BIOGRAPHY OF LATE MRS REGINA BABBY OGHENOVO PIPPA (A.K.A MAMA)- NEE OGERE 1966-2020

By Wilson Macaulay

Warri 

Mrs. Regina Oghenovo Baby Pippa (A.K.A Mama)- Nee Ogere, was born at Ophorigbala to the family of late pa Ogere Tandan and late Mama Omakovuaye Ogere, both of Ophorigala town in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta state, Nigeria. She was the youngest of the children of her parents.

At the very tender age of 2 (two) years, Mama was brought to Okwagbe to live with the elder sister late mama Blackky Omoko (Nee Ogere), who was married to late Olorogun Pa Boyi Omoko,, as it was believed she would bring good  luck to her elder sister to begin to bear children in her                                                                                                                                                                                marriage. No sooner that mama arrived at her sister’s home the late mama blackky Omoko began to bear beautiful children. Mama from then on lived happily with late mama blacky omoko and grew up as one of the children of late Pa Olorogun Boyi Omoke at Okwagbe inland until she got married. In fact, mama all through her life ever lived and believed that late mama Blackky Omoko was her real mother and that and she was a daughter of late Olorogun Pa Boyi Omoko. And so it was that the late Pa. Olorogun Boyi Omoko was giving his birthdroom key for safe keeping. Such it was that when mama’s biological mother, late Ma’ Omakovuaye died at the same time, mama reiterated that her mother, late mama Blackky was still alive.

Mama was inseparable from late mama Blackky Omoko.

EDUCATION

Mama attended Baba-Ido Primary school, Okwagbe in Ughelli   South Local Government Area of Delta State, where she obtained her first school leaving certificate. She thereafter attended ST. Vincent’s College, Okwagbe and later transferred to AGBARHO Grammar school, Agbarho   [Notre Dame Grammer   School). She had 5 credits at the ordinary level G.C.E. Mama was a trained and professional secretary and had a certificate in secretarial studies. She did not continue her education as Mama opted for business to support her then young husband who was then struggling to make ends meet. She took the responsibility to support and provide for her husband and her very young children.

 

 

Mama attended several business and management seminars.

Mama was a lover of education and hence supported her husband through university. Due the incessant strikes in the public universities, she encouraged to get her children to attend Igbinedion University despite the huge cost then.

BUSINESS CARRIER      

Mama was an entrepreneur per excellence. Mama was a very courageous and hard working woman. Mama was blessed in business. Whatever she touched prospered. She was ever adventurous and fearless. Mama started to do business at the age of 17 years, just about a month after she had her first son in 1985. Since the husband, Pastor Barr. Emmanuel Committee. Pippa, was still then student at the university of Benin, Nigeria, she was left with no choice but to do something to take care of herself and her baby. She started to cook rice and beans to sell. When she had save money, she started to buy cooking pots breakable plates and other items to do the business of “Try your luck” on Okwagbe market days. From there, she started to go to the riverine markets of Omasuomo, Ojobo, and Torugbene e.t.c to do the “Try your luck” business. She later started to sell caps until the year 1991 when she relocated to Lagos to join her husband, who had graduated and become Barrister –At –Law

At Lagos, Mama first trained as a professional secretary at the institute of secretarial studies, Ketu, and obtained a certificate in secretary studies. However, instead taking up a white collar job as a secretary, she opted to trade to support her husband who had then just started his own chambers and struggling to provide for a young family and the numerous friends and other many people in their house. She then began to sell yams at the popular ketu mile 12 market, Lagos. She started as a retailer but soon became a wholesaler, buying and selling trucks of yam supplied from Benue and other Northern states. Mama was quite intelligent. While in Ketu Mile 12 Market, she learnt to speak Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, calabar and TIV languages.

She later changed her business when the family relocated to live at Ajao Estate, and then became a distributor and wholesaler of Eggs. She had an Air-conditional Mitsubishi bus as a distribution van. This van at this time was so unique and beautiful that sometimes about, the 6^th of December 2006. It attracted armed Robbers who attacked her and snatch the bus. The Armed Robbers shot her in the broad day light, took the bus and left her in a pool of blood. It was the grace of God that saved her as some good and courageous Igbo guys, who had closed from market, found her and rushed her to the Isolo General hospital, where she had first aid. When conference kotor arrived the hospital, they immediately referred and transferred her to the General Hospital, Lagos Island. The bullet from the gun shattered the bones of the fermur of her right hand and she had to undergo several surgeries, the last being at Orthopedic hospital Enugu, to save the hand.

It was in the process of finding a cure for the broken hand that Mama in 2008 relocated to Asaba to join her husband, who was then serving as a legal Aide to Honorable Taleb Tebite, at the Delta state House of Assembly Asaba. Upon mama’s arrival at Asaba, being a very industrious woman, she immediately settled down and commenced the business of wholesale buying of catfish.

The business was so successful that she started to bring buses of catfish from the Ijebu-ode and other western states every other day of the week. This was her business until she fell asleep on 15^th June, 2020.

RELIGIOUS LIFE:

 Mama was a devout Catholic. She grew up at Okwagbe inland and at a young age started to worship at ST. Patrick Catholic Church, Okwagbe Inland. She was baptized and confirmed at Usiefrun by Rev. Father Riamela of blessed Memory. Even though she got married to a non-catholic, she kept her faith as a Catholic until she fell asleep. At Asaba, she worshipped at St. Patrick Catholic church, Asaba and was a member of the Charismatic. One of the Christian virtue of Mama was charity. Mama was deep beliver in the power of God be in charge in the affairs of men. She had a good and large heart, loved and accommodated all that came her way.

SOCAIL LIFE

She was a very sociable woman. She accommodated everyone that came her way. She was very unassuming, simple but stylish and fashionable. Even though she lived at Asaba, she came home for every ceremony to support her people. She attended every ceremony in style and was known for giving of gifts generously at every occasion she attended. Mama loved pictures and was Photogenic. Mama had no dull moments. Always positive and optimistic.

FAMILY AND MARRIAGE LIFE:

The best description of Mama is contained in the BOOK OF PROVERBS 31:10-31.

Mama was mother to her husband, children and of all that came her way. She was a virtuous woman. Loyal to the husband to a fault, industrious, fearless and very bold, courageous dependable, very caring and loving, long –suffering, kind and very supportive of her husband and everyone. “she grided her loins with strength, and strengthen her arms”

As young Lady, Mama understood what it was to be married – for better and for worse. Once she married her husband, she immediately settled to family life. She started petty business to take care of herself and children because the husband was then a student at the University of Benin. Mama understood how important it was for her succeed in marriage and life. She supported the husband financially and morally through the university and Nigerian law School, while also taking care of the children.

Mama always wanted the husband to succeed. She engaged in every form of trade to support the home. She never asked for money for up-keeping as she was always independent being self sufficient from her own income in business. She accommodated all the friends, relations and the various people of all type that her husband brought home, with some staying in Mama’s house for some year before travelling abroad. At a point, 14 persons were living in Mama’s Lagos home. Mama was so supportive to the extent that even though the husband did not have the money to keep his crowd of friends, mama  continued to provide and cook for everyone in the house with her own resources since the husband was still struggling to find his feet.

Mama loved people and humanity. She wanted everyone around her to live a good life. In the demonstration of her love for humanity, Mama has trained several people through secondary school and Higher intuitions of learning.

Mama was generous to a fault. She desired everybody to be prosperous. She operated an open kitchen. Except you were a stranger, Mama allowed everyone in her house, her principle was serve yourself what you can eat.

Mama was a no nonsense woman but a great mobilizer people. Her doors were always open. She did her best to support and provide for everyone that came her way. You cannot leave Mama’s house without gifts. She was Mama of all. She loved to share and took pleasure in cooking for people. She wanted everyone satisfied.

Mama was a bridge in the husband’s family. She interacted, cooperated, felicitated and lived happily with every member of the husband’s family and her family. She wanted everyone to succeed. She encouraged the husband to keep lifting people as opportunity abounds.

Mama was a loyal wife to a fault. She never objected to anything and the husband did not ever quarrel with the wife. She treated the husband as her son, friend, love, Soul mate and partner. No matter the Circumstances, Mama would say “every woman is born jealous but they must be controlled”. Mama was a great defense and pillar to her husband in every way no matter the odds. She never complained of anything. If there was anything she didn’t like she would say It and then move. She was a solution giver. She was married for life. Mama was very straight forward and unique in many ways. She was blunt and welcomed no nonsense, a disciplinarian per excellence. She would tell you the way she saw it from her heart. She never kept malice even after perceived argument. She would say “oyen na ko be hwan”. Meaning – that event has passed and we have to move on”. And whenever she wanted to refrain from making comments, she would imitate the late Cashier (of blessed memory) by saying “cashier  mi rue, me kparen vbi yo o” meaning – “I’m cashier, I will not speak on this”.

In all Mama was a fulfilled woman. She achieved all that was there to achieve in life. She may not have lived to the biblical age, but she made great impact in life and was an icon. She touched lives and changed peoples’ stories. Mama lived a good and fruitful life.

The vacuum created by her sudden exit is unimaginable. Mama was an enigma and will be sorely missed

Sleep on Mama! Good night till we meet in heaven to part no more!!

Mama farewell!!! Forever you will be in our hearts.