BIOGRAPHY OF MADAM (MRS.) COMFORT PHILOMENA ABAKHUE ATSEGWASI (NÉE ITSUOKOR)
Madam (Mrs.) Comfort Philomena Abakhue Atsegwasi was born in 1917 in Ogbona, Ivhioche Quarters, into the families of Papa Itsuokor Isede and Mama Eghimhegie Itsuokor, née Akhenaviawu, of Chief Etu’s family of Fugar.
Her mother, Eghimhegie, was closely related to the Dunia, Idode, and Orbih families of Ivhido. This close family relationship explains why Eghimhegie and her daughters were buried at the Orbih family burial ground. Comfort was the third child in a large family of brothers and sisters.
Marriage and Family
Comfort married Papa John Igonor Atsegwasi, popularly known as Ikanama, who was then with the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) in Olokemegi, Ibadan. The marriage is believed to have taken place around 1937, when she was approximately 20 years old.
Their marriage was blessed with eight children, including a set of twins. At the time of her death, she was survived by four children—two sons and two daughters:
Mrs. Cynthia Alice Igbeneghu – Daughter
Major (Rtd.) Francis Atsegwasi – Son
Mrs. Magdalene Obomighie – Daughter
Mr. Godwin I. Atsegwasi – Son
A Mother of Discipline and High Expectations
Madam Abakhue was remembered as an exceptionally strict mother. She believed strongly in discipline, hard work, perseverance, education, and personal responsibility. Her approach to raising her children was uncompromising, reflecting the biblical admonition, “Spare the rod and spoil the child.”
She instilled what could be described as Spartan discipline in her children, with the expectation that each of them should strive for excellence and become a first in his or her chosen field.
The remarkable achievements of her children demonstrate the profound influence of her upbringing. Their accomplishments in education, teaching, the military, environmental management, and public service were, in many respects, a reflection of the values she demanded of them.
The Achievements of Her Children
Mrs. Cynthia Alice Igbeneghu
Mrs. Alice, her first child, became a pioneer in the history of Ogbona. She was the first female teacher in Ogbona and also became the first woman in the community to purchase and ride a Raleigh bicycle.
At a time when bicycle riding was widely regarded as a male preserve, her decision to purchase and ride a bicycle was remarkable. By doing so, she challenged an existing social perception and demonstrated that women could also participate in activities traditionally associated with men.
Her accomplishment was therefore significant not only as a personal achievement but also as an important landmark in the social history of Ogbona women.
Major (Rtd.) Francis Atsegwasi
Major (Rtd.) Francis Atsegwasi distinguished himself in the military and became another pioneering member of the family.
He was the first Military Science (MS) officer trained at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) and was commissioned into the Nigerian Army in 1971.
His military career represented another important milestone for the Atsegwasi family and brought distinction to Ogbona and the wider community.
Mrs. Magdalene Obomighie
Mrs. Magdalene Obomighie distinguished herself through an outstanding career in education.
She obtained the Grade II Teachers’ Certificate, followed by the Nigerian Certificate in Education (N.C.E.) and a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. She subsequently obtained a Master’s degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from Ahmadu Bello University.
Her commitment to education extended beyond her professional career. She became the Proprietress of Cherpherm Nursery, Primary and Secondary School in Kaduna, where she contributed to the education and development of younger generations before her retirement and eventual passing.
Mr. Godwin I. Atsegwasi
Among the surviving children of Madam Abakhue is Mr. Godwin I. Atsegwasi, who became a pioneer in the field of Forest Resources Management.
He was the first academically trained Forest Resources Management expert from the family, having studied at the University of Ibadan. He subsequently developed expertise in environmental management and the afforestation of biologically hostile environments, particularly in Nigeria’s northern arid zone.
His professional career included participation as part of Nigerian delegations to United Nations conferences on sustainable development in New York and Brazil, as well as participation in a World Energy Resources Conference in Austria.
He also obtained a Commonwealth secondment to work with the UK Environment Agency.
One of his notable contributions to Nigeria’s environmental management was his leadership of the team that developed 24 environmental regulations, which became operational nationwide as part of efforts to strengthen environmental protection and sustainability.
His professional contributions were recognised through several awards from the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA). He retired meritoriously in 2015 as a Deputy Director.
A Legacy of Discipline, Education and Service
The story of Madam Comfort Philomena Abakhue Atsegwasi is, in many respects, a story of discipline, sacrifice, perseverance, education, and prayer.
She lived at a time when opportunities for women and families in rural communities were limited, yet she raised children who went on to break new ground in several fields. Her daughter became a pioneering female teacher and bicycle rider in Ogbona; her son became a distinguished military officer; another daughter built a career in education and established a school; while another son became a pioneer in Forest Resources Management and a significant contributor to Nigeria’s environmental policy and regulation.
These accomplishments provide a window into the values that Madam Abakhue sought to instil in her children. Her insistence on discipline, hard work, education, perseverance, and prayer became an important part of the foundation upon which they built their individual lives and careers.
Legacy
Madam Comfort Philomena Abakhue Atsegwasi, née Itsuokor, occupies an important place in the history of the women of Ogbona. Her contribution was not necessarily through public office or formal community leadership, but through the family she raised and the values she transmitted to the next generation.
Her life illustrates the often-unrecognised role of mothers whose sacrifices, discipline, prayers, and determination helped produce individuals who became pioneers and achievers in their communities and professions.
Through her children and their accomplishments, the legacy of Mama Abakhue continues to live on in Ogbona and beyond.
She should therefore be remembered among the pioneering women of Ogbona whose influence extended beyond their immediate families and contributed to the educational, professional, social, and institutional development of the community.
