ForeverMissed
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Her Life

A Short but Fully Lived Life!

November 17, 2015

 Early Life
Orieji was born shortly after the second world war on December 31st, 1947 to late Madam Ndiya Elesie Dike and late Mazi Iwo Ndukwe. Her father named her Orieji after his beloved sister Orieji. Orieji was so beautiful and fair complexioned that neighbors tagged her “bekee hu uzor lua igbo.” Being the middle child of her mother’s seven children, she played that role very effectively until her demise, always reaching out to her three older and three younger siblings.


Early Education
Orieji began her education at the Presbyterian Primary School, Abiriba where she obtained her First School Leaving Certificate (F.S.L.C.) in 1964. She proceeded to Saint Catherine’s Secondary School at Nkwerre in the then Eastern Region Nigeria. When the Nigerian civil war broke out in 1967, Orieji came back home. And after the civil war she proceeded to Queen’s Secondary School at Enugu in 1970. In 1971, she sat for, passed, and obtained the West African School Certificate

Marriage and Family Life
Late Engineer/Architect Nnuka Ogwo Ijere had already taken notice of this hot cake and developed, albeit overnight, a huge crush on this young ambitious ripe Ebiri fruit. Later that year Orieji left the Nigerian shores to join her husband in Eugene, Oregon USA. Orie Ben, as she was fondly called after she got married, with her husband were blessed with a daughter (Nina Ijere-Otuka) and three sons (Ogwo Benjamin Ijere, Ireke Ijere and Ukiwe Ijere.) She exuded strength and did a very good job raising her children to adulthood after her husband died early in their marriage. She did her best to instill indelible values in all her children who are now grown and thriving in various works of life. Additionally, it gave her joy to be a grandmother! 

Professional Life
In the footsteps of her world-renowned role models Florence Nightingale and Mary Slessor,  Orieji launched her professional career when she enrolled into the School of Nursing at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan in 1973. And in 1976 she became a Registered Nurse (R.N), which was a huge accomplishment in those days. Until then only a handful in Abiriba had accomplished such feat. Family, friends, former classmates and the Abiriba community were obviously proud of this hot head professional. The sky literally was her limit, as she was apt to prove later in life. In 1982, while working as a registered nurse, and always having the quest for more knowledge, she took classes at the School of Midwifery at Aba General Hospital. And in 1983 she became a Registered Midwife (R.M).

Between 1988 and 1989, Orieji studied at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where she obtained a Diploma in Public Administration & Management. In 1998 she took a course with the Abia State Ministry of Health, Umuahia and officially became a Family Planning Clinician(F.P.C.). In her constant quest for more knowledge, she, in 2000 registered at Imo State University, Owerri. She came out in 2002 with B.Sc. (Nursing Administration & Management). She was at the top of her class.

Through hard work, dedication and constant yearning for laurels, Orieji rose through the ranks to become a Senior Administrative Matron, the position she occupied till her retirement in the year 2011. She served in various investigative panels, was a midwife, an intensive care nurse, an administrative nurse and later as a lecturer at Abia State University Teaching Hospital, she loved to pass on knowledge to upcoming Nurses and Midwives and later retired as an Administrative Chief Matron from Abia State University


Community and Church Life
Orie was very active in the community. She was a member of select social organizations including Abiriba Women’s Cultural Organization, to which she was elected President before her demise. Orie loved the Lord so much and believed totally in the power of the word of God. She served in various church committees and was known as, “Mma Nurse” to many, the nurse with a serving heart and the nurse with a healing touch!

She would always say, " I might be retired, but I'm not tired!" To that effect, even after her retirement, she continued to be a recognized Speaker in health matters at various health seminars and workshops. Her service to humanity earned her several awards and recognitions while she was alive we remain very proud of her and won't stop singing her praises! A Woman of Valor!