Otovwodo Community Installs Ma Ideh As Okpako R ‘ Eghweya

By Ambrose Ologide

Otovwodo (Agbassa) community, the traditional headquarters of the ancient Urhobo Kingdom of Agbarha Warri in Warri South Local Government Area was in a festive mood, as Mrs Agnes Mebradu Ideh was installed as the Okpako R ‘ Eghweya ( oldest woman in marriage ) of the community on Sunday, 13th October, 2024.

The epoch making event was celebrated in a clement weather as it attracted relations, friends and well wishers from far and near.

The memorable event started with a thanksgiving service at God’s Time Glorious Mission, Uti Street, Effurun Uvwie Local Government Area.

Immediately after the thanksgiving service the Ovwian Udu Local Government born virtuous woman was escorted by fellow mothers in marriage in Otovwodo (Agbassa) Community, accompanied by the sensational emah ( royal dance ) to her husband’s (Pa Benjamin Omoyibo Ideh (of blessed memory) compound, Otovwodo Agbassa Community, the venue for the reception.

The occasion featured cultural dances, match past by Eghweya of the community while Ma Ideh sat gloriously as she savored the honour that was bestowed on her.

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Mama’s only son among her nine children, Onajomoh Ideh, Asaba based Delta State very senior civil servant who spoke to newsmen expressed gratitude to God for his mother to attain the position just as he stated that nothing will be too much for him to do in honour of his mother, who he described as a mother in a million.

Onajomoh Ideh also appreciated those who contributed to the huge success of the event.

The eldest son of Late Pa Benjamin Omoyibo Ideh, Arues Ideh also spoke volumes of the goodness of his step mother that was celebrated .

The Unuovwodo (traditional representative of the Ovie of Agbarha Warri) of Otovwodo (Agbassa) Community, High Julius Tobore Edafiadjebre ( JP), the Otota / PRO of the community, William Agbogidi, the Oghwuvwie of the community Jasper Ope Osioh, the President of the prestigious Agbarha Warri League Joseph Ugbejevun and others affirmed that the event was a fulfilment of the tradition and custom of the Agbarha Warri people just as they also congratulated Ma Ideh for attaining it.

The celebrant, Mrs Agnes Mebradu Ideh had earlier stated in a media interaction with newsmen that she gave all the glory to God for the honour bestowed on her.

Ma Ideh was also full of appreciation to her children, her fellow mothers in marriage in community, relations and friends for honouring her in such a wonderful way.

High point of the event was the cutting of her 80th birthday anniversary cake as she clocked 80 years old April.

A citation of Ma Ideh read thus : ‘Mrs Agnes Mebradu Ideh (Mama) was born on the 11th of April 1944 in Ovwian into the family of late Pa. Makelemi Okorhohin of Udueyara Quarter and her late mother Keike popular called Tete is from the family of Otulo in Ekregworo quarters, both in Ovwian, Udu Local Government Area.
‘Mama spent her early childhood in Ovwian and was coming from there to attend school in Warri , the then Convent School 1, now Alderstown Primary School. The journey of attending school from Ovwian for young lady was not easy as a result, mama came to stay with one of her Aunties who was living in Warri closed to the school so that she can complete her primary education
Mama didn’t proceed to secondary school because in those days most fathers including her father didn’t believe in sending female child to secondary school as was the trend then.

‘ Mama got married to late Pa. Benjamin Omoyibo Ideh in her early twenties.

Mama is an astute business woman. She started her business with a kiosk in front of the compound where she sold provisions an other items but after a series of robbery incident , mama left the selling of provision and ventured into selling of cow meat.

“The business prospered to the extent that mama was buying and slaughtering cows for sale. She did that business all through the seventies n until late eighties when mama decided to change her line of business following the economic situation caused by harsh economic polices by the then military head of state Major General Mahammadu Buhari which affected many businesses and mama business was greatly affected

‘In 1987, mama started the frying of Akara on the spot where mama’s shop presently stands and the Akara business metamorphosis into a striving restaurant business.

‘Mama is well known for her delicious rice n stews, Egusi soup, banga soup, particularly her Ogwho and Esha Soup with starch which attracted many costumers from far n near. There was also this very delicious
big big bones sauce she cooked which earned her the name mama ‘ Gboma’ etc.

‘ Mama retired from active cooking in the year 2018

‘Mama is very hardworking, an astute business woman very good with calculations, many a time boys would come to buy food and with the thought to want confuse mama with their erratic demands but mama is very smart and at the end of day would give the person the appropriate bill. Most of us helping her then. always marvelled at Mama’s arithmetic prowess.

‘Mama is very committed to the wellbeing of her immediate and extended family. She contributed immensely to the educational and overall development of her children , grand children and extended family
Mama is an epitome of love, and sacrifice and will spare no resources for the wellbeing of her family.

‘Mama is a very warm, amiable person whose arms are ever open to welcome family and friends

‘Mama is a devoted christian having given her life to christ in the early 2000 precisely in the year 2002, was attending the Redeemed Christian church until recently

‘ Mama is blessed with brothers, children, step children adopted children, sons and daughters -in – law , grand children, great grand children, nephews nieces and cousins etc

‘ Today we celebrate mama as the Okpako’ R’ Egweya R Otovwodo, Agbarha -Warri. In other words the Senior Wife in Otovwodo, which indeed is a great great privilege and honour.

‘ Also having clock 80 on the 11th day of April 2024.

‘Today we celebrate Mama who has gone through thick and thin ,
had weather many storms , has seen the good, the bad and the ugly’