Oghogho Orumwense (1924-2016) : A heroine cum philanthropist

Mrs Oghogho Orumwense, who has died was a heroine and philanthropist, who touched the lives of many positively.

Dr. Eddy Akpomera of the University of Benin, Benin City in his tribute, which was made available to The Guardian said: “It is a fact that in a traditional society like ours, where gender perception is defined in terms of male superiority and preference, heroines are rarely celebrated. The polygamous lifestyle of the adult male folks are culturally laden with customs and practices that rarely recognise the heroic acts and struggles of the females who worked extra-hard and swim against prejudices in order to succeed.

“These breed of females in different households are the unsung heroines who have battled to key into the modernisation process in order to raise highly educated people, key industry players, and professionals of high repute. They are the unsung heroines who are largely known to their respective family members that recognise their immense sacrifices and resilience to move the family from the lowest social class to higher levels of societal status through educational and economic empowerment.”

To Akpomera, Mrs Orumwense, a selfless mother and great daughter of the Benin Kingdom was one of such heroines, who triumphed over the traditional gender prejudices and poverty that were predominant in her environment.

“Amongst the many positive evidence of her triumph in ensuring social class mobility for her family is her second son, Professor Faraday Osasere Orumwense, incumbent Vice–Chancellor, University of Benin, Benin City, who is also a mechanical engineer.

“Those that have encountered the Vice– Chancellor of UNIBEN would quickly attest to his calm disposition, systematic approach to issues and predilection for details. Many may have thought that he could have developed those attributes from his engineering training, but the truth is that his late mother inculcated those innate traits in him, which were only accentuated by his professional calling.

“Regrettably the disciplined and hardworking woman died on May 1, 2016, at a fulfilled age of 92.

“The depth and breadth of the motherly influence of late Mrs Oghogho Orumwense on her immediate and extended family members could be seen in the strong emotions displayed by the 62–year- old Vice–Chancellor when announcing the demise of his mother.

“He had good reason to betray such emotions. At his last encounter with his mother few days before she passed on, she emotionally cuddled her son and his wife, Francisca, and prayerfully showered blessings on them for a long time,” the university don said.

Akpomera continued: “Oghogho was born in 1924 as the first daughter to Mr and Mrs Airhienbuwa of Urhokusa village in Iyeke – Orhionmwon in the traditional Benin kingdom of Edo State. While struggling with poverty, young Oghogho at a tender age suffered the terrible misfortune of seeing her mother die, leaving Oghogho to her fate, alongside her two younger sisters.

“In the usual polygamous family set-up, the onus fell on her to protect and raise her siblings, but she refused to be cowed by the cruel fate of losing her mother and being exposed to the vagaries of poverty.

“She later married to Mr. Joseph Itua Orumwense, and became a widow in 1997. She was not lettered, but she was amongst the vanguard of wise mothers in the Niger Delta region who sold their prized wrappers and blouses to provide financial support for their children’s education to higher institutions at home and abroad. In the competitive traditional family settings, wise mothers realised early enough that quality education, beyond just primary and secondary levels was the only way out of poverty.

“Today it is obvious that Faraday Osasere was the greatest testimony of her doggedness and vision for a better life for the family. She made the financial sacrifices from her petty trading to support Faraday Osasere through various levels of education in Edo State and Great Britain, spanning several years.

“Definitely, Oghogho Orumwense died a fulfilled mother, having witnessed her second surviving son (she lost her first son) rising to the pinnacle of his academic career in mechanical engineering, and by Divine providence becoming the Chief Executive of the first–generation Federal University in the same Benin City, where she laboured so much to break the yoke of poverty and social class delineation.

“She was popularly called “Big Mummy” by many in Benin City because of her unique and special ways of dealing with her kith and kin.”

To Dr. Ede Ahmed, incumbent Director, Centre for Entrepreneurial Development, University of Benin, Benin City, first cousin to the Professor Orumwense, who grew up in the Orumwense family house on Ozolua Street between First and Second East Circular Area in the Edo State Capital, late Mrs Oghogho Orumwense was very caring even to her step-children, very affectionate to her siblings, and accommodating to many indigent members of the community.

“As the leading light in the family and community leader, she was a great philanthropist, selfless, open and disciplined. She added value to the lives of many and improved on the welfare of families, especially women and youths to the extent that before her demise, many still saw her as their foster mother.
Oghogho Orumwense, born 1924, died on May 1, 2016 at the age of 92