The History of the Okhoghiemhe Family
Based on elder interviews and personal experiences growing up in Ogbona, this documentation uncovers our family’s rich history. Iyere and Anogho were brothers and lived in Ivhiokhile in the present day Fugar. Iyere had Oloede, Ototo, Apo and Otsegbemhe in Fugar among several other children. Anogho gave birth to Okhoghiemhe and Okhaishe among several others.
Okhoghiemhe, Oloede, and Ototo moved to Ogbona and Ototo became the OKPHE UKPI from 1908 to 1914. Chief Anyai (OKPHE UKPI) from Ivhiorevho was handed over to Ototo when he was imprisoned for his role during the Dogbonoba War of 1908. Enakhumhe from Ivhiobore (Warrant Chief) was appointed by the British Administration in 1914 to take over from Ototo due to his non-compromising stand on trade with the British and other slave issues.
It all began with Okhoghiemhe Snr, a strong-willed patriarch, and his beloved wife, Anogho. Their union bore four remarkable children: Okhoghiemhe Jnr, Okhaishe, Omoighie, and Ogbho. The siblings grew up under the watchful eyes of their parents, learning the values of unity and strength.
Okhoghiemhe Jnr followed his mother, Anogho, to settle in Ogbona after a tragic event. He had avenged his younger brother, Okhaishe, death by killing Adokhuru, the perpetrator.
The lineage of Okhoghiemhe Jnr flourished in Ogbona. Okhoghiemhe gave birth to Odior, Onwumah, and Ifaorumhe, among several other children who carried forward the family’s legacy. Okhaishe progeny, Ikaga, Ukhokho, and others, continued the tradition. Omoighie descendants, Anamhomhe, Igwemoh, and others, also made their mark. Ogbho children, Atsebamho, Okhaishe, Ogbiko, Ighiebo, and Akhagbhai, completed the family’s expansive tree.
We were informed that Onwuma had 19 children, but only 2 were still alive during our upbringing, and she lived to be over a hundred years old. One of the two daughters, Mrs. Eghieobo Alabi, married Alabi Epi from Okotor and had 8 children. Among them are Ogiebo Basel Agbaza Alabi, Jeremiah Alabi, Mrs. Arobuye Umagor, Bacon Alabi, Ikuoya Uwora, John Damisa Alabi, Mary Momodu Abu, Queen Onovogbe Philip Ikoko, and Oduevho Didi Michael Alabi, the only surviving son. The second daughter, Ebuade, married into the Okozi family and gave birth to 4 children, Mrs Maria Iguegiemhera Oshiomogho, Agbavhuokha Okozi, Ekhazuno Okozi, and Etafia Okozi. Etafia is the father of Chief Richard Okozi. One of the sons of Onwuma was Mochi who had 7 children, including C.U. Mochi and Mrs. Cecilia Eleta.
Pa Patrick Odior Okhoghiemhe: A Life of Faith, Tradition, and Enterprise
Patrick Odior Okhoghiemhe, an early Christian convert, balanced his faith with traditional practices. Our family deity, Ugbokomheva, required regular sacrifices of fowl and goats, which we’d roast and share among the family.
Odior’s expertise in herbal medicine was renowned. His potent malaria remedy, a secret blend of herbs and sometimes alcohol, was boiled and fermented for days. A single sip would spread warmth throughout the body.
A savvy farmer and entrepreneur, Patrick Odior Okhoghiemhe acquired vast lands in Okotor and Agbha. His Okotor orchard boasted diverse fruits and economic trees, including kolanuts, avocados, and oranges. The extent of his landholdings remains impressive:- Over ¼ of the land in the Okotor quarter and Notable neighbors: Odogbo, Idode, Esi, Ikoko, Ifaorumhe, and Ilega
Patrick’s industrious nature transformed seemingly unproductive lands into thriving farms, leaving a lasting legacy. Some questions remain such as how did Patrick Odior acquire his vast lands? Unraveling these mystery will deepen our understanding of our family’s history.
Descendants of Patrick Odior Okhoghiemhe
Patrick Odior Okhoghiemhe lived for over a hundred years and died in 1970. He was married to four wives: Idede, Asana Omutu, Oreghokpe, and Asabi. His first wife, Idede, gave birth to Egbekhoze, Imulemu, Imhana, and Imhatamhana. Only Imhatamhana is alive today. Despite their names, they did not have an Islamic upbringing but rather practiced the African traditional religion. It’s interesting to note that Egbekhoze married Apemheyie Asekomhe and they were one of the first couples to wed in the Catholic faith in Ogbona in the 1930s.
Asana Omutu Odior (née Achemho) was from Iraokhor and had several children. Among them are Pa George Kadiri, Iyama, Asabi, Raphael Nasamu, Inayi, Lucy Uwodu, and Jacob. They were all Christians.
Patrick Odior Okhoghiemhe and Oreghokpe (the younger sister of Oshiomogho Aleghe of Okotor) had 2 children, but only one survived to adulthood. Her name is Animah. She got married in Ivhiorevhor and had 5 children: Daniel, Onona, Anake, Ochema, and Remilekun. When we were growing up, Animah returned to the family house with all her children.
The final wife of Patrick Odior Okhoghiemhe was Asabi from the Okozi royal family of Ogbona. Asabi was previously married in Iraokhor and had several children there before marrying Odior. She had only one son, Sunday, with Odior. However, Sunday got married multiple times and had several children. Among his children are Folake, Felix, Imhonikhe, Stephen Sunday, and Grace Ivhagbha.
The Odior family house was the biggest in our immediate environment and one of the largest in Ogbona. It was a very long building with a lot of apartments. Passing through that compound to other houses in the neighborhood was frightening because of the number of people that lived there.
George Kadiri Odior
George Kadiri Odior, the first child of Odior Okhoghiemhe and Asana Omutu Odior, never received formal education but acquired literacy skills.
George Kadiri Odior married Elizabeth,(Eliza) from the Odogbo family, and took her to Lagos. The father-in-law, Robert Odogbo, who was a Catholic Church catechist, insisted that they get married in the church. However, Uncle Kadiri refused, and the marriage was dissolved after only one child, Akhi Catherine Odior.
George Kadiri remained unmarried for a long time. Finally, his father and his brothers decided to find a wife for him. They encountered an issue during the process, and they ended up marrying another woman, Juliana from a neighboring village called Imiava, for him. Soon afterward, the issue with the first woman was resolved, and there was no other option but to marry both women at the same time.
Mrs. Juliana Odior, the second wife, gave birth to four (4) children: Peter Imhakhena, Anthony (Jehovah), Patience, and Victoria Ilamosi.
Mrs. Comfort Omokhale Odior, the third wife, gave birth to five (5) children: Maria Iyabo, Simeon Ernest Osikhena (Dalosia), Johnson Aleghe, Beatrice, and Kenneth Agbonoga (Imhasagbo).
After his father’s passing, George returned to Ogbona from Lagos to manage the family land and assume his role as eldest son. George Kadiri passed away on April 17, 1992, and left behind 10 Children
Imhana, Alias Igagagugu Odior is the only son of his first wife, Idede and he was a farmer of great repute and a trader. Imhana was trading in produce like garri, Palm Kennel, Yams, and others between home and Onitsha occasionally and mostly to Ife, Ibadan, Lagos, and Kano. He was also a very successful farmer. Imhana had three wives namely Asabi (née Anetekhai), Ladi (née Eghieye), and Otortse, and had eight children Asabi had Godwin (late), Pius Ogieneni, Grace, and Veronica (Baby) (late), while Ladi had Bernard Agbemhona and Phillip Adebisi Oshiomane. Otortse had Julie and Emmanuel (Kakasusu) and Victor is from an outside woman.
Godwin the first born and first son of Imhana was popularly called Wewe, he was very handsome and outgoing. Godwin lived in Ibadan and worked with Nigerian Tobacco Company. He came back home with the family upon retirement. He married Alishenetu and they had six children, Namely Ulekhia (late), Imhuodu, Maria, Naomi, Johnson Imonikhe and Engr. Tonnie Okhai.
The second born known as Pius Ogieneni was married to Florence (late) nee Asimhegbe Igbadumhe, had Happiness, Anabui Elvis, Keith Irekpita, Oshiano Joshua, Egbekhuwa Jennifer, Felicia Omokhuwa and Joy Amiemenoghena. Pius Ogieneni lives in Benin City and worked with Bendel State Government until his retirement. He is currently the oldest man in the Odior family household.
The second wife of Imhana was Ladi (née Eghieye) they both had many children, but Bernard Agbemhona and Philip Adebisi Oshiomane are the only surviving children. Bernard lives in Benin City, Edo state with his wife Esther (née Enilama) who is from Fugar. They have four children, namely; Emmanuel Osigbemhe, Ruth Eshiema, Faithful Abosioke and Paul Aigbona. He is a businessman and a pastor with Deeperlife Christian Ministry.
The third wife of Imhana, Otortse was from Iraokhor and was not too healthy. She had two Children, Julie and Emmanuel Kakasusu Odior. Imhana also had a son outside home, Victor.
Raphael Nasamu Odior aka Actor was born on September 15th, 1926 in Ogbona, to Odior Okhoghiemhe and Asana Omutu Odior (nee Achemho) who hailed from Iraokhor. He was the fifth child of his mother, of course, his father was polygamous.
He started his early education in 1937 at the Catholic School Ogbona. He ended his education abruptly in Standard Three due to an eye accident, which took some years to heal. It is also certain that but for the poor medical facilities which were non-existence then, the eye issue would not have posed any problem. When he fully recovered from the accident, he took to food and commodity trading across River Niger to Onitsha. Later in life, he changed and became a foodstuff producer, thereby becoming the most successful farmer ever known in Ogbona and its environs. Aside from food farming, he also took to Horticulture. It is well known to everybody that most of the citrus fruits in Avianwu and its environs today came from his Nurseries and gardens
He was a social activist and local music composer. He had a great understanding of the Avianwu dialect so much so that he always laced all his discussions with proverbs and innuendos. One of his compositions was Bolivia’s song “Ogbona mha nighie”. Nasamu was also well known for his stylish and neat dress. He was always trending with the times and also tried to buy current wares for the wives. Nasamu had 2 dry cleaners in the neighbouring villages that he used throughout his life hence his clothes were always sparkling and fresh
Raphael Nasamu Odior (Actor or VT as fondly called by his friends), was a great father and husband. He united his large nuclear family of 17 surviving children so well that it is very difficult to identify any child with his or her mother. He taught his children the dignified ways to a successful living. Even with his limited education, he emphasized the importance of education and hard work to his children. He once sold his bicycle and some of his other belongings to enable him to pay school fees for the children. He gave his children a strict Christian upbringing blended with moral and traditional values and taught them to be industrious.
Chief Jacob Ivhador Odior was the eight child of his mother and was born on 13th May, 1934 at Ogbona to Odior Okhoghiemhe and Asana Omutu Odior.
Chief Jacob Ivhador Odior began his educational career at Holy Trinity Primary School, Onitsha from 1948-1951; then at Saint John Catholic School, Ogbona from 1952 to 1954 where he finally obtained his first school-leaving certificate. Armed with the First School Leaving Certificate. He enrolled as a student at St. John Bosco’s Teacher Training College, Ubiaja in 1958 where he obtained the teachers Grade III Certificate. After ten years as a Grade III Teacher, he went to Esigie Teachers College, Abudu 1970 where he obtained the Teachers Grade Certificate in 1972.
Jacob taught in L.A. (Local Authority) Primary School Ogbona 1955; ldigie Primary School 1964 to 965, L.A. Primary School Imiava 1965); Catholic School Ogbona 1965 to 1971; He rose to the positions of Headmaster of RCM Primary School Aviele from 1972 to 1977; Sule Primary Apana from 1977 to 1980; Okpodi Primary School, lvianokpochi 1980 to 1981; Atakhena Primary School Itsukwui 1981to 1982 where he voluntarily retired.
As an enlightened member of society, he held leadership positions geared towards the development of the community. He was secretary to the Ogbona Community, Chairman to the Ototo Family Union Ogbona, and Secretary to NUP Etsako Local Government. Edo State. These contributions by Chief Honorable J. I Odior did not go unnoticed by his people. He was recognized through the Chieftaincy Title he bagged specifically as a mark of honour and appreciation of his contributions by HRH Chief J.B Momoh and was honoured with the title of Oshioriamhe of the Three Ibies
He married Mrs. Comfort B. Odior (NEE) Agbayekhai in the Catholic Church on 1st May 1968. They had eight children and also had a set of twin girls for a woman from Fugar. Chief Jacob Ivhador passed on October 9th, 2010
Pa Ifaorumhe (a.k.a. Audu): A Life of Resilience and Leadership
Pa Ifaorumhe (a.k.a. Audu): Born to Okhogiemhe and Aluotse, Pa Ifaorumhe grew up under his father’s care, later joining his brother Pa Odior’s family after his father’s passing. A skilled farmer, he managed three farms, cultivating yams, maize, and economic tree crops. His community leadership roles included: – Chairman, Ivhioche Quarters Elders Union and Leader, Ilo and Iyabana Masquerades.
Pa Ifaorumhe married five wives and had ten children:
Wives: Mamuna, Izenebu, Ayhina, Olere, and Ilametu bore him:
Children: Onomiegbe, Onawuvho, Omholua, Agboire, Eraga, Okhilomhe, Emigbai, Omomoh, Iduye, and Oyokpaoye.
During the Nupe slave raids, he adopted the Islamic name ‘Audu’ for protection. However, he remained devoted to his traditional faith and later the Seventh-Day Adventist Church.
Pa Ifaorumhe passed away in 1985 at 85, leaving a legacy of strength, leadership, and family unity.
The Descendants of Pa Ifaorumhe
Omholua Matthew (a.k.a. Emperor): A pioneering bricklayer/mason from Ogbona, Omholua Matthew, affectionately known as Emperor, left an indelible mark on his community. Beloved by youth and elders alike, he was renowned for his easygoing nature, sharp insight, and remarkable work ethic despite limited formal education. Professional Achievements: Constructed modern houses in Ogbona and neighboring communities and Built gas-filling stations, cementing his legacy as a master craftsman. Personal Life: Married to Mathinda, Cicelia, and Maria and Father of 13 children
Eldest surviving son of Pa Ifaorumhe, Bro. Paulinus Eraga’s remarkable journey began with carpentry training under Ichidasomhe. Mentored by Late Brigadier Odeleke, he excelled in Kaduna, becoming a renowned contractor. Achievements: Best Government Contractor (1989, Bendel State), Constructed housing estates, lecture halls, hostels, and filling stations, and Successful commercial piggery farmer and entrepreneur. Personal Life: Pastor, Deeper Life Bible Church (with wife), – 6 sons (Peter, Samuel, Job, Joseph, Jerry, Stephen) and grandchildren
Omomoh Aluyo Moses in his early days joined his elder brother Agboire John in Kaduna in 1975 for his illustrious military career. He enrolled as an officer cadet at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) as part of the 38 Regular Course and went on to serve the Nigerian Army for 22 years, earning the rank of Major upon his retirement in 2008. After his military service, Omomoh Aluyo Moses transitioned into entrepreneurship and consulting.
PA PATRICK OKHOGHIEMHE Asana Omutu Odior (née Achemho)
Pa Ifaorumhe (a.k.a. Audu)
