A philanthropist, Chief Okorie Kingsley, from Ohaozara – Okposi LGA, Ebonyi state, has attributed his present achievements in life to his mother, Madam Okorie Grace, while raising him through patience and diligence.
He stated this in Okposi, his country home, Monday, during his mother’s 80th birthday celebration.
Chief Okorie Kingsley also known as Okpata Ozuoha, Chief Ojiefi Emeogo 1 of Okposi – Ohaozara kingdom of Umuekuma Community, while narrating his experience stated that his mother endured so many challenges while raising him and his siblings alone.
“She is everything to me, without her I’m nothing. Like I said, my mother passed through a lot training us, my father married many wives and hardly comes to see us. My Mother singlehandedly raised us, she suffered so much in Owerri selling all sorts of things like groundnut.
“You’ll find me then by her side each time we go to the market, while my other siblings go to school I’ll like to be with my mum helping her.” He disclosed that when it became difficult for their mother to train him and his siblings, he decided to drop out of Secondary School to assist her while his siblings continued their education. Adding, “But today I’m enjoying it because I learned a lot from her.
Describing the event, Chief Okorie while appreciating God for keeping his Mother alive to witness her 80th birthday said, “in igbo tradition it is called ‘Ori na ndu’ that is giving her enough to eat when she’s alive”, so that when she is no more, he’ll be fulfilled knowing he took proper care of his mother.
Among the items gifted to Madam Okorie Grace by her son are; box with assorted wrappers, blouses, provisions, toiletries, large tubers of yam, rice, big size mattress, Toyota Rav4 etc.
The Philanthropist who has empowered youths within and outside his community with motorcycles/tricycles, distributed cash, food items to women and widows, appreciated God for giving him such a mother, stating, “she also taught us to give, that’s why I said that she’s the one who made me Chief Okpata -Ozuoha, today. If she didn’t teach us to give, I cannot have the heart of giving, I may find it difficult to give just like others who have money”, he said.
Reacting, Madam Grace Okorie appreciated God who kept her till this day, she expressed gratitude to his son, Chief Okpata Ozuoha for celebrating him while praying for God’s blessings upon him. She equally urged parents still struggling to train their children not to feel discouraged or curse them, but rather wish them well and pray for God to change their ways.
Others who spoke during the event include; Lolo Esther Okorie; Ngozi Okorie, and Williams Okoroafor all family members described the celebrant as a woman of virtue who catered for the well-being of her family out of nothing.
Adding “My message/prayer is that she will live long, a mandate for every man or woman is 120yrs, I want God to keep her alive to see 120yrs so we will celebrate her, she will live long and we will celebrate her.”
They equally expressed their heartfelt appreciation to Chief Okpata for organizing the event
“He called everyone of his siblings to come and witness how he’d shower our mother with love on her birthday, we didn’t contribute a kobo, he only asked us to come and enjoy/celebrate with our mother on her special day. I pray for God’s blessings upon him, may God replenish his purse for all he has done for our mother.”