RAYMOND OZOJI reportsChief Mrs. Elizabeth Okoye a.k.a Dibumma was amongst over 50 women recognized by St. Martin Catholic Church Ihiala in Anambra State on August 9th 2025 for their impeccable personalities and outstanding leadership roles in their respective families and the society at large.
Mrs. Okoye who hails from Umumeri Uzoakwa Ihiala was filled with joy and ecstasy as families, friends and well-wishers travelled from far and near to celebrate her on the special occasion of her investiture as NNEOMA which means a good mother.
She is not just a good mother to her own biological children, she was equally a good wife to her late husband Chief Emmanuel Okoye a.k.a Rainbow (Nnayelugo) and their marriage was sweet. Her inlaws and grandchildren are not left out as she extended love, care and undiluted affection to them; not demanding, not asking but always willing to inconvenience herself for them to be happy and comfortable.
Chief Mrs. Elizabeth Okoye, a mother of 8 successful children whose first daughter is a principal nursing officer with the Anambra State Government; her third daughter, a senior lecturer at the University of Nigeria Nsukka Enugu State; her third son, a business tycoon in Kogi state, her fourth son, another business mogul based in Onitsha, to say the least.
Her peace missions, conflict resolutions and works of charity in Uzoakwa community stands her out as an exceptional woman and an icon of peace because she believes so much in a tranquil atmosphere where everyone is at ease with one another irrespective of tribe, creed or blood ties. She could be described as an Angel of God in human body.
This journalist gathered that St. Martin Catholic Church Ihiala did a thorough investigation and fact-finding about Chief Mrs. Elizabeth Okoye as it relates to her marriage, upbringing of her children, her impact on her immediate family, community and the society before she was deemed fit to be honoured with NNEOMA title for her remarkable contributions to the church and to humanity in general.
Hence, testimonials from her children, grandchildren, relatives, inlaws, friends and well-wishers lend credence that Chief Mrs. Elizabeth Okoye (NNEOMA) is indeed an embodiment of the milk of human kindness, who always extended an Olive branch for peace to reign supreme.
Her first daughter, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Juliet Ojiakor (nee Okoye) who looks forward to be crowned NNEOMA like her mother said her mother merited the award bestowed on her because she lives her life by lifting others. Mrs. Ojiakor maintained that her mother deserves to be NNEOMA and that she would be forever, describing her as a very good mom and the last of her kind on planet earth.
On the other hand, Chief Amb. Josephat Okoli alias Nnabuohimiri, a member of Uzowulu extended family Umumeri Uzoakwa Ihiala, a successful business magnet based in Lagos state, told this journalist that himself and his wife returned from Lagos to be part of the celebration because of the impact and influence Chief Mrs. Elizabeth Okoye has on him and his immediate family.
Nnabuohimiri recalled that Chief Mrs. Elizabeth Okoye wedded around 1968 and that ever since her marriage has been a source of inspiration and encouragement to others. He said that the church checked her character and attitude to life and came to the conclusion that she deserves to wear NNEOMA crown as a recognition of her strides.
Nnabuohimiri also recalled that NNEOMA and her late husband brought a number of societies in the Catholic church from Onitsha to Ihiala such as St. Jude Society, Sacred Heart Society and others coupled with being a one-time Coordinator of Block Rosary Society for Children in Onitsha.
According to him, Chief Mrs. Elizabeth Okoye is the most senior in age, marriage and the church in the entire Uzowulu kindred of Umumeri village Uzoakwa Ihiala, adding that he is happy that St. Martin Catholic Church Ihiala found her worthy and deserving of the honour bestowed on her.
Again her third daughter Mrs. Amara Priscilla Ozoji (nee Okoye) who is a senior lecturer at University of Nigeria Nsukka Enugu State corroborated what others said, noting that her mother is the best mom in the world because she is leveraging on her legacies.
The university don who holds a First Class Honours in Accountancy, told this journalist that her parents had a successful marriage and their children have all been established in life. She also said that her parents helped others to achieve their goals in life, stressing that the NNEOMA title conferred on her mother was an honour well-deserved.
Chief Everestus Okoye alias Onyefeze, the third son of Chief Mrs. Elizabeth Okoye and a successful business man in Kogi state, said that his mother deserved the honour because the time is right for such recognition. Onyefeze noted that his mother loves not only her own biological children but also received everyone else with open hands.
The Kogi state based business mogul emphasized that the Church found her mother fit and proper for the recognition and that people travelled from Lagos, Enugu, Onitsha, Kogi and other parts of Nigeria to witness the investiture and ground-breaking ceremony.
According to him, the Catholic Church did their investigations and found out that his mother is someone who loves peace; loves an atmosphere of peace where everyone is happy and comfortable; that it was due to her personal characteristics and kind disposition that the Catholic Church deemed it necessary to crown her NNEOMA.
Mrs. Evelyn Nneka Udogu (nee Okoye), her second daughter who is being married in Oguta Imo state, said her mother’s NNEOMA title is a welcome development in the family and in the community because it is meritorious and everyone knows she believes in good neighbourliness. She said she was grateful to God that her mother’s virtuous deeds have been recognized by the church.
Mrs. Udogu, a professional outdoor caterer based in Onitsha, said her mother’s NNEOMA church title is didactic because it has taught her and everyone else to be role models and mentors to others just as her mother did to them.
Furthermore Mr. Okechukwu Anthony Obi who is married to Chief Mrs. Elizabeth Okoye’s last daughter and based in Kogi state, in his opinion, observed that NNEOMA has no blemishes whatsoever and that her church title is 100% well-deserved.
Obi stated that Chief Mrs. Elizabeth Okoye his mother-in-law is a very good woman who loves her in-laws the same way she loves and cherish her own children. He said that St. Martin Catholic Church Ihiala did a thorough fact-finding about her before she was eventually selected for the merit award, pointing out that not every person is being considered for such a prestigious honour.
Other children of Chief Mrs. Elizabeth Okoye: Chief Obinna Okoye, Chief Nonso Jude Okoye, Chief Chimezie Michael Okoye and Mrs. Chinenye Anthonia Obi (nee Okoye), all lent their voices to support the motion that their mother is a quintessential Amazon whose entire existence has been a source of inspiration and moral compass to everyone around her.
The septuagenarian and cynosure of the moment Chief Mrs. Elizabeth Okoye who was crowned NNEOMA on August 9th this year by the Catholic Women Organization (CWO) of St. Martin Catholic Church Ihiala, said it was by the grace of God and prayers of her loved ones that she earned the title.
Mrs. Okoye therefore emphasized that her new title will spur her into more virtuous deeds; fostering peace and harmonious co-existence between all and sundry while expressing profound gratitude and appreciation to God and to all who came to support her for a successful investiture.
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