GIRL CHILD EDUCATION IN URHOBOLAND
GIRL CHILD EDUCATION IN URHOBOLAND
By ASSIN Godstime
Publisher of Urhobo Current Affairs.
Phone Number: 08165006012.
Female children were in the early 1930s seen as other people's inheritance. Most parents felt that training up a female child was like training up another man's child since she would someday be married to a man whom she would later adopt his name. In the 1950s, the practice of not training up a female child still held ground. The 1950s was also the time rubber tapping was lucrative, although it was first discovered in Brazil. Urhobo women joined in the tapping of rubber in Urhobo villages and Aka as means of livelihood.
Joan Ibuje broke the jinx of girl child education in Urhoboland when she rose through the corridor of Secondary school in Lagos, the University College at Ibadan which became University of Ibadan in the year she was awarded a degree in History. Although University College was founded in 1948, it became a full flesh University in 1962. Joan was pioneer when it became a full flesh University and graduated the same year.
Much more later were other Urhobo women. Augusta Omamor was another erudite scholar who followed in Ibuje's steps. She became Urhobo first female PhD holder in 1976 and later first female Professor in 1990. About the same time, Mrs Dede now a retired lecturer at University of Benin earned a PhD overseas. Hers was in November, a month behind Augusta. Maureen Scott Emuakpor also earned a PhD in 1978, becoming the third Urhobo female to do so. Urhobo first female Lawyer, Marcellina Okungbowa (nee Menta) was produced as early as 1964. She was Chief Judge in Bendel and Delta states.
Mary, Mukoro Mowoe's eldest daughter was the first Urhobo female to be sent overseas for further studies in 1950. She became Urhobo first Nurse and Midwife in 1951-52. Ekorome Salubi followed in her steps, becoming a Nurse and Midwife in 1954-55. Presently, Urhobo women are now highly educated. Marcellina, daughter of Menta who became Okungbowa by marriage became Urhobo first female Lawyer in 1964. The Nigerian Police Force recruited females for the first time in 1958. Florence whose father was the then Ovie of Oghara was one of those recruited. She is now (Alhaja) Sherifat Lipede. Juliana Okpoko was Urhobo first female pilot in 1983. Victory Menta became Commissioner of Police in 2014. Oghenetega Ighedo is the first Urhobo woman to earn a PhD in Pure Mathematics. Otete Okobiah rose to the position of a university Vice Chancellor at the Western Delta university, Oghara.
In terms of politics, Urhobo women have not had better share of appointments nor hold much elective positions. In the disadvantage of this biased approach of selecting political office holders in Nigeria, Elizabeth Ogbon-Day, was elected Nigeria's first female Ambassador in 1981. Grace Akpoguma caught the eye of President Musa Y'Adua when he appointed her Urhobo first female Minister. Barr Evelyn Omavowan Oboro stood to conquer when she was elected Urhobo first female Member of the House of Representatives. Mrs Suenu (nee Ibori) is the first female from Urhobo ethnic group to gain access to the Delta State House of Assembly. Lizzy Obukene was the first Urhobo female Local Government Chairman when she piloted Okpe.
Cecilia Ibru and Evelyn Oputu became Directors in the Banking sector. Janet Omotogor Ibru would hardly be neglected by history. She was the mother of the first known family of billionaires in Africa. Her sons Michael, Felix, Alex, Bennard, Goddie and others were all billionaires. The Frozen Fish, Shareton Hotels, Guardian Newspaper, Federal Palace Hotels and the defunct Oceanic Bank are few among the 34 conglomerate of the Ibru dynasty of Agbarho-Otor birthed by Janet Omotogor. No other Nigerian has today had 34 conglomerate. Umukoko of Oteri-Ughelli became mother of two kings. The fathers of Ivie (kings) of Ughelli and Okparabe kingdoms were born by her. Stella Stella Erhuvwuoghene Okotete now heads Maxim bank.
Presently, Urhobo women now dominate across boards.
