JUST IN: Dr Austin Agbahiwe set to immortalize mother in-law.
5 min read
Frontline Akalite, top community leader and the Managing Director, American Cancer Hospital Nigeria, Dr Austin Chidi Agbahiwe who lost his mother in-law, Mrs Dorothy Oguike recently, shares his memorable experiences with her and a plan to immortalize her.
He spoke with the local corrospondant of Umuaka Times in a brief midweek interview. Excerpts:
Which year did you marry from the Oguike family?
I married from Oguike family in 1995 and we had our wedding in 1996. Before then, I had joked in many of the weddings that I had covered as the master of ceremony (MC) that I will be marrying in the year 2000. But you see, in life, you have to fast track some events. When my brother Sir Timmy Obiwuru wedded in 1993 in Lagos and I was the master of ceremony for both the bachelor’s eve and reception, something funny happened during the reception.
Please tell us what happened.
When the Chairman of the occasion at a stage handed Timmy’s bachelor suit to me and said, “Austin, we have to come for your wedding before year 2000.”
How many children did the marriage produce?
Our marriage is blessed with 5 children.
Can you share with us the type of woman your mother in-law was?
My mother in-law, Dorothy Oguike was a very special woman. She and her late husband, Elder Francis Oguike took me as their son. She was therefore my “second mother”.
Can you explain what you mean by “she was like your second mother.”
When we were expecting our first child in 1997, and by which time my wife was at the University of Nigeria, Enugu campus, my mother in-law had to abandon her business at Lagos to be with her at the University. She practically was with her for the four years the program lasted. What a sacrifice!
This is amazing, any other instance where she played the role of a mother to you?
That she was a mother to me, cannot be better said. She was in all ramifications. After the husband died in 2000, she practically lived with us and nursed all our kids.
Were you working when you married?
I married as a young graduate banker starting my career at Onitsha where I worked in over seven banks before getting to the management position as Area & Regional Manager.
That is a high tasking level. Did your official responsibility increase then?
At that level, my responsibility became more supervisory and I was always travelling from one city to another. My mother in-law was there providing the necessary anchor at the home front, as my wife after her National Youths Service program also started a career in banking. In 2003, I was made the regional head overseeing the businesses of Global Bank for the South East & South South states and had to relocate to Port Harcourt.
Did she travel with you to Port Harcourt?
She also was there for us. We had three of our children in Port Harcourt, by which time I was hardly at home as the work entailed supervising several of the branches of the bank in 16 states of the federation as well as establishing new ones, with the attendant frequent travels to the headquarters of the bank in Lagos for periodic management and board meetings.
What was she doing as you embarked o all these trips?
She was always there, taking care of the kids and even my wife who also was working in Access Bank. That I got to the top management level of an Assistant General Manager in First Bank after over 28 years uninterrupted banking career spanning stints in over 12 Nigerian banks could be ascribed to having a very stable family and my mother in-law played a very significant role.
How can you simply describe her role as a big mother?
A strong and committed mother, she was still driving my kids to school in her eighties!
Was she a woman blessed with native intelligence? if yes explain.
Nma, my mother in-law did not only possess native intelligence, but was also endowed with Godly wisdom. I call her a woman of faith. A contented woman, she believes that there is nothing tangible anyone can achieve in this world without leaning to the Almighty God.
Tell us a little about her roots.
As you’re already aware, she was the late Chief Mathias Amadike’s younger sister. Their father Nwankwoelu was an influential community leader in Ibele who was always called upon on the strength of his wisdom to mediate where there were conflicts.
Was there any way she positively impacted to the society?
Mother Dorothy Oguike was sacrifice personified. She hates seeing people suffer and also believes in giving. She was always sharing the little she had. At the Christ Holy Church International where she worships, her giving traits and absolute faith in God earned her the nickname, ”Nne Okwukwe”(mother of faith).
In your own assessment, what will she be remembered for by those who knew her very well in her life time?
A faith woman who loves God, adheres to godly virtues, shows affections to humanity, very prayerful, contented and has no regards for materialism.
What will you miss mostly about her?
Her amazing faith in God and her readiness at all times to sacrifice her comfort for others.
How close was she with your family?
She was very close. She was always appealing to my mum who incidentally likes staying in the village to come and stay with us in the township. I made sure that two of them are factored in any township where we have a residential house. That is “Nma Dorothy” for you!
Can you recall any experience she remarkably left in your memory, during one of her “omugo” days in your house?
Omugo ke? She was always with us on and off omugo. A pleasant personality to be around with. She was a woman that was ever ready to sacrifice her comfort for others. Remembers vividly when the car I provided for her while she was with my wife at the university broke down and I hadn’t funds to repair. She said, ”Don’t bother, we will manage.”
Any plan to immortalize her?
Sure. She will forever live in our hearts. I have already within the last three months built a house for the family at their Uba Umuaka home. We will take it from there.
Thank you very much Dr Agbahiwe, Umuaka Times sympathizes with your family over this loss.
Thank you my brother.
