Tribute to Mama Bridget Nwachi Nwakanma Commitment to hard work and entrepreneurship From her birth into the Ehiemere family of Umuajata Olokoro, Umuahia hard work and a knack for making lemonade whenever life threw her lemons defined Bridget Nwachi Nwakanma’s life. Young Bridget showed her stuff early in life. She was born a twin at a time when it was a taboo but came out alive while her twin did not make it. It was the reason she got the name Nwachi, every one identifying her as dedicated to the Creator early in life. Going to school was a struggle, one of several she would readily conquer. She would stitch things, sell firewood or make brooms and sell in order to raise the pennies necessary to pay fees for herself and her beloved younger sister, Nwanne. Despite this struggle, Mama came First in the Standard Six examinations in her year not only in Olokoro but in the entire region. At that time, a Standard Six qualification was necessary and sufficient to start pursuing a living particularly for one from a poor home. Mama set out early to seek a job in the newly evolving world of work defined by the colonialists. Her search would take her to Enugu, then Ibadan and finally to Lagos. She found love and career in Lagos. She used to visit neighbouring Umuode in Ngwaland before leaving for Enugu. There she saw Cyprian Nnanta Nwakanma while on visits to her maternal cousin. They would latter marry in 1960. Their marriage produced four children after an initial miscarriage in 1963. Mama found a job as sales staff with Leventis Stores Limited. She would work there for another 22 years, excluding the lost years of the Civil War. She retired in 1983 as a Supervisor. Mama had a knack for turning opportunities into revenue streams, arranging for the sale of essential commodities like sugar, milk, rice and such like. While on her job, she commenced a sideline in textile merchandising. On retirement, she faced that business of selling textiles squarely, becoming a regular at the weekly Aswani Market and Oshodi Market. The business was a strong support for the family’s finances. She would do this for many years, supporting her husband in the training of their children through higher education. -Remembered with love today one year after she passed on. La nkpma Mama.
Posted on: Sun, 26 Oct 2014 13:57:49 +0000
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