Madam Ekedimma Chiaha, popularly called ‘Ene’nne’ by many who knew her, hailed from Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State. She was born in 1925 to the families of Ozor’ogui in Amankwo village, also in Enugu State.
Her late husband and children call her a virtuous woman, who can stand on her own at any point in time. She is a retired teacher and ardent farmer. A first encounter with Madam Chiaha promises to be very interesting, as she narrates the story of her life.
She said, “I got married at a very young age, and I had eight children. My late husband was a strong pillar to my success. With his support, I was able to go this far in life.
“He was an aura of dependability, a responsible, cultured man, who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way.”
This, according to her, encapsulates everything she has achieved through the years in business and as a farmer within the family. Beaming with smiles, she declared, “The family is very important.”
Describing how she feels about the absence of her late husband, she said, “Yes, I still miss him a lot. We were very close, we shared everything together. He used to do whatever I wanted, I am also happy that all my children and grandchildren love me a great deal. “And that takes me to your question of what keeps me going as a mother and grandmother.
First as a grandmother, my grandchildren keep me going. When I wake up and see them, I am happy. I have eight children, eighteen grandchildren, and six great grandchildren. When I look at them, I smile and give God the glory.” Madam Chiaha said that during her growing years, there was high level of discipline from parents to their children.
She said, “In our days, children were well behaved. They got up in the morning to greet their parents, after which they are made to sweep the entire village compound. They go to the steam to fetch water and the farm land for cultivation of crops.
“I love farming. As a retired teacher, after school hours, I go back to the farm. I love nature, and I like watching crops sprout out and grow. Nigeria cannot do without agriculture, Nigeria cannot do without farming. You can see that there is so much hunger in the land.
This is because people have abandoned farming for white collar jobs.” She averred that there was no way any economy can grow with the nation’s importmentality, adding, “Virtually everything we use is imported.
Nobody wants to patronise the few locally made goods. The manufacturing sector is not encouraged. Exchange rate is beyond the reach of the middle class. Our leaders are selfish; we don’t have selfless leaders in Nigeria anymore.”
The 92-year-old retired teacher said that during the time of people like Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and Ahmadu Bello, things were different.
They had conscience as leaders; they put the people first in terms of infrastructural development and job creation. Radiating so much glee, she said, “In those days, before one comes out of the university, there w e r e j o b s waiting for you.
Nigeria was created into regions and was well managed then. We had the Western, Eastern, Northern and the Mid-Western regions.
“But today what do we have? Politicians without conscience, corruption everywhere, everyone is scrambling to acquire wealth, embezzle public money into their private pockets. People no longer have the fear of God.
This was why we find ourselves in this economic recession.” Expressing great sadness over the current situation of things in the education sector, ‘Ene’nne’ said, “When the missionaries came to Nigeria, the standards of education was very high.
An elementary school person then is better than a graduate these days. It is unfortunate that the standard of education has fallen beyond pardon.
“It is a shame for our leaders, who sent their kids abroad and refused to do what is necessary back home to raise the standard of education.”
On how she was able to cope as a teacher, farmer and homemaker, Madam Chiaha said it was dependent on commitment and dedication to work.
She added, “A good woman must have focus. She must set goals and move to achieve them. Marriage is not as easy as people think. The new generation is looking for easy comfort, but I tell you it requires hard work.
“No matter how highly placed a woman maybe, she is still under her man. There were less cases of divorce during our time. Some women refused to accept the fact that a man remains the head of the home.
Many marital problems can be avoided, when couples take time to understand each other and try to resolve issues that may come between them. But people would rather prefer to live in the dream world and ride high on feelings.
That is the modern day philosophy – it has to feel good all the time. Anyone who has a good understanding of how life works knows that it won’t always be easy, and that hard times are the test of your seriousness with the marriage.”
