our mother has passed on to glory. She was and is mummy, Alice Owarieta (aka kawhe).she was a unique mother,grandmother. The life of truth, honesty and diligence which mum lived is a legacy which no man or woman will be able to take away.we will live that life and pass It on to the next generation.
Our mother was born in osun state, to the enguhwure ( who was the seven child in the family.)her siblings were as follows:
Mrs. Onoteyere Nikoro sister
Mrs. Amatake Akopsibruke sister
Mrs.jelina Omasoro sister
Mrs. Christiana Ibono sister
Mr. Steven Enurayce brother
Mr. Lucky Enughwure brother
Mr. Macaulay Enughwure brother
Mrs. Queen Essi sister
After marriage to her husband (our father) in Agbahro,they both life there for some time and give birth to her daughters Maureen, and then they both move from Agbahro and relocate to Niger state in Nigeria, were she give to her daughters Augustina before relocating to Lagos state for good.
Mama was being doubly beraved, thus began the difficult task of raising her children with her husband,mama knew her onions. She returned to farming on a large scale and often rose very early in the morning while others were yet asleep, to go her farm , and ensured that the season were best utilized,while farming on the one hand , she made sure on the other land , that her children attended government primary school and would use force if any of them attempted to play truancy .At a point in time, mama applied this same diligence to her trade. She would harvest the produce of her farm which often consisted of okro,vegetables,maize,cassava,yam,and so on and take them to the market on daily basis, with the money realised, she would buy whatever we need in school and to raise us her children. Mama was a star mother. The biblical statement was very true: " seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men". Proverbs 22:29.
Mama continued to work even harder, combining her farm work with a wide scope of trade in the surrounding market and in front of her house,she was her husband pride.
Mama was a strict disciplinarian with rules and regulation and all the children still living with her must mandatory abide with. There was no exceptions. Monday to Friday were school days and every child must attend .the weekends and holiday s were "farming days" and every child under her roof must attend the farms except during Sundays mama never miss church, she known Augustina hate farm work but she will tag along with her friends who always do her share of the farm work.
Mama was rose by 4 am every day and you have to rise with her by 5am .if any child who disobeys risks been flogged with cane,rain is not a reason not to do your washing, none of her children is permitted to smoke cigarettes or indulge in any form of alcohol intake.when Mama wakes you up to come with her to the farm or rise to prepare for school, you don't say no,she had an adage that she often told us she say when the okro plant grows so tall that the planter cannot reach to harvest it, the planter must bendvthe plant downwards to harvest the fruits. that was mama. Thus we grew up strong and steady.
Mama was gold of many colours. The Bible in proverbs 31:10-18 had mama in mind when the virtuous woman was written of :
An excellent wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.
The heart of her husband trusts in her
And he will have no lack of gain
She does him good, and not harm,
All the days of her life.
She seek wool and flax,
And works with willing hands.
She is like the ships of the merchant;
She brings her food from afar.
She rises while it is yet night
And provides food for her households
And portions for her maidens.
She considers a field and buys it
with the fruit of her hands she plants vineyards.
She dresses herself with strength
And makes her arms strong.
She perceives that her merchandise is profitable
Her lamp does not go out at night.
( English Standard version)
Mama had love for education of her children. she told us about the good outcomes of education and this was the reason she enforced education amongst her children.
Mama lived a life of purity and transparency. Hers was a Godly life. She wished no one harm or evil and had no hidden agendas. Right from our growing up until we left the house to live our separate lives, we didn't see mama serving strange gods or visit mediums and consulting oracles, mama lived the rest of years. As time went on ,we watched our "action mama",growing old .our mother who rose as early as 4am ,7days a week , gradually gave up her farming and trades. If someone had told us this years' back, we would have doubted. She could no longer go to market but she would walk to the compound daily then return after some time because she is sick at a later stage of her life, mama even though sick, she herself will be willing to attend all church program, I could record she fell from bike twice and still she still willing to go to church,she would not allow anyone or anything to stop her from attending service,
Mama retained her senses till the end. The apple of her eyes omoteojevwe .
Mama survived by
Husband:
Mr.Lawrence Owarieta
Children:
Mrs. Maureen EGBA
Ms. Augustina Owarieta
Dr. Sussy Owarieta
Grandchildren:
Grace Egba
Glory Egba
Marvellous Lawrence
And son in-laws.
