By Onyekachi Eze
A political titan and Adviser to Imo State Governor on Small scale Medium Enterprises SME, High Chief Engr Emma Ojinere has celebrated wife, Chief Mrs Abiola Ojinere on her recent Chieftaincy conferment by Ndi Eze Mbaise.
Mrs Ojinere last Saturday, November 4, 2017 was elevated to the Igbo Traditional rank of a Chief as “Akachereugo Mbaise” by Mbaise Council of Traditional Rulers led by HRM Eze Chidume Okoro.
The conferment was performed at Eze Chidume Okoro’s palatial residence with the full participation and attendance of all the Traditional Rulers that constitute the larger Mbaise Nation.
Although women are not usually bestowed with such an important cultural title in Igbo land, such was not the same with Mrs Ojinere. A Yoruba born Educationist, lover of children and motivational speaker, married to an Umuchieze; Ahiazu Mbaise accomplished Industrialist, politician, administrator and a disciplined man.
Earlier before the conferment, Imo State Deputy Chairman, Council of Ndi Eze and Chairman, Mbaise Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM Eze Chidume Okoro congratulated the women of honour who have been found worthy by Mbaise kings.
He described the few women which Mrs. Ojinere was on the top list as the “first set of Mbaise female elite chiefs” which he said will go down history lane as the day the Kings in Mbaise Nation decided to give honour to their wives who by marriage to Mbaise clan Chiefs are supporting their husbands in the development of Mbaise Nation.
Eze Chidume hinted that the women not only haven been supporting their husbands who have paid their dues in Mbaise land have equally been outstanding in their career, profession, businesses and in touching lives positively in various ways.
“Their recognition and conferment with Chieftaincy titles today by Mbaise Kings will surely encourage them to make more sacrifices and join the front seat in driving development in Mbaise Nation. Their conferment will also give them a voice to speak up on matters that affect our people”. The monarch asserted.
Furthermore, the monarch disclosed that among the 26 clan Chiefs in Mbaise Nation, High Chief Engr Emma Ojinere was among the first set and since then has been making every possible effort to better the lives of Mbaise sons and daughters and in attracting lot of progress in the land.
Responding, the husband to the recipient, High Chief Emma Ojinere thanked Ndi Eze Mbaise for the “one in a million” recognition of his delectable wife and his contributions in the land, Chief Ojinere submitted that what the Ezes, Mbaise at large have done is apparently giving honour to whom honour is due.
However, the soft spoken Ojinere reiterated that his family will ever remains grateful for the honour and will not relent in doing things that would promote rapid development in Mbaise.
On a similar note, the Chairman of the occasion at the reception ground at Emma Ojinere’s country home in Umuchieze, Sir Adauctus Onuoha described the occasion as worthwhile and befitting to the woman that upholds peace, unity and inspiration in lives wherever she go, adding that Chief Mrs. Abiola deserves such an honour.
In their respective speeches, Ichie Best Mbanaso, Dr Mrs Angela Uwakwem and Dr. Mrs. Joy Ezebuiro from the Rescue Mission Administration among other dignitaries across board that graced the occasion said that such recognition is rare in Igbo land. They stated that Mrs. Ojinere was conferred as a Chief due to her outstanding qualities and impeccable character, hence praised God for blessing Emma Ojinere and household with such a costly jewel of inestimable value.
Addressing newsmen, the recipient, Chief Abiola Ojinere while giving thanks to God, Mbaise Kings, Indigenes and her family retorted that conferring her with a chieftaincy title is a task for greater work. She further thanked her husband for being a formidable ladder in her life, saying that without him, such would not have been. Mrs. Ojinere therefore promised to be true ambassador of Igbo cultural heritage wherever she finds herself.
