By Uche Ofili
Life is a journey we are born to undertake. In life’s journey, we meet different people, and we pass through numerous experiences. Some of them are pleasant and some others are not so pleasant. As we move on, we make an impact on people’s lives, and when we are no more, our absence is felt.
When there is a cross-over to the other side, for many people it is usually heart-touching, and it reminds us of the inevitability of death for everyone no matter their status in society. The agrarian community of Onicha-Ugbo in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State is presently mourning one of its valuable gems in no other person than an accomplished daughter, Madam Elizabeth Adaeke Ofili (nee Iyama), a woman many looked up to for inspiration. She was born on March 11, 1935, in Onicha Ugbo to the family of Daniel Obuka Iyama and Agnes Iyama of Idumu Odegwe Quarters of Umuolo Village in Onicha Ugbo, Anioch North Local Government Area of Delta State.
She is one of the daughters of the community, who served it meritoriously. Her life and times were filled with testimonies of good deeds and compassion for everyone who came across her. Friends and relations from Onicha-Ugbo who were close to her during her lifetime called her Miss (a term used to refer to teachers in the days of old). She attended Holy Child Mayfair Convent School Afikpo among other schools, where she obtained her Teachers Grade II Certificate (TTC) in 1956. She practised her teaching profession in schools such as Holy Child Convent School Bansara and Holy Child Convent School Okuku in Ogoja in the present-day Cross River State between 1957 – 1958. Also, she taught at Christ the King Catholic School, Uyo, then under Calabar province and in the present-day Akwa Ibom State.
In 1963, she left the teaching profession to join the employ of the then African Continental Bank Ltd (ACB) as a Clerk and worked in branches situated in towns such as Uyo, Benin, Koko, Aba and Port Harcourt within the present-day South-South and South-East regions of Nigeria respectively, where she rose to the position of an Accountant before she retired in 1991. Upon her retirement from ACB, her town Onicha Ugbo invited her to be part of the defunct Ezechi Community Bank which she managed until she left its service.
She married Dennis Uche Ofili in 1967 and they had five (5) wonderful children who are all educated and are successful in their chosen career paths and have nine (9) grandchildren amongst them. Many will fondly remember her as a mother, because of her ability to open her doors to all and sundry who sort for accommodation, which she gladly gave without prejudice, and for her ability to dish out delicious meals that leave everyone coming back for more.
She was a leader in so many respects and led the Onicha Ugbo Patriotic Union (OPU) women’s wing Port Harcourt branch for 15 years. In the early 1990s, she also led a social group of women in Port Harcourt known as “Otu Ifeoma Agwu Uwa”. Until her death, Madam Elizabeth Adaeke Ofili was a very prominent member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church Life Camp Abuja where she worshipped for so many years and was honoured for her dedication and commitment to serving God through the activities of the church.
Today, so many mourn the death of “a woman with a heart of gold”, who will be fondly remembered as a Saint by loved ones.
Adieu Mummy, you will forever remain in our hearts.
Uche Ofili (Son)