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Oyibo E. Odinamadu nee Akwuba

BIOGRAPHY

She was born the second child and second daughter to Mr. Ekemezie Akwuba of Umunogem Family, Umudunu Kindred, Dusogu Village, Awkuzu Town, Oyi Local Government Area; and Mrs. Mgboye Akwuba, (Nee Nwolisakwe) of Okpuluoji Kindred, Akwa Village, Ifitedunu Town, Njikoka Local Government Area - both of Anambra State of Nigeria - who were among the third generation early Christians converts, of Awkuzu town in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State of Nigeria, on 2ndJanuary, 1928.

EDUCATION

She had her early education in Nigeria before proceeding to the United States of America in 1948, under the auspices of Dr. Nwafor Orizu’s American Council on African Education Scholarship Scheme (ACAE), for further studies. She graduated Bachelor of Arts in Education/History/Sociology, from Lincoln University of Missouri in 1952; and Master of Arts in Education (Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education) from Teachers College, Columbia University, New York City, U.S.A, in 1953.

CAREER

She returned home early in 1954, the first woman graduate of Eastern Nigeria origin, and also with a second degree. Experiencing some difficulty to be employed by the British Director of Education in the Eastern Region Department of Education, she took employment as Assistant Secretary with the Eastern Regional Production and Development Board (ERPDB), which become the Eastern Nigeria Development Corporation (ENDC), up to 1957; and thereafter as an Education Officer with the Eastern Nigeria Ministry of Education. In the course of her career, she was the Principal of the Women Teachers Training College (WTC), Enugu; Principal of Queen’s School, Enugu; Inspector in-charge Examinations and Teachers Registration Branch; rose to the rank of Inspector of Education Grade One; and retired voluntarily in 1971.

MARRIAGE & FAMILY

She married Benedict Obidimma Odinamadu in 1957; and they were blessed with four children – 2 boys and 2 girls. Unfortunately, she lost her husband in November 1979.

PRIVATE ENTREPRENEURSHIP

She started the Echo Enterprises Limited and went into the business of Retail cum Wholesale of Supermarket Goods with a Fancy Goods or Boutique Section. The Company was set up in Enugu with branches at Abakaliki and Onitsha. Her husband later joined her in the business, and added a Road Haulage section by the name of Pelican Transport Company. He also floated the John Kenneth Nigeria Limited for importation of goods.

APPOINTMENTS

She was appointed to various Government Boards and Parastatals from 1954 but, notably from 1972- 1999 as: Chairman of the Board of Governors of Queen’s (Secondary) School, Enugu. Member of: the Anambra State School Board; the Hospital Management Board; the Judicial Commission of Enquiry into Examination Leakages 1975 (JUDICEL ’75); the Governing Council of Bendel State University (now Ambrose Alli University); Anambra State Development Board; Anambra State Local Government Service Commission; the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, among others.

VOLUNTARY ACTIVITIES

She was one of the pioneer and founding members of the first non-governmental, non-religious, charitable, non-profit women’s organization in Eastern Region of Nigeria - the Women’s Cultural and Philanthropic Organization (WCPO) Enugu, in 1958, and its president. The WCPO was the forerunner of the National Council of Women’s Societies (NCWS), which is the national umbrella for women’s organizations, also founded in 1958. She was the president of the Eastern Regional Branch; the Eastern Nigeria Branch; the Biafra Council of Women’s Societies; the East Central State and Anambra State Branches, respectively, until 1979. She is a Life Member of the NCWS.

She served as the Chairman of the community development organization in her marital home of Abatete, in Idemili Local Government Area - the Abatete Task Force Group on Development – which brought Electricity to the town, from the Anambra State Rural Electrification Project. She also initiated the

Electrification Project of Awkuzu, her paternal home town, in Oyi Local Government Area, in bringing Electricity to the town, also from the Anambra State Rural Electrification Project.

POLITICAL PARTY ACTIVITIES

In 1978 she joined the Unity Party of Nigeria led by Chief Obafemi Awolowo (now late). She was elected the National Vice-president of the Party, and also served as the Party’s Chairman of the National Working Committee 1978-84. She served as the Secretary of the Provincial Mothers Union of Province III of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 1991 – 94.

RECOGNITIONS

She has been recognized by: The Nigerian Federal Government, at the inception of the Nigerian National Honors in 1964, with the award of Member of the Order of the Niger (MON); The Biafra Government with the award of the Member of the Order of the Republic of Biafra (MORB);

The Diocese on the Niger of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) as a foundation member of the Order of the Knighthood of St. Christopher (KSC) 1978;

The Nigerian Union of Journalists of the Old Anambra State, NUJ) as Woman of the Year; and by the Enugu State Chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) 1997;

The Nigerian Association of University Women in 1980 for the upliftment and empowerment of women in education and in the society;

The Nigerian National Center for Women Development has recognized her as a foundation and founding member of the National Council of Women’s Societies, and honored at the inception of the awards in 2004, by having a building standing in her name at the Women’s Center, Abuja;

The presentation of a Plaques by the Abatete USA Inc. on its Fifth Annual Convention 2004, in appreciation of her invaluable pieces of advice to the Abatete Development Union of North Carolina;

The USAfrica Magazine and Class for the due recognition she has shown regarding the development of the bilateral interests of Nigeria and the United States, and in respect of her professional distinctions as a community pillar, our community’s multimedia and news leader in America, USAfrica honors her with: Mother of the Year 2005;

The Idemili Association of Dallas-Fort Worth, in sincere appreciation of her support and contributions to Idemili Association and Women’s Rights in Nigeria, at the Idenite, 2006;

The Anambra State Association Dallas-Fort Worth (ASA-DFW)- African Civic Awareness & History Preservation Award, in recognition of her efforts to uphold African History and by her presentation and enlightenment on the life and legacy of the Late Rt. Hon, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe – Zik of Africa- on the occasion of the First Biennial Zik of Africa Symposium, Anambra Day, February 28, 2009;

LITERARY INTERESTS

Pursuing her literary interests, she published a book in 1980 entitled: THE DILEMA OF THE IGBO POLITICAL ELITE. She has delivered papers on a variety of subjects including: Women and Politics; Widows and Orphans in the Traditional Igbo Society; Women In Nation Building. Others are: the Empowerment of Women; Low Enrollment of Boys in Schools in Anambra State - What Remedies; Ordination of Women In the Church of the Province of Nigeria – A Plea; Burial According to Christian Rites - What Significance; among others. She has contributed many articles to the mass media, including” “SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH NIGERIA – TO TELL THE TRUTH”; An interview with the Chinua Achebe Foundation by Obi Nwakanma;

A REJOINDER – being a commentary on the Report of the AKA-IKENGA AND OHANEZE RETREAT AT ASABA 2004’ She has completed a manuscript, awaiting publication, entitled: “FAIR PLAY: Igbo Women Plead for Compassion, Empathy and Fairness – in the application of Igbo customary practices to the girl-child and women”, under her IGBO CUSTOMS SERIES. She is currently working on the following manuscripts, namely: MY JOURNEY THROUGH LIFE - BLAZINHG TRAILS! MY MEMOIRES – I REMEMBER! CULTURAL PRACTICES OF IGBO PEOPLE. She publishes articles on political and social issues affecting the society, women and children, especially the girl-children. Read some of the blogs at her Website: http://ugobueze.blogspot.com;

LEISURE ACTIVITIES

In her leisure she loves to engage in a variety of satisfying activities, such as: voluntary and charitable work; Church activities; reading/writing; Internet Fora discussions; keep-fit exercises; listening to classical and a variety of music, AND DANCING; movies and theatre; singing songs and choruses; bonding with grand-children; gardening; sewing, and home-keeping for the family.

UPLIFTERS CHARITIES

She plans to start an organization for charitable activities, to be known as the UPLIFTERS CHARITIES. She proposes that the Organization will undertake:

● Campaign against female circumcision.

● Campaign against childhood marriage of the girl child.

● Material assistance for poverty alleviation among rural women.

In economic development areas for poverty alleviation, some limited financial and material assistance is planned for women, to support small-scale partnerships and co-operatives, at grassroots levels.

CHIEFTAINCY TITLES

The chieftaincy title of High Chief Iyom Ife of Abatete was conferred on her by His Royal Majesty Igwe Engr Emeka Efobi for her extraordinary contributions to development of Abatete.