Mrs. ESTHER NWADINAFOR OJI (OCHEZE) was the daughter of late Chief George Edward Epunam Nnubia and late Mrs. Betsy Enemchi Nnubia both of Egbema Ozubulu in Ekwusigo LGA of Anambra State. Her birth was highly welcomed and celebrated after several years of childlessness hence she was named “Nwadinafor”. Her grandfather, Chief Edward Nnubia, was a paramount Chief with British Royal Mandate who was instrumental in bringing Christianity into Ozubulu in 1908.

The planting of Christianity in Ozubulu by her grandfather was a watershed event that ended the abominable practice of the killing of twins. That abolition paved the way for the survival of Esther's brother Dr. Anadu Nnubia and Sarah, his twin sister. Dr. Anadu Nnubia who would have been discarded for merely being born a twin had the old practices continued, would go on to become the first Medical Doctor in Ozubulu and top of the graduating class of 1958 at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.

Her father who was also a paramount chief and the Obi of Egbema Ozubulu sent the young Esther to school at a very early age. She passed her Standard Six Certificate Examinations, which was a good level of education for girls then. For a period of time, she was under the tutelage of Archdeacon Onyemelukwe and his wife in the doctrine of the Christian faith, and the art of home making.

Because of her royal background; beauty and pedigree, she inevitably attracted many competing suitors. She was soon betrothed to and married to Chief Josiah Chukwuka Anazodo, the first son of an affluent and influential Chief Johnson Anazodo (Ezebieluibeya) and Madam Jemimah Ulunwa Anazodo of Otolo Nnewi. After the marriage they lived in Ogoja and Onitsha where she was a very popular and successful seamstress.

This marriage yielded three surviving children - two females and a male namely Hon. Chief (Mrs) Christie Ikedife J.P (Ayolugo Nnewi), Mrs. Ngozi Asianya JP and Ogbuefi Chukuwma Anazodo. Over this period she enjoyed pampering tender care, love and support of her family many brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles and friends particularly Dr. Anadu Nnubia, Chief Willie Maduka Nnubia and Mrs Alice Onwuzulu. However this otherwise blissful marriage terminated unexpectedly.

She later remarried to Chief Robert Chukwuemeka Oji (Ogbu Okee) of Ajalli in Orumba North Local Government Area. This happy marriage produced five children - two males and three females namely Chukuwdi Oji, Kingsley Oji, Dr. Mrs. Chikodili Jonnwakalo, Barr (Mrs.) Evans Enekwe, and Mrs. Chinyere Pearl Otti. With Mazi R C Oji, a professional Estate Surveyor, Land Officer and Contractor, they lived and worked in many cities which included Kaduna, Lagos, Abakiliki, Enugu, and Awka before they retired to Ajalli.

Mrs Esther Oji (Oche Eze) lived to be the oldest Nwada in the Umu Nwosu family in Egbema Ozubulu. While alive she was dutiful, dedicated, dependable, industrious and minding her business. She was deeply religious with abiding faith in God. She was active in the church activities of the town she found herself and never neglected her Christian obligations including charitable activities. She was a member of the Mother’s Union and ordained a Lay Reader in the Anglican Church.

Mama dutifully supported her husband in his church construction activities which was incidentally in most churches they attended over the years, from St Lukes Anglican church Ogui Enugu, Emmanuel Anglican church Achara layout Enugu, St Philips Anglican Federal Housing and St Marks and St Augustine Anglican churches in Ajalli. She was honored with the titles of Mother of faith and Ezinne in the Anglican Communion. Mama loved her “Ekpere na Abu” and would always start her personal devotions by reading from that and her Bible using Anglican “Daily Guide”. She loved singing hymns and among her favorite hymns were Abu 91 (Nihi Ndi Nso……) Words of faith she often said in prayers were “Chineke nna, ogi mazuru ihe nine, were amara gi zute anyi bu umu gi”.

She held several leadership roles both in the church as head of various women’s groups and in the social circles. She was the President, Ajalli Welfare Union (AWU) Women’s wing Enugu Branch for several years during which she together with other prominent Ajalli Women leaders like Chief Mrs. Elina Otti (Anusoro), Mrs. Monica Obu etc. contributed to development projects like the fencing of the Ajalli Girls Secondary school etc. She was an active member of Umuada Ozubulu Meeting Enugu Branch where she also held various leadership positions. She also belonged to the Hotel and Restaurants owners Association in Enugu.

Mama lived a contented fulfilled life. She was so peaceful, loving, not easily swayed and known to not keep grudges. She kept her word, had a philanthropic nature. and was known to pay visits to numerous charitable organisation such as Cheshire home, motherless babies homes, Oji Leper Colony etc.

Mama loved her family, friends and people around her such that she had pet names for them and loved to crack jokes. She was also referred to by many pet names herself such as OZ International, Izuga, Ugwunze, Ocheze, and would always break out in her lovely smile and laughter while called as such, while also calling the person by their own pet names. Ocheze was always fun to have around as she lightened most environments with her cheerful nature and had a way of seeing the silver lining in all clouds.

On return to Ajalli after their retirement from active business life with her husband, she still engaged in religious and social activities. She was known to always gainfully engage herself especially with her hobbies that included reading her Bible, magazines, newspapers, watching movies, singing hymns and counseling. Even while on retirement she formed an association of non Ajalli Ladies married to Ajalli men known as “ Twelve Sisters” with the objective of mentoring younger ones in love, togetherness and entrepreneurship,

Mama was a stickler for the truth, justice and equity at all times, a firm believer in uprightness and keeping to her words. She had an immovable faith that there is nothing God cannot do and had several testimonies to attest to this. She was peace-loving and strove to instill peace and harmony wherever she was present. She loved making her home neat and beautiful at all times and was known to redecorate her home as much as her means allowed her especially at festive periods.

She was a firm believer in unity and delegation of roles in the Christian family and insisted that wives should stick to their husbands in all situations. She frequently recounted that God’s numerous blessings in her lifetime. She had friendships that were not limited to her age bracket alone and impacted the lives of many young, old, high and low for good. Mama would say “ onwe natalu ihe aga eji we were ya” i.e she always sought to see the positive / good in everyone. She encouraged all to be gainfully engaged and live a Christ like life.

Mama would be remembered for her good seeds of benevolence, hard work, Christian discipleship and love in her life time. She served Christ till the end and recalled to her children that she was ready to go home whenever she received the call from her master. Mama would be remembered for always being willing to provide for the less fortunate and prayerfulness.

In her preparation for going home, Mama started a project of handing out personally signed Bibles to all her biological grandchildren, great- grandchildren and spiritual children as a token of her love and parting spiritual seeds sewn in their lives.

In appreciation to God for gift of health and fruitfulness in her lineage, she insisted that the names of all her children, grandchildren and all greatgrandchildren be listed in her funeral biography.

Mama was truly beautiful; she lived a beautiful life and has gone to the beautiful beyond………………

Her soul will surely rest in perfect peace. Amen!!!

Funeral service was held at St. Augustine's Anglican Church, Umuabiama Village, Ajalli on Friday October 7, 2016. Farewell ceremonies and celebration of life followed at the compound of Chief R. C. Oji in Ajalli, and subsequently at Nnewi.

For the Family: Chief Robert Chukwuemeka Oji (Husband)

Chukwudi Oji and Kingsley Oji +234-706-799-4177
_________________________________________________________________
 

A mothers Farewell to her children
 

"When I must leave you for a little while,

Please do not grieve and shed wild tears

And hug your sorrow to you through the years.

But start out bravely with a gallant smile,

And for my sake and in my name,

Live and do all things the same

Feed not your loneliness on empty days

But fill each waking hour with useful ways

Reach out your hand in comfort and in cheer,

And I in turn will hold you dear,

And never, never be afraid to die

For I am waiting for you beyond the sky"

Mama is survived by the following:

Chief Robert Chukwuemeka Oji: Husband

Chief Lady Christie Ikedife JP/Dr. Dozie Ikedife (Ikenga Nnewi): Daughter

Dozie Ikedife 

Kenechukwu Ikedife

Dr. Okeoma Umozulu 

Chiazor

Somadina Ikedife 

Onyedika Ikedife

Zieluchukwu Ikedife

Mrs Ngozi Asianya JP/Mr. Goddy Asianya: Daughter

Ifechukwu Asianya/Ifeoma Asianya

Dr Uche Asianya/ Ifunanya Asianya

Akuuho Asianya

Barr Onyinye Asianya

Chukwunwike Asianya

Mr. Chukwuma Anazodo/ Mrs. Ebele Anazodo

Chisom Okeke

Chinwendu Oliobi

Ifunanya Anazodo

Chukwuma Anazodo Jnr

Chibugo Anazodo

Ginika Anazodo

Ifeakarochi Anazodo

Zikora Anazodo

Dr. Mrs. Chikodili Jonnwakalo/Engr. Dadson Jonnwakalo(Afulukwe)

Chinenye Jonnwakalo

Okechukwu Jonnwakalo

Chukwunonso Jonnwakalo

Mr. Chukwudi Oji/Mrs. Ifeoma Oji

Whitney Oji

Erica Nkechi

.

.

Pope Oji

Barr. Mrs Evan Enekwe/Engr. Goddy Enekwe

Chinedu Enekwe

Nnamdi Enekwe

Princess Shantel Enekwe

George Enekwe

Austin(AK) Enekwe

Mr. Kingsley Oji /Mrs Ifeoma Oji

Kenechukwu Oji

Onyinye Oji

Chinonso Oji

Senator Oji

.

.

Mrs Chinyere Pearl Otti /Mr. Chidi Otti (Igwe)

Chiamaka Otti

Oluebube Otti

 

Grand and Great Grand Children

Dozie

Onaedo

Kene

Ganiru

Chidalu

Ebuka

Chijindu

OKEOMA Umeozulu

Kambilichukwu

Nnaetochukwu

Zina

Ziki

Oby Ileka

Chizara

Chizitalu

Dr. Somadina

Somadina Jnr

Chidubem

Chimbusomma

 

Ononso Nwafor-Orizu

Ebelechuwku Nwafor-Orizu

Nnamdi Nwafor-Orizu

Mmesoma Nwafor-Orizu

Ekene Nwafor-Orizu

Adaeze Asianya

Chigozie Asianya

Oluebube Asianya

Maduabuchukwu Asianya

Great Asianya

Chikamji Asianya

Ekenedilichukwu Asianya

 

Mrs Okeke Chisom

Dr(Mrs) Oliobi Chinwe

Miss Anazodo Ifunanya

Mrs Echendu Chibugo

Mr Anazodo Chukwuma (Jnr)

Miss Anazodo Ginika

Mr Anazodo Ifeakarochi

Master Anazodo Zikora

 

Okeke Ebube

Okeke Chimdalu

Echendu Kamara

Oliobi Tobechukwu

Echendu Onusinigwe

Echendu Chizitere

Oliobi Chikamso

Echendu Kasom

Adieu Mama!!!

 

For the:

Husband

Children

Grand Children

Great Grand Children

Brother

Nephew and Niece

In-laws.

 

TRIBUTE TO MY “MOTHER”

I am short of words. I didn’t know that I will write a tribute so soon and to you. You were motherly, friendly, caring, very prayerful with positive outlook even in the face of adversity. You took me as a daughter without the in-laws attached. Thanks for impacting our lives. We will miss having you with us, but know that you will forever be in our hearts, because I’m happy you had a good life and you spent it well. As a loving and Christian mother, I love you so much mama and I wish you a perfect journey in the Lord till we meet again. Fare well good mother (Esther)

Adieu Ocheze

Madam P.