“Our men should try and get back into the class room.” Rophina Ngozi Obi.

Last week, Lolo Rophina Ngozi Obi. (JP) nee Nwariwe from Umuezeala Uba who is the wife of the Executive Chairman of Onuimo LGA in Imo State spoke to Umuaka Times on the call to bar of 7 young Akalites and other issues.

Excerpts:

 Recently 7 lawyers from Umuaka were called to bar in Abuja. Were you happy about that?

Yes it’s a thing of joy which every parent prays for. I don’t know of any parent that does not wish his children a happy graduation. I honestly congratulate the new lawyers and their parents. My biggest happiness in the whole event is that we have 6 women among them.

Many people have praised the new lawyers and their families and at the same time condemned the idea of Akalites who ignored other graduates from other professions and focused on the lawyers. What do you say about that?

For me personally, ignoring other graduates and focusing on the lawyers is not a welcome development and is not very encouraging to people of other disciplines.

Why do you think so?

The development would make them feel inferior.

But would you want Akalites to also celebrate other graduates from other professions?

That is what I am saying. We can even set up a graduation celebration committee in Umuaka and carry every graduate along each year. The celebrations should not be exclusive to lawyers alone biko.

Many have argued that “big boys” in any profession should encourage the younger ones. For example, let medical doctors celebrate the young graduates of medicine etc. do you agree?

Yes, other graduates should be celebrated as well to encourage our youths; I would enjoin our people to encourage our youths to not give up but work and study hard. I for instance studied chemistry at the prestigious ABU Zaria. I have worked with the World Bank and visited several countries of the world. Two of my nieces who studied Agric-Economics and foreign languages respectively are doing very well.

One works with BUA as a regional manager with three offices across the country while the other works with CBN. None of the courses they studied are among your so called “professional course” and we are doing excellently well. No course is more important than the other. We should encourage everybody the most important thing is to come out with good results and good behaviour.

Before we conclude, tell us about yourself, the schools you attended and where you work.

(Smiles). I am Lolo Rophina Ngozi Obi. (JP). I am the wife of the Executive Chairman of Onuimo LGA. in Imo State. I am the daughter of late Chief Dominic Nwariwe off Umuezeala Uba Umuaka.

I started the first part of my education at Hilltop Primary School Uba Umuaka but I didn’t finish there.

What happened?

When my elder sister Chief (Mrs) Dorothy Nkeonye came back from the UK and took me with to Zaria where I concluded my primary and secondary education at the University Staff School before proceeding to the university where I obtained my 1st and 2nd degrees.

Which university was that please?

Ahmadu Bello University ABU, Zaria.

So where do you work now?

Currently I operate three offices; World Bank Consultant on Environmental and Grievance related issues. I am also a lecturer at the Federal College of Education Eha Amufu Enugu State and last but not the least, Office of the Chairperson Onuimo LGA Imo State.

Really? So una be APC people?

(General laughter).

So what is your message to Akalites?

My message to Akalites is simply let’s work in unisom to help one another; it aides development. Our men should try and get back into the class room of all the seven lawyers only one is a man.

Education is an important tool for human it makes one a critical thinker and helps you to stand out in the many places.

Thank you very much for your time.

Thank you also for the opportunity.