April 17, 2021
by Ezinne Obi
BIRTH AND EARLY CHILDHOOD
I was born in the year 1936 to late Mr. David Esonwune Echendu and Mrs. Janet Uzoahia Echendu of Mbara Ezihe Mbano Imo State. I never knew her mother because she died while i was a baby. I was nurtured by my father, who fed me with sweet palm wine in place of breast milk. When i grew older, he introduced other food necessary for the development of a child. My father taught me our Lord's prayer, 'Azu Ndu,' a famous Christian and language literature of those days, and how to read the Bible.
CHILDHOOD CHALLENGES AND EDUCATION
I was born in the year 1936 to late Mr. David Esonwune Echendu and Mrs. Janet Uzoahia Echendu of Mbara Ezihe Mbano Imo State. I never knew her mother because she died while i was a baby. I was nurtured by my father, who fed me with sweet palm wine in place of breast milk. When i grew older, he introduced other food necessary for the development of a child. My father taught me our Lord's prayer, 'Azu Ndu,' a famous Christian and language literature of those days, and how to read the Bible.
CHILDHOOD CHALLENGES AND EDUCATION
At the age of five i was afflicted with polio myelitis, which affected one of my legs. My father conveyed me to a hospital in Emekuku which was managed by an European Doctor. The journey was on the bicycle. The hospital workers tried their best. There were times they came to Anara and my father would take me there for treatment.
At the age of sis, I was enrolled in a Central School Anara. I also started Church activities at Christ Church Ezihe (Now the Cathedral Church of Christ), where i picked interest in singing in the church. I was also appointed the presenter in the school from the junior class to the senior level. Despite my physical challenge, i performed in concerts and took top positions in recitations. I also read Bible lessons in church on Children's harvest Sundays. I was made the Secretary of the Girl's Guild Church, Ezihe. I had my standard 6 Leaving Certificate in the year 1949.
I must specially appreciate Mrs. Mabel Osuji (who i call 'nne m ukwu'), the wife of late Archdeacon Osuji, and other who assisted me daily in carrying my school bag on my way to and from school while the polio attack became severe. I will forever remain grateful. May God reward her abundantly.
CALL TO TEACHINGBecause I could not get admission into the secondary school due to challenges, I enrolled into Domestic Science Abayi Umuocham Aba where i studied and got Domestic Certificate in 1950. In 1951, I was deployed to Mmirima Primary School to each illiterate women Our Lord's Prayer, the Bible and 'Azu Ndu.' Based on the excellent results of my students I was highly commended. This formally marked the beunnung of my teaching profession.
In 1952, I was transferred to Umunkwo Central School, Mbano, where i replaced a woman teaching on a maternity leave. In 1953 I was redeployed to Amaraku Central School where I was registered as a Probation Teacher (P.T). I was there for four years as an Assistance Teacher (A.T).
I later enrolled in Ezeoke Women Training Centre for further studies and training. In 1960 Ezeoke Women Training Centre was changed to a Girl's Secondary School. So, we were transferred to Akabo Women Training Centre to conclude our studies.
In 1961, I was a Higher Elentary teaching at Eziama Central School, After serving for a few month, i was transferred to Central School, Okohia, which much later became my marital home. In 1963, I was posted to St.Peter's Umukaku Central School, where I met Sir Innocent Ebere Obi, and we later got married.
In the same year (1963), my father died, SirInnocent Obi had more interest in me. In 1964 I returned to Central School Okohia. Still as a single lady, I was later transferred to to Central School Eziama in 1966 on request of my inlaw, late Sir L.U Onuoha. This was to assist in taking care of my sick elder sister, late Mrs, Bernice Onuoha, and her Children.
In 1969, my husband and i moved to Central School Okohia where we taught in a hiding place because of the civil war. I and my husband were living with some of my late sister's children, including Kingsley who was nine months. My husband helped me to nurse that baby, who eventually grew up to know me as his mother. After the war, we were later transferred to Umunachi, Osuama.
In 1975, we were transferred home, that was shortly after the death in1974 of my father-inlaw, late Mr. Godfrey Onwuzuruike Obi. I was posted to Central School Umunchi. By this time we had completed our new home at Umuokparadibia. I was going for teaching from our new house.