The Biography of Ezinne Lolo Harriet Ihenacho.
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Our mother, late lady, Ezinne, Lolo Harriet, Ihekwereze Iheanacho was called onto glory by Almighty God on early Friday morning February 19th , 2021 after 84 years of an active and committed life of service to God, family and community. With thanks to God and every sense of humility, we characterize our late mother as follows:
- A devoted and accomplished family woman
- A believer in self-contentment, fairness and justice
- An active community builder
- A stickler for disciplined behavior
- A tireless worker in the Lords vineyard
- A woman who fought the good fight, not heeding the wounds
- A philanthropist
- Mother to the motherless
Early life:
Mama was born Harriet Ihekwereze Nwakanma Njekwe into the family of Late Chief Job Nwakanma Njekwe and late Lolo Jenny Nje Ogadie Nwakanma Njekwe of Umuduruagwu family in Umungunma kindred of Umuegbe Amaokpara Autonomous Community in Nkwerre Local Government Area of Imo state. Her mother late Lolo Jenny Ogadie Nwakanma hailed from present day Umueze Autonomous Community in Orlu Local Government Area of Imo state. “IHEKWEREZE” (that which befits a king) as she was called by her parents was born in the glorious year of our Lord 1936. She was the only daughter of her mother and the second daughter of the family since she came from a polygamous family.
Mama attended the Central School Nkwerre for her primary education and finished in 1952 with her Standard 6 Certificate. In order to further her education, she also attended the Women Training College (WTC) in Umuna Orlu under the Head teacher Mrs. Kalio from present day Rivers State. Mrs. Kalio found her a very serious person and became a friend of the family.
In 1954, she was posted to teach at St. Matthew’s Anglican Primary School Amazano. Her zeal for academic excellence gave her the honor as the school disciplinary teacher. Mama’s beautiful, social and jovial character among all earned her a very influential position among her fellow teachers at Saint Matthew’s Anglican School, Amazano. She also participated in several sporting events, since in those days younger teachers were allowed to participate in the school’s sporting events.
MARRIAGE LIFE:
With her smiles and beauty that could not escape any man that knows the quality of a vicious woman, it was during her teaching days that she met our father, her husband, the late Chief Sir Benson Iheanacho who was home on vacation from Cameroon where he was working as an accountant then. Even though many suitors came her way, as God may have it, she accepted the hand of the “Late Sir Benson Ahamuefula Iheanachoa” in marriage in 1956. The marriage was blessed with seven (7) surviving children of both sexes, who are in all works of life.
RELIGIOUS LIFE
Although mama was raised in a polygamous family, her fear of God influenced her life in marriage and also in raising her children. Her love for God made her support her husband in sponsoring the education of some of his siblings up to university level, without minding that they were not her own biological children. She was involved in most of the church activities from her Parish to Diocese. She was a member of the synod, honored with church motherhood and guild, an Ezinne in St. Matthew’s Anglican Church-Amazon, and an ordained knighthood with her husband. Apart from all these achievements which she had from the Diocese, Parish and also from the birth church at Amaokpara, she also encouraged her husband to build the new church planted at Amakor. This made her a special Christian and Mother in Anglican Communion from St. Matthew Umuele. If there’s life on this planet after death, we have no regret to say that “we will be your children again”.
OCCUPATION
Apart from being a teacher, Mama also engaged in other ventures like poultry farming, pig farming and other agricultural endeavors. She later gave up those businesses and relocated back to Lagos in the early seventies to stay with her husband. While in Lagos, she started a liquor businesses which she successfully ran until her husband asked her to relocate back to village to take care of his aging parents. While she was in the village and even until she passed on, Mama was engaged in other business ventures including palm oil production, poultry farming etc.
SOCIAL & POLITICAL LIFE
Not an influential politician, but a member of Old NCNC and later a member of Nigeria people party (NPP) under Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe. Mama had a great political love for Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and his political attributes, so mama named her first son “Nnamdi” after Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe. Mama participated in many socio-political events throughout her life. This includes but not limited to being the chairperson of the women’s relieve program during the Nigeria Civil War and also chairperson of the women’s group that was responsible for the construction of some of the structures at the present Girls Technical Secondary School in the Old Umuaka Ebeiri. Mama was also one of the founding members of the first known women’s social club in the old Umuaka Ebeiri. Her Membership in the Girls Guild Association of Nigeria during her youthful days influenced her to get involved in many other events like helping the needy, standing up for the oppressed etc.
DEATH
Mama, there’s no need to question God. Your memory will forever remain indelible in all of our hearts. When we see your picture during your stay in America, we never thought that one day we would be missing you, even when you were sick, we never thought that it would come to be this way. We your children tried to save your life, but death is a necessary end, it will come when it will come. Adieu mama, and rest in the bosom of our lord-Jesus Christ till that resurrection morning when we shall meet to part no more.
Chief Nnamdi Andy Iheanacho (for the Family)
