UNOMA AKPABIO: A PEBBLE IN THE LAKE @ 42
What is the answer to the “Ultimate Question of Life?” A group of hyper-intelligent pan-dimensional beings in Douglas Adams’ bestseller, “Life, the Universe and Everything” says it is forty two. The number has also received considerable attention in popular culture as a result of its central appearance in the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Forty two is just not a number; it is the action of humans that make the number tick. As the wife of the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mrs. Ekaette Unoma Godswill Akpabio clocks forty two, her life has provided compassionate answers to the lives of others as she wipes their tears with an oversize handkerchief.
In the months following the end of the Nigeria – Biafra civil war, Unoma was born to the family of late Godwin and Beatrice Nkemdilim Ejike of Ozom Aguobu-Owa, Ezeagu local government area, Enugu State, God, through her birth, had thrown a pebble in the calm lake of humanity. Today, that pebble of destiny has spread its ripples and sent its waves across all ends of the shore and turned lives that were sad commentaries of human existence into engaging stories of living.
To her, that is the essence of living.
Her passion for compassion casts her in the mold of Florence Nightangle, the Lady with the Lamp and as she blossomed in the compassion enterprise, she rose to earn the sobriquet of the famous Mother Theresa, the Indian Roman Catholic nun and founder of the Missionaries of Charity. She has lighted paths of darkness of many lives right from when her happy parents enrolled her in school. From Zik Avenue Primary School to City Girls Secondary School, both in Enugu; and later Abia State University, Uturu where she earned a degree in Education and Accounting. But the light sparkled most in her office as the First Lady of Akwa Ibom State where the beauty on her heart was unveiled and she has continuously used a thirsty sponge to mob sorrows-drenched lives.
In her lushly vegetated garden of compassion and kindness, love is a fruit in season at all times, and within the reach of every hand to pluck; one needs not climb the tree to harvest the fruits. That is where she plucks to give many a flight from frustration to a fulfilled life that shines and sparkles. Mma Akpabio has lived a life that is as purposeful as it is impactful for these forty two worthy years. A great mobilizer, Her Excellency has been at the forefront of women advocacy be it in political awareness or civic education through an uncanny foresight. She came to end an era where women were silenced to the background. She heard their silence.
A wonderful mother, Mrs Akpabio believes in Mother Teresa’s belief that one should “spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.” Indeed, her pet project, the Family Life Enhancement Programme is a steady fountain of joy and infectious happiness. She is also the progenitor of Uyai Iban Akwa Ibom, another veritable platform that has brought the women of Akwa Ibom together. A pillar of strength, Ekaete Unoma has been a strong support for the needy and other underprivileged in the society. She has paid plenty of hospital bills for indigent patients, most of whom she sponsored their medical trips abroad.
Multiple birth children, courtesy of the wife of the governor, have become a source of blessing to their parents. She is committed to providing financial support to enhance their daily upkeep. At forty, the lady is ready for more.
Though she detests blowing her trumpet, many feel that the ways she has positively touched lives especially the downtrodden and disadvantaged in the society is enough air that can blare her name from one end of the world to the other. But the more she abhors praises the more she gives meaning to people’s lives. To her, Mother Teresa’s assertion that “life is only meaningful if one gives meaning to others’ lives” is the motto of living. That was the sentiment expressed by the Anglican Church when they honoured her. She gave a solemnity to the otherwise joyous occasion; she was joyous, she was in tears. That event further challenged her to do more. Her goal is to reduce to the barest minimum, the gulf between the rich and the needy, with bias to the underprivileged.
She brings the oldies in the society to ‘live’ again by organizing parties for them to relive those good old days. Let little children follow her; Mma is a mother for all. Children’s party is part her playing the motherly role. She is an advocate for the poor. For those behind bars, she has engages legal experts to revisit their cases to
give them justice, and possibly grant them freedom and reprieve within the dictates of the law.
She wears humility and simplicity like a second skin. Except one is told, it is difficult to know that she is married to a State governor as renowned as Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio. She passes unnoticed because to her crowding self with an army of overzealous security and personal aides is unnecessary. Whoever has a genuine reason to meet her, has direct access to the social solicitor.
African queen that she truly is, the energy and passion she puts into work is infectious. One cannot work with her except the person is not lazy. She works round the clock to ensure that the voiceless are heard, serving the poorest of the poor. Like her husband, she is tall and practically walks fast, so runs her thought. When she moves, the step to the left breeds action, while the one to the right, speaks results. In all these, the great teacher’s love and care for her children is immeasurable, just as she remains a dependable guardian for others.
Significantly, till date, she still cooks for her husband. Governor Akpabio’s typical day gets a boost from a delicacy from his darling angel Unoma Akpabio. The meal is always ready- just a demand away.
Many speak of her as a complete gift from Heaven. To her friend who doubles as the co-ordinator of her pet project, The Family Life Enhancement Initiative, FLEI and Uyai Iban Akwa Ibom, Mrs. Asuama Sydney, Ekaete Unoma is a “blessing to this generation. To add to it, she is exemplarily a God-fearing woman. No wonder they say behind every successful man, there is always a woman. Can we now see part of the reason His Excellency, the Governor will continue to be successful?”
As this mother of mothers and children hits forty two, it only shows that the seed of love God planted in the Coal city has grown into trees of service for humanity. She has made the entire world a birthday cake for the needy, and her candle light remains aglow. With not less than 80 houses built for widows across Akwa Ibom State and continued care for the less privileged members of the Society, this jewel of inestimable value is an unrivaled epitome of compassion.
It is to the credit of this humble but great defender of the less privileged that the Child Rights Law was passed in Akwa Ibom. And, much recently, her Non-Governmental Organisation, Family Life Enhancement Initiative, FLEI, working closely with the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, passed into law, a bill which makes it a criminal offence for anyone to maltreat widows or deny them their rightful inheritance. Ekaette Unoma Akpabio has done so much to emancipate the women folk, children and indeed the less-privileged in Akwa Ibom and beyond. Little wonder those who know her works have rightly dubbed her ‘The Mother Theresa of our time.’
It is not in error that this year’s birthday falls on a Sunday -God appreciates her good works. This is recognition for the commitment by this devout Catholic, who is very devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
It is then a good thing that on this forty second birthday, though Unoma Akpabio does not know what tomorrow holds, she knows who holds tomorrow. The fitting toast is that may you live as long as you want, and may you not want as long as you live.
This is deserving of burning a factory of candle. A pebble thrown into the lake of humanity has spread impactful ripples to salvage humanity. Congratulations on the occasion of your forty second birthday.
Written By Aniekan Umanah