised the election of new National Officers, culminating in the emergence of Grace Frank Ojobo as the new Country Chair.
Under the leadership of Dame Dr. Christie Toby, all member states observed International days including Campaign against Gender Based Violence in Nigeria.
The Trefoil Guild Nigeria Constitution underwent three readings:
1. First Reading held in Jos, Plateau State, during the 3rd Annual Conference.
2. Second Reading – By State Coordinators during their meetings at their respective states and meetings.
3. Third & Final Reading as held in Abeokuta, where the amended constitution was adopted as the Guild’s legal document.
The third reading of the Constitution was conducted, followed by deliberations on the structure, discipline, and ethical standards. Delegates emphasized:
• Establishment of a National Disciplinary Committee to regulate the conduct and behavior of members to conform to its value, rules and regulations.
• Promotion of decorum, humility, and respect in leadership must be seen among members
• The Constitution Drafting Committee chaired by Justice Sogbola Oluseun and Barr. Daba Harry was mandated to submit the final approved copy to the National Leadership of Trefoil Guild Nigeria which is expected to be given to the states.
H.E Dame Christie Toby and her team of National Executives served meritoriously and passed the baton od leadership per excellence to the newly elected Country Chair, Grace Frank Ojobo, and Newly Elected Executives during the 1st International and 4th National Annual Conference held in Abeokuta Ogun State 3nd-5th October, 2025 to serve a tenure of three years, renewable by elections.
TGN held its second elections to ursher new leaders to steer the mantle of leadership for the next three years.
The newly elected executives include
TREFOIL GUILD NIGERIA NATIONAL EXECUTIVES
Country Chair: Grace Frank Ojobo (Plateau)
Vice Chair:
Adaejiejemba Chinyere Louis- Ozuzu
(Imo)
National Secretary: Anna Wudeama Paul-Gindiri
(Plateau)
National Treasurer: Olonade Labake (Ogun)
National Project Coordinator: Asime Brown
(Rivers)
National PRO: Elizabeth O. Ouserigha-Usen
(Bayelsa )
ZONAL COORDINATORS
A Zone : Dr. (Mrs.) Ijeoma Ejike
B Zone : Emegwo Cordelia
(Edo)
C Zone : Amb. Dr. Rhoda Godwill Jahota (Plateau)
From Crystal Palace to Nigeria’s Shores…
- 1909: Brave girls demand inclusion at the first Boy Scout Rally at Crystal Palace, London
- 1910: Official formation of the Girl Guides Association
- 1919: Establishment of Girl Guiding in Nigeria
- 1920: Former Guides began forming unofficial "Old Guide" groups
- 1935: 'Old Guides' organisation formally established
- 1943: Official birth of the Trefoil Guild under the Girl Guides Association
- 1947: First Trefoil Guilds officially registered
- 1952: Gains recognition as self-governing, self-financing body
- 1954: First Constitution ratified; becomes fully independent
- 1966: Nigerian Girl Guides Association joins as full WAGGGS member
- 1980s: Trefoil Guild quietly established in Nigeria
- 1993: Celebrates Golden Jubilee (50 years) internationally
- 2022 Historic Year for Trefoil Guild Nigeria:
- October: Formal inauguration in Lagos under Chief Commissioner Deaconess Rhoda Thomas
- First national event "Trefoil Flame Ignite" held
- NGGA Trefoil Guild Handbook launched
- 2023: Celebrated 80 years of global Trefoil Guild
- 2nd Annual National Trefoil Guild Conference was held at Port Harcourt, Rivers State
- 2024: 3rd Annual National Trefoil Guild Conference was held at Jos, Plateau State
