Chief Mrs Ifeyinwa Ezenwata is the chairman of Anti-bunkery/ Vandalisation of Pipelines and Other Oil Prohibiting Items, Akwa-Ibom state command, under Independence Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN). She is a business tycoon, and the leader of the Market Women Association of Nigeria, South East Chapter. She is a philanthropist in her own capacity. In this interview with Orient Weekend’s ADA NWANAGUM she speaks about her strength, fears and struggle to fame. Excerpts:
Background
My name is Chief Mrs. Ifeyinwa Ezenwa. I am from a village called Umudioka in Awka town, Awka South LGA of Anambra state. I am the first of six children of late Chief Harrison Agunobi family.
I attended Ijeoma Memorial Primary School, Kano; then, Federal Government College, Zaria, Kaduna state, and later, College of Health Sciences (School of Hygiene) Bonpie, Kano state.
I am blessed with six lovely kids (3 boys and 3 girls). In my first marriage, I had some obstacles, because of religious differences. I first got married to a Muslim, from Kwara state. After our separation, I went back to my home town and got married to an Awka man from the great Ezenwa family in Umuanaga village.
I am a business woman and the leader of the Market Women Association of Nigeria, South East Chapter. At that position, I represented the South East women in the National Confab, 2014, under the first executive governor of Anambra State, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife.
I own a catering outfit besides being a food stuff distributor. To the glory of God, I was recently appointed the Chairperson of Anti-bunkery/Vandalization of Pipelines and Other Oil Prohibiting Items, Akwa-Ibom state command, under the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN).
Growing up
My growing up was very tough. We were trained in the northern part of Nigeria, and my dad died when we were very young. My siblings and l were raised by a single mother, a widow. She was working with NIPOST then. I was so close to her due to my position as her first child, and I assisted her in many ways. You know, it is not easy bringing up children in our society without the presence of the man. This pushed me to get married at a very early stage in life, all in the quest to assist my mother in training my siblings.
Childhood dreams and fantasies
There were some dreams that were not fulfilled because of the conditions we found ourselves then. I had always dreamt of being a nurse while growing up but, because of my mother’s little salary, I could not go further than where I got to. I stopped at the level I got to so that she would train my siblings. Nature can stop or alter most of our childhood dreams. But I did not allow myself to be intimidated by the difficulties of life. If one plan did not work, I would look for another in order to forge ahead. I always think ahead of time, and out of the box. I thank God for the difficulties that have made me what I am today. They made me strong and dogged. Today, I can stand any kind of obstacle that comes my way. Today, I can help solve people’s problems, counsel people on what is right or wrong, because, I went through a very tough time in life.
I never imagined being the Ifenyinwa you see today but God made it possible for me. You see, sometimes, you will have a dream and try to pursue it but God will have another plan for you.
Fears and challenges
I was only afraid of losing my mother because, if I did, who would I run to? My father was no more, and you see, when your father is alive, you will see a lot of uncles and relatives trying to be nice but once the father is no more, nobody would want to know or ask how you are faring. So, the fear of losing my mum at that age always gripped me, and I always prayed to God to keep her for us because, without her, we would not cope. I really appreciate God for doing that for me because up till today, my mother is still alive, enjoying the fruit of her struggle.
Through prayers, faith and closeness to God, I was able to beat my fears.
Greatest life-threatening challenge
It was my first marriage, although it was not my fault. I never dreamt of having a failed marriage. At that stage of my life, when I separated from my first marriage, I thought I would not survive. I kept asking myself if that was what marriage was all about. It was a very terrible period for me – my kids were taken away from me, and I was left with almost nothing. But God now says: “Look, that is not the dream or life I have for you.”
Then, God blessed me with someone from my very own town, in the person of Chief Afam Ezenwa, and today, I am a happy woman.
I thank God that today, my kids in the first marriage are now adults, and they are communicating with me. They do come down to see me, spend time with me, and assure me that they will always be there for me.
Wife, mother and career woman
It has never been easy combining the three jobs but to be candid with you, my children and husband support my moves. They give me the courage to go ahead with whatever God has destined for me, because, he (my husband) saw the potentials and zeal in me. He is a nice partner to me, even though we have our moments of disagreement. He is supportive, appreciative and happy with what I do, and I have been making efforts to be the best I can in all my undertakings. To his children I met with him when I married him, I try my best to be that mother they need, and we share this love-bond, so that one hardly notices that they are not mine.
Gender bias
Yes, I have encountered gender prejudice in my career even with the state government. The one I witnessed that was so painful was at the National Conference that I attended. I was the youngest of the 18 delegates sent from Anambra State. All delegates went to their various states to make sure they made inputs. But when I got back to Anambra state, the state government assigned functions to the rest of the delegates in the state but I was not given any, and the excuse they gave was that I was a young woman. I looked at myself and wondered why I was called a young woman at 50 years. They did it because I am a woman. But I thank God that today, I am given the position to handle a state under IPMAN, and I promise to do it very diligently, to prove to them that women can do better. So, it is a challenge to me, and I will forge ahead to make sure I deliver.
Again, we meet such prejudices at the family level in Igbo land, where married daughters and even the unmarried ones, do not have the right to own even the smallest pin in their father’s house. But, I thank God for the recent court verdict which empowered women to get share of their father’s property. I think, with that, I will advise every woman to come out and speak up; make a lot of noise for the men to know that we are our fathers’ children too. This same men and women go to the same school, pay same school fees, read same textbooks and, some women get higher grades than the men in their results. So, I don’t know why women should be subjected to such prejudices. It’s high time our Nigeria men saw women as their partners, and support them.
Motivator
I had so many motivators as at the time I decided to start living my life. The late Professor Dora Akunyili, was one. I love that woman so much, and may her soul rest in peace. I love watching her and hearing about her. Before then, we lacked female mentorship in Nigeria. No woman wanted to mentor another; but the likes of Dora made great difference, mostly with the advice she gave to women, and that motivated me to want to be like her.
Greatest achievement so far
My greatest achievement is that I have been able to manage my crises and problems properly. I have had lots of problems in life but I stood my ground and never allowed them to weigh me down.
Role model /source of inspiration
My mother, Mrs Eunice Agunobi, is my everyday woman crush, my hero and my pride. Another role model for me is Mrs Felicia Asani, Nne ka Nne 1 of Ojuonu Kingdom in Delta State. She is the President-General of market leaders in Nigeria. Another person (though late now) is the mother to the former governor of Lagos state. We called her Iya-Oloja of Lagos State. I also have Mrs. Nkechi Mba, the President, National Council of Women Society (NCWS).
Sexual harassment/intimidation
No, I have never been harassed sexually. I think this is because I am a gifted child. To be sincere here, if I come to you for something and you want to intimidate me with that thing, I will pull out. There was a time in one of the leadership roles I handled in Anambra state, I found out that the male partner was acting funny. What I did was to pull out to make him understand that I did not need such thing. I forged ahead with other things. Today, whenever the man sees me, he always makes sure he comes to greet me, telling people that I am a strong woman.
Solution
Until there is a policy, a very strong law to handle the men that do that indulge in sexual harassment, rape and other girl-child abuses, it will not end. If the lawmakers do not take very strong ground and put such law, either by hanging or outright killing of the defaulter, the menace will continue. Most of the people carrying out this crime believe that they will get bail or will be able to bribe their way out. The only thing we can do now is to continue the campaign against rape, child abuse and intimidation against the girl-child.
Legacy
If I were no more, I would want to be remembered as the woman that fought to elevate a lot of youths, helping them in every way to be good and responsible citizens. Just like Dora Akunyili, I am making good efforts now to make sure my name is written in the sand of time.