Biographies

BIOGRAPHY OF MRS COMFORT AKHUMEO ANAWEOKHAI (NEE ASEKHAUNO) Mrs Comfort Akhumeo Anaweokhai, was born on September 11, 1941 into the family of late Mr Okogie Martin Asekhauno (d. Oct. 6, 1955) of Ogbona and Mrs Mary Oghiator Agbamhe of Ivhiughelo quarters in Iraokhor (d. June 24, 1988) on September 11, 1941. As a young, promising girl, she attended St Peter’s Catholic School, Ahoada, Rivers State. She then proceeded to Holy Rosary Convent School in Portharcourt where she had her standard 6 between January 1955 and December 1956. At the news of her father’s serious ailment, she left Portharcourt for home. Between 1957 and 1958, she taught at St Theresa Catholic School, Fugar, and Sacred Heart Primary School, Agenebode. Between 1959-1960, she attended Sacred Heart College, Ubiaja, for her T.C III between January 1959 and December 1960. After her marriage in May 1961, she went back for her T.C. II in Ubiaja from January 1965 to December 1966. As a young teacher, she taught at Ugbogiobo, Egbudu-Aka, Nsukkwa, and Baptist High School, Benin City. She did her N.C.E. at the College of Education, Benin City, from January 1981 to December 1983. She did her National Youth Service Corps between 1983-1984. Due to some health challenges, she relocated back home in August 1985 and continued her teaching profession at Ogbona Secondary School, Ogbona, from October 1985 till she retired in December 1993. She worked as a disciplined, devoted, dedicated, accomplished, respected, and fulfilled English teacher. Our beloved Mother taught English, Literature in English, Music, and Dance at Ogbona Secondary School, Ogbona. She loved singing Christian music and composed quite a few. She was a Humanitarian to the core and cared for all, especially the weak and helpless. She has remained a pious, diligent, loving, darling, and faithful mother and wife over the years. Amid all the hurdles and crises of marriage and family life, she has kept her well-bred bred gentle, calm, reserved, and loyal disposition and mien. She has remained with her family, especially during the hay days of transfers of her husband from one place to the other, inculcating morals and discipline into her God-given children. CHURCH LIFE Right from when she was a young girl, she has been a very active, faithful, and devoted catholic. She joined the choir as a young girl in primary school. She was a member of some notable catholic Organizations and Associations like St Jude Society, Catholic Women Organization, Lay Readers Association, Sacred Heart of Jesus, St Anthony’s Guild, to mention but a few. POSITIONS HELD IN CHURCH 1996 – 2007 ​-​President, CWO Ogbona 1999 – Till date​-​President, Ass. Of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Ogbona 2000 – Till date​-​President Guild of St Anthony. She passed away on August 4, 2025, at the age of 84 years

In Loving Memory of Ikhane Anthony Anejo (January 15th, 1951 – August 08, 2025) Ikhane Anthony Anejo, a paragon of kindness and generosity, was born on January 15th, 1951, in Ogbona town, Etsako Central Local Government Area, Fugar. He was the son of Ikhane Atsike and Zenebu Amiekhamhe (fondly called Nene or Omosi Ivhido) from Ivhido quarter, Ogbona. Anthony’s life was a testament to his unwavering commitment to helping others, a value he cherished deeply. As the third child and first son of his mother, Nene (Omosi Vhido), Anthony’s early life was marked by promise. Following the passing of his father in 1971, Anthony’s determination to succeed only grew stronger. Though he initially aspired to pursue formal education, circumstances led him to acquire a different skill – that of a timber operator. Through hard work and dedication, Anthony became a master in his field, earning recognition across Etsako as one of the finest timber operators. His expertise and reputation spanned far and wide, a testament to his unwavering commitment to excellence. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Anthony was a multifaceted individual with a passion for music. He was an expert in playing the flute (Uke), which was richly used in the traditional dance of Ogbona called Amhi. This talent earned him several awards from various parts of Nigeria, including Lagos, Abuja, and Benin. Anthony’s selfless personality was evident in his willingness to help others, regardless of age or status. He was particularly supportive of those seeking to further their education, and his generosity touched the lives of many. Anthony Anejo Ikhane was revered for his truthfulness, simplicity, and philanthropic spirit. He blessed many with his kindness and left an indelible mark on the lives of those who knew him. His family, including his children and wives, was a source of joy and pride for him. As we remember Anthony’s life and legacy, we take comfort in the knowledge that his soul rests in the loving care of God Almighty. May his memory continue to inspire us to live lives of kindness, compassion, and service to others. Amen.

Echoes about Eramha lgenepo Ateghie. By Anthony Ogedegbe For some of us who grew up within the Congo territory (Ughiagbai) in the 60s, Igenepo was a man that we all respected for his industry and uncommon entrepreneurship spirit. His first public popular appearance in Congo as many of us can recall was during the early period of the Nigerian – Biafra war. Igenepo had spent most of time as a very successful business man in northern Nigeria. He owned food commodity and transport business. During the Araba in the North when the Easterners were being targeted for genocidal operations, Igenepo used his trailer vehicle to evacuate many southerners and Ibos who were particularly targeted for annihilation. He successfully evacuated his family and properties and arrived home safely with his trailer. During the celebration of his safe arrival home, many of us rode on the trailer to Iraokhor singing and thanking God for the protection and safe arrival of our own. It was from Igenepo that we got first hand information about what was pending as far as the Gowon – Ojukwu saga was concerned. Not quite long, Igenepo traveled back to the North again according to information to assist in the evacuation of more Ibos who were being massacred. It was in this process that he was arrested and his trailer confiscated and used to convey soldiers to the war fronts when full-scale hostilities began. He escaped being conscripted into the Nigerian army and came back without the trailer. As a man with the spirit of never – give up, he relocated to Auchi to start all over again in order to survive until he finally relocated home because of old age. His life and temperament was no doubt shaped by the experience during the civil war when he lost his business in the North and had to start all over again. His love for other Nigerian language especially Hausa was very deep and passionate. Anytime I come to the village, my first point of call naturally will be to his house so that he can refresh the Hausa language He loved so dear. He was very friendly and serious with anything he laid his hand to do. Igenepo will be remembered as a man who trusted only himself may be because of his life experiences. He was my very respected elder. I will surely miss him. My condolences to his family. ——————————— Philip Orbih May his Soul Rest in Peace.Thank you for this very interesting part of him we never knew. All I recall of him is his Honda Roadmaster Motorcycle that he rode so confidently in the Village.You can easily identify when he is approaching by the sound of his Motorcycle. And of course his grocery store which I personally patronized growing up in Ogbona.May his Soul Rest in Peace. ——————————— Wilson Asekomhe May the soul of Eramha Igenepo rest in perfect peace. He was one of the earliest enterprising business men from Ogbona. Big brother Tony has written a perfect tribute on him. It was his diligence that stood him out at Auchi, near Public Field, where he had settled to start his business afresh. He was truly a never-give-up breed of a man. Adieu! ——————————— Archbishop Fidelis Itsuokor: Truth be told, Eramha Igenepo was an astute businessman but not a philanthropist as presented here. He conducted his business like an Ibo man. He was transporting the Ibos back home during the war at a great cost, not for free. He had gone about twice. The third time he was caught by soldiers led by Murtala Muhammed, and the truck was seized and burnt, he was arrested by the soldiers along with his assistant driver, one Mustapha from Auchi, and his motor boy at the time, Alasa Ainabor. They were mistaken for Ibo men and were to be killed by the soldiers, but were rescued by Murtala Muhammed, who was the commandant, when they ( Igenepo and his boys) spoke Etsako to themselves and Murtala heard them. He told the soldiers that they were not Ibo and rescued them, but in anger, the soldiers set the truck ablaze. This was the story as told by Mustapha, the Auchi man. Up till his (Mustapha) death, he was a close friend of Igenepo when he was in Auchi. Eramha Igenepo was no doubt a good man. ——————————— Alyegbeni Precious Eramha Igenepo, the only man wen no de play with money and business, this man can speak English Jesus, if you bring any nonsense money to his shop, first of all he will spell his name for you before my man very funny man, rest in peace sir

BIOGRAPHYOF CHIEF GREGORY KASIMU ENEGWEA (1943 – 2025) BY JOHN EDEMHO ENEGWEA Introduction No mortal man lives forever. Death is a necessary end of man. It is an inevitable appointment that must be kept. Hence the word of God has aptly put it that “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die” (Ecclesiastes 3:1,2). However, death is never a cessation of being, but a transition to a life of eternity. But whether to end up in eternal life and bliss through Christ Jesus, or in eternal damnation, is a question for us as individuals to answer. His Birth and Parental Heritage In the words of William Shakespeare (1564 – 1616), who was an English playwright, dramatist and poet, “All the world’s a stage, and all men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts”. (As You Like It, Act 2, Scene 7.) In God’s own appointed time,Chief Gregory Kasimu Enegwea, herein refer to as G.K. Enegwea, as he was popularly known, came on the world stage when he was born in 1943. He lived to play his many parts. His parents (who are both late) were Pa. Enegwea Aika, and Madam Mary Titi Oghọghọ Enegwea (nee Enaberue) both of Ogbona in Avianwu Clan in the present day Etsako Central Local Government Area of Edo State. The story of G.K. Enegwea begins not with the man, but with the rich parental heritage that shaped his life. His father was no ordinary person. He was the village butcher who was very hardworking and skillful in his trade. The aroma of roasted or barbecued meat that perpetually permeated their compound made it a magnet for village children who often came around to have a taste of the meat for free. On his mother’s part, she was equally hardworking and industrious. She busied herself, always weaving the traditional Calico attires of ‘Ọdabọ’, ‘Igbọganẹ’ and ‘Ẹchiẹgbovhioghie’. Also, as a consummate singer, arranger and vocalist, she was a great traditional music star in the sixties and seventies. She released music records and cassettes to her credit. In addition, she was a successful fish trader. She bought fish from Agenebode Waterside which she sold to buyers in her community and other places. One is not therefore surprised that G.k. Enegwea imbibed the culture of hard work and industry from his parents, which guided him into attaining greatness in life. Growing Up In Ogbona Growing up in Ogbona in those days entailed collecting water from the one reliable Okokotoko stream situated some few kilometres away from the village centre. Like other children, G.K. Enegwea participated actively in the chores, as well as fetching firewoods for domestic use. Young men also hunted with bows and arrows and with catapults for small games. Though he took great interest in the hunting activities, G.K. Enegwea’s involvement was primarily for the thrill and excitement. He did not need the meat from the hunt, because his father, Pa. Enegwea Aika, was the village butcher who would always give him and his friends barbecued intestines and kidneys to savour. G.K. Enegwea grew up in a loving and caring community of Ogbona where everyone was their brothers’ keeper. Thus, the long lasting brotherhood between him and his many childhood friends was forged and nurtured in the culture of meaningful engagement. There is the deep and sincere belief that this humanity guided him throughout his lifetime. His Primary School Education For his primary school education, G.K. Enegwea attended Saint John’s Catholic Primary School (now Obọarẹkpẹ Primary School), Ogbona in the present day Etsako Central Local Government Area of Edo State. He acquired the Primary School Leaving Certificate in 1956. Late Chief M.C.K. Orbih was the Headmaster at the early stage of school in Ogbona. In 1956, G.K. Enegwea was among the pupils selected from the then all-encompassing Kukuruku (later Afemai) Division to travel to Benin City to line the royal route and wave the British Union Jack flag for Queen Elizabeth II of England during her state visit to Nigeria. With his strong voice, G.K. Enegwea was a notable member of the school choir at Saint John’s Catholic Primary School where the pupils who could barely speak English were taught to sing Christian hymns in Latin, which they performed every Sunday in church. His Secondary School Education After his primary school education, G.K. Enegwea attended Blessed Martin’s Secondary Modern School, Jattu, Uzairue in the present day Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State from 1957 to 1959. Chief M.C.K. Orbih was the Principal, with Mr. Bruno Oshiokpekhai, Mr. Jacob Idalu and Mr. Pius Asumu among the teachers. His classmates included John Besiru Idode, Ikhenemho Sam Okomilo, Augustine Akhigbe, and Francis Omogbai, the immediate past Ogienẹni of Uzairue Kingdom. The rigour of his academic journey were marked by endurance. While a student in Uzairue, G.K. Enegwea lived at Afowa in the household of Mr. Jacob Idalu. From there, he and his Ogbona co-students, John Besiru Idode and Ikhenemho Sam Okomilo, would travel home at weekends to collect foodstuffs. They braced the treacherous terrain and the long sandy path between Jattu and Ogbona, which now forms much of the Auchi-Agenebode Express Road. Shoeless, they would walk under intense blistering sun, tiptoeing over the hot sand and sheltering occasionally in tree shades. The greatest comfort was the River Ogio at Ugbenor where these Ogbona kids would have their break to drink garri with banana or groundnuts, play in the cool water and wash their school uniforms that were then placed on top of their loads to dry on their journeys. They were aware of the inherent danger in those regular precarious journeys, but their determination and eagerness to learn and to acquire knowledge became the overriding motivation propelling them on. Soon, they quickly learned ways to overcome the challenges which they then saw not only as an essential adventure,

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JERRY OSHIAS IRENE (1950 – 2025) Jerry Oshias Irene was born on September 27, 1950, to the family of Pa Irene Itokula Oshiakpemhe and Madam Isametu Irene, née Atsike, in Ivhiorevhor village. He attended Etsako District Council (EDC) Primary School from 1957 to 1962. In 1963, he enrolled at St. Michael Secondary Modern School but later moved to Ibadan. He attended Anglican Secondary Mixed Commercial School in Morita Mefa, where he graduated with a Royal Society of Arts qualification in 1969. Following his graduation, he pursued private studies and earned a Diploma in Marketing. Additionally, he obtained a Diploma in Theology from the Ministry Training Institute (MTI) in Azusa, USA. Currently, he was a pastor at Spirit & Life Bible Church Headquarters in Benin City. WORKING EXPERIENCE: Worked as a Sales Manager at Tractor & Equipment Nig Ltd for 40 years before retiring. He attended courses in Ghana, Sierra Leone, the United Kingdom, Madagascar, Spain, and Illinois, USA. COMMUNITY ROLE: He joined the Ogbona Progressive Union in 1980 and was the Public Relations Officer (PRO). For eight years, he was the Chairman of the Ogbona Federated Benin Branch and later became the National Executive President of the Ogbona Federated. He handed over leadership to Chief Greg Enegwea, who succeeded Chief J. E. Oshiotse. He made significant contributions to the development of Ogbona through various initiatives, including addressing the granite issue, improving Auchi-Bode Road, implementing rural electrification projects, enhancing Ogbona Secondary School, managing the water project, and organizing town halls. WHAT I REMEMBER ABOUT OGBONA: Ogbona is a united force to be reckoned with in both politics and developmental strides. They live in peace and harmony with one another, as well as with outsiders. When Ogbona sneezes, Anwu shakes. They speak with one voice when faced with issues involving other communities. I also see Ogbona as a God-fearing community, and I would like to refer to it as a New Jerusalem because they truly love God. He passed on Tuesday 14th January 2025. Jerry Oshias Irene was happily married and had six children.