EXCITATION AS IDUMU OKOGWA, ANIEYIME VILLAGE IN IGBODO KINGDOM INSTALLS ‘ADA’
By Amos Chukwuekwu
It was a total jubilation in Igbodo Kingdom in Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State, as an octogenarian, Mrs. Grace Nkechiyem Mbulu (Nee-Ashibuogwu) was recently installed the Ada of Idumu-Okogwa Anieyime.
It was gathered that Mrs. Mbulu’s installation as “Ada” is by virtue of the woman being the oldest living woman in the community, and apart from her age, her installation is also coming on the heels of her numerous contributions to the development of Igbodo Kingdom.
Speaking with Ika Weekly Newspaper crew, Mrs. Grace Nkechiyem Mbulu said one does not take the title of “Ada” upon herself, but said it is by age, saying that the oldest woman in the community remains the person that is bestowed with the title of “Ada”.
She added that when one has been crowned “Ada”, she becomes a leader, pointing out that whenever a meeting is convened in the community, the installed Ada is always at the meeting and her position is always kept for her as a leader.
Mrs. Mbulu, 88 years old, stated that one of the significance of “Ada” titled woman in the community is to unite the people and restore peace in any conflicting issue that is brought before her.
She used the opportunity to call on the people to desist from anything that will tarnish the good image of the community in particular and Igbodo Kingdom in general, urging everyone to live a good and righteous life that will speak well of them at all times.
The octogenarian also called on the youths in the community to live a good life and imbibe the truth at all times, saying that they the youths can only obtain God’s unlimited blessings and favour if only they could tread in the path of righteousness.
She disclosed that longevity is a huge blessing from God which can only be obtained when one is truthful, humble, and prayerful, saying that those aforementioned virtues are her main secret towards her old age.
She added that her children are successful today because she and her late husband brought them up in the ways of the Lord, noting that she is thankful to her maker because her children are all following the ways of God.
On her part, the last child of the octogenarian, Mrs. Gloria Kidochukwu Osuagwu (Nee Mbulu) appreciated God for preserving her mother, saying that if not for God, her mother would not be celebrating as “Ada” of the community.
While describing her mother as lover of children and hospitable woman, Mrs. Osuagwu averred that her mother is always good to those who come her way, even those whom she does not know, saying that when she was growing up, she observed those good qualities of her mother.
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She revealed that in 1983, her mother, in her love for children, started a nursery school in Igbodo (Grace Nursery/Primary School) and impacted knowledge and good moral to the children, saying that her mother is the founder of the first Nursery school in Igbodo.
In her words, “ In 1984, one of my uncles invited my parents to Deeper Life Bible Church in Benin City, we went there and after the program, a general meeting was held to discuss the need to spread the gospel to various localities who have not heard about Christ; So, my parents volunteered and promised to bring Deeper Life Bible church to Ika land, mostly to Agbor and my village; Eventually, the church was established in Agbor with branches and later established in my village,” she concluded.
Mrs. Osuagwu affirmed that the favour she and her siblings are enjoying now is the legacy their parents laid down for them, saying that they are always favoured where ever they go.
Asked what she knows about the “Ada” title, Mrs. Osuagwu stated that the title is not given by the wealth one has amassed on earth, but by the age the person has attained, saying that it is a grace from God and a blessing that follows longevity.
She disclosed that her mother is the oldest woman in Idumu Okogwa, Anieyime, saying that as the “Ada” of the community, the 88 years old woman must be informed of any ceremony that will hold in the community.
She averred that it was not a surprise that her mother was honoured with the “Ada” of Idumu Okogwa title as her love for her community cannot be quantified.
She pointed out that her mother has been working for the development of the community for a very long time, noting that it is indeed an honour well deserved.
She used the opportunity to call on the people of the community to continue to support the newly installed “Ada” so that she will be able to achieve her goals for the community.