By ANIEBO NWAMU
All roads lead to Mgbuji, Eha-Amufu in Isi-Uzo local government of Enugu State, tomorrow, as the body of Ezinne Comfort Ebam Ogenyi will be laid to rest. Ezinne Ogenyi, mother of ADC governorship hopeful Hon. Dozie Ogenyi, died on 13th February this year at the ripe age of 93 years.
The Ogenyi family says the burial and funeral activities will begin today (Thursday) at 5pm with a service of songs at the family’s compound in Mgbuji, Eha-Amufu.
Tomorrow, 1st May, there will be a lying-in-state at 8am. A church service will follow from 9:30am at Agape College arena, by the Church of God, Anglican Communion, Eha-Amufu Diocese. The body of Ezinne Ogenyi will be buried immediately after the church service. Guests will be entertained soon after the interment.
Madam Ogenyi leaves behind five children, several grandchildren and great-grandchildren who will forever keep memories of a kind and loving mother in their hearts.
Born in 1933, Ezinne Ogenyi was the first child of Mr and Mrs Odanwu Obeagu of Umu Igwelegbualu, Umu-Ode, Ama Obelebe, Abor Eha-Amufu in present-day Isi-Uzo local government area of Enugu State. Like most people of her generation in Igbo land of that era, she had no opportunity to attend secular school. Her family and community were dedicated to farming which they saw as the only valuable means of livelihood. Later in life, however, she enrolled in a night school to enable her to read the Bible.
Mama Ogenyi was married to a gentleman, Mr Felix Ogenyi of Amangwu, Ashiakpu, Omulor, Mgbuji Eha- Amufu. Her husband departed during the civil war, but the marriage was blessed with five living children including Hon. Dozie Ogenyi who now hopes to run for governor of Enugu State under the African Democratic Congress, ADC.
Although Ezinne Ogenyi was born into a family of traditional worshippers, she became a Christian after getting married. Her husband enrolled her into Christian life; consequently she attended a night school so she could be literate enough to read her Bible. Being a very intelligent woman, she picked up very fast, got baptized and confirmed, and enrolled into a guild organization in a Methodist church in Ndi-Abor, in today’s Awgu local government area of Enugu State, where she was living with her husband. She became so active in the church that she began to represent it in meetings outside her local church.
It was at the end of the Nigeria-Biafra war, which took the life of her husband, that Mama Ogenyi returned home. She relocated to Mgbede and became very active in St. Luke’s Church, Mgbede, as one of the pioneers of the church. Because she wanted her children in school, however, she returned to Eha-Ulo after a short while.
Mama Ogenyi continued her service and devotion to the work of God in St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, Mgbuji. Among other leadership roles, she served as a member of the Harvest Committee. She was one of the women group leaders (Ifunanya) until she became aged. She singlehandedly was cleaning the entire St. Matthew’s Church every Wednesday until she became too old to do so.
As part of her dedication and covenant with God, Ezinne Ogenyi made a secret offering every January. She was doing that alone, but when her children grew up she had to get them involved. She warned them to keep the covenant even after her death.
Mama Ogenyi was known by her faith and prayer life. In her quest to know God more, she joined the Scripture Union Nigeria with all that is in her. She attended many Scripture Union conferences and programmes.
When the Eha-Amufu Believers Association (E.B.A.) was established in 1980, Mama Ogenyi was one of the home pioneers. The association, among other functions, evangelizes as well as provides care and support for the needy. E.B.A. has trained more than 500 people who are today minsters of the gospel working both in Nigeria and around the world. Ezinne Ogenyi was dedicated to the affairs of the ministry in praying (and paying her April and October tithes) until her death. She went to pray inside the hall every year except 2025 due to age and failing strength.
Ezinne Ogenyi was also well known for her selflessness toward everyone that came close and around her. Her caring, visitation and sacrificial giving spoke volumes; in fact, it was a crime to visit her and leave without either cooked or raw food.
Mama Ogenyi was a very strong and hardworking woman. But she was also a disciplinarian. She didn’t take nonsense: things had to be done rightly and timely. She was known by her high level of neatness, coordination and principle. Sometimes, she disciplined her own children when they failed to attend Christian fellowship.
When it came to family life counselling, Mama Ogenyi stood out. Her house was never lonely because people always came to receive counselling and prayers from her. Even after she left her house due to old age, and stayed in her children’s homes, she continued her ministry of praying, counselling and giving wherever she was.
Ezinne Ogenyi’s children will forever be grateful to their mom. They are honouring her through tomorrow’s event, obviously because she meant everything to them. After losing her husband, she singlehandedly brought up her five children. She went through a lot of hardship, yet she did not violate her conscience. Above all, she showed her children the way to God. How Mama Ogenyi brought them up well is a story her children hope to retell during an outing service on Sunday, 3rd May, at St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, Mgbuji, Eha-Amufu.
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