TRIBUTE TO A MOTHER IN A MILLION, A RARE GEM - MRS FAITH K NZELIBE
Mummy, it's not easy for me to write a tribute to you. Where do I start from, and how do I even start? Right from the minute I heard the sad news of your passing away words left me, coherent thoughts disappeared from my head.
Mom you were a great woman; selfless, compassionate, caring, humble, motivating, listening and eminently adaptive. Talking of adaptiveness the effortless way you adapted to our culture here in Africa and particularly in Igboland Nigeria is unprecedented. You relocated at some point in time from America to Nigeria and lived in Ihiala for some years and exhibited high level of love, openness, humility and generosity. You blended well with the Ihiala traditional society that one would wonder if you were born there. You never discriminated against anyone not minding your exalted social class. You were a strong member of St Silas Cathedral Ihiala and you bonded well with the women and became a prominent member of the Mothers Union and Women's Guild of the church till your recent call to glory. You were unarguably the Ruth of our time; you loved your husband late Dr J. Okechukwu Nzelibe and accepted him wholly following him wherever he went, you accepted his people as your people, and his culture as your culture. Mummy, I say a very big THANK YOU. You were an epitome of peace and trust. You were really a very good definition of a virtuous woman as captured in Proverbs 31 verse 10 following. I recall how you and my late mom would always sit and gist for hours on end. You were always eager to learn Igbo culture and language from her. You bonded well with her %. I love you mummy Faith.
You were a great cook in your right; how can I forget your delicious rice-pudding, pan-cake with gravy, delicious cakes & other pastries, Easter eggs adorned with many beautiful colours, etc. Christmas was something to look forward to as you would spice it up by ensuring that Christmas gifts for everybody were placed under the big Christmas tree. It was fun and I'm indeed grateful.
You were a good mother and you did not condone indiscipline, especially from your children. Adaora liked reading a lot and would constantly hide in my room to read her very fat novels. You would scream down the house with your shout of Adaora, Adaora. Mischievously Adaora would generally keep quiet and when you found her eventually you would simply chide and correct her with love. Wow! Same goes with Jide; when Jide and I would engage in a fight (or rather when I beat him for being mischievous or naughty - he always was) you would simply stand by and watch the drama and sometimes laugh it off without uttering a word. You trusted me and my sense of judgement. Great mother!
I recall with nostalgia the T-shirts you gave me back then in my university days; one with the inscription "Hiram College" and another one "Oberlin College". In school I wore them with style as if tomorrow 'no dey' with an air of "imakwa ndi anyi bu". That was how we used to roll in those days. Those T-shirts added value to my social life back then. Who wan try? Hahaha. Thank you ma.
When you moved to Enugu your house automatically became an extension of the family house. You welcomed all and sundry. I equally remember how you used to take us to your office/laboratory at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu. You were always eager to explain some scientific breakthroughs especially in Mycology to us. Honestly I don't think this tribute alone can contain your many attributes.
I was delighted and flattered when you, Chika and Sobechi in company of Obiageli visited me in Lagos on your way to relocating back to the United States. You guys spent some time with me and it was really enjoyable. At the end of the visit I drove you to the Murtala Mohammed International Airport to catch your flight. In the Departure Hall it was difficult to bid you guys fare well because all of us especially you, Obiageli and I were close to tears obviously because we were going to miss each other more so we didn't even know when we would see again.
Fortunately enough I was opportuned to again in the United States a couple of years ago. My family and I were on vacation in America (at Emma's place in Maryland) and we had a very beautiful big family reunion at Adaora's place in Cleveland, Ohio with you in attendance and as guest of honour. At the end of the party we all drove to your place to drop you off, and I promised to visit you again in no distant time not knowing that that would be the last time I would ever see you. I'm greatly saddened, mom.
You touched lives in so many ways. Our people back there in Ihiala and around Nigeria as a whole have been singing your praises since the breaking of the news of your passing. Our village has been in a pensive mood. You were really a most wonderful person and I'm proud of you. Your humanity is puzzling and beyond limits. You always had mankind in mind and your last wish before your call to glory clearly demonstrated the extent you could go to help mankind. Even in death you still sacrificed for mankind. You were different and one of a kind. Go well dear mommy Faith. Heaven has gained yet another angel and the earth poorer by the same margin.
May your beautiful soul rest in peace. Amen.
&
Commodore (Dr) Ifeanyi Nzelibe (Rtd)
