OGAGAVWORIA FAMILY MATRIARCH SET FOR BURIAL, AUGUST 13

"Mama was God fearing, loved praying and singing praise and worships songs and, an astute member of the Anglican Diocese at Okere Road Warri, (St Andrews Cathedral ) dedicated to the things of God".

All is now set for the final burial ceremony of the late matriarch of the Ogagavworia family, Late Mrs Okpako Ogagavworia who passed on March 1, 2021.

In a special obituary announcement signed on behalf of the family by Mr. Duke Ogagavworia and Mr Meeting Arhore Etakpoefe, the burial programme is to commence with a Service of Songs on Wednesday, August 11 at St James Anglican Church, Ojabugbe, Okumagba Layout Warri, Delta State.

Burial programme follows on Friday, August 13, at St James Anglican Church, Ojabugbe Street, Okumagba Lay Out, Warri, Delta State by 9am.

The outing service is slated for Sunday, August 15 at St. James Anglican Church , Ojabugbe Street, Okumagba Layout, Warri, Delta State. 

BIOGRAPHY OF LATE MA  OKPAKO OGAGAVWORIA(NEE ARHORE)(1939-2021)

EARLY LIFE AND CHILDHOOD

Mama Okpako Ogagavworia was born 1939 in Onokobaro Ovu to Mr.Arhore Etakpoefe of Onokobaro from Ovu and Mrs Obierovonaye Okpokere Igben from Ighene Street Okpara Inland, both of Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta state. She was the third (3) child of her mother who had five (5) of them and fourth (4) child of her father who had six (6) of them, She had a step brother, Peter Arhore (of blessed memory) who was a teacher in Urodo Primary School.

EDUCATION

Mama grew up, attaining a primary three (3) education in Ejaife Primary School Okpara Inland, whereby she could not further her education because she lost her father when she was very young and she had to join her mother in her farming business. At the age of 16, after the demise of her father and, due to the aged long belief in the non-education of the female child as at then,  got married.

MARRIED LIFE

Mama Okpako Ogagavworia (Nee Arhore) got married to Mr. Moses Owhofajivwaye Ogagavworia of Blessed memory in 1957 who hailed from Ughrwughelli and Ewherhe Agbarho in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta state.

She was held in high esteem by every  member of Ogoro and Ichogba family of Ughrwughelli Agbarho in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta state.  She later relocated from Agbarho with her husband of blessed memory Mr. Moses Owhofajivwaye Ogagavworia from Agbarho to Igbobini Okitipupa in Ondo State .

CHRISTIAN LIFE

Mama Okpako Ogagavworia (Nee Arhore) grew up as a child into a non-believer family but she quickly deviated by embracing Christianity after she was preached to, and she received the Word of God thereby, embracing the Christian faith. She thereafter, gave her life to Christ. 

She was an astute member of The Anglican Diocese at Okere Road Warri, (St Andrews Cathedral ) where she was baptized and later joined St. James Anglican Church situated at Ojabugbe Street Okumagba Layout, Warri where she became more dedicated to the things of God in a Group known as Ukoko Eguono Prayer Group of St James Aglican Church and a member of the Women's Guild.

She was God fearing, loved praying and singing praise and worships songs. 

AS A  FARMER AND A BUSINESS WOMAN

After Mama got married to her husband, Mr. Moses Owhofajivwaye Ogagavworia of blessed memory, she relocated with her husband to Agbarho and engaged in farming business with her husband, before both of them relocated to Igbobini Okitipupa in Ondo state to continue in Farming Business and Palm Oil Processing.

She and her husband later relocated to Warri, shortly just before the Nigerian Civil War began, in the then Bendel State (now Delta State), to begin trade with her husband in Nigeria Textile Wax, Super Print, Ankara at the Warri Main Market. She also sold Households items including selling of beads, Tiko (Dried meat) at the Ogbe Ijoh Market (then known as Sansan market) near Main  Market Warri.

She was also a food vendor, selling cooked rice at Bazunu street Warri at a block industry in those days besides the clothes business. She also sold other cooked food, such as Eba and varieties of soup including starch and Ogwo soup, selling rice at Kosini By shell Gate Warri. She also sold food at Cinema site by Ejemudarho street Junction Okumagba layout Warri.

Finally Mama was a woman that loves children as she ran a Day Care Home where she took care of children for years including the massaging of women who are looking for the fruit of the womb.

AS A MOTHER AND MARRIED WOMAN

She was loyal and honest to her husband; a caring mother who loved to see her children happy. She never liked seeing her children hungry, She saw other people's children as hers without discrimination. She was a kind mother who loved her environment to always look and remain clean.

Her younger brother, Meeting Arhore lived with her at her earlier part of her marriage, starting from her first child, late Good boy George Ogheneovo Ogagavworia of blessed memory.

We use to called Mama Aunty from how she was been called by her siblings, relatives and first son in those days. So, we thought as children, that was how a mother should be called then. And, it was in later years, we realized the error that indeed, our "Aunty" was our Mama.

She was a pace setter and was not  envious of her husband marrying  another wives.

CULTURE AND SOCIAL LIFE

Mama loved Urhobo Music such as the songs of Chief Ogute of blessed memory, Johnson Adjan, Okpan Arhibo, Eghweyanudje of blessed  memory, Omokomoko of blessed memory and Uvwie urhobo songs but, in all, she loved singing Ogute songs more. She loved singing Urhobo praise and worships  songs. She spoke the Urhobo language fluently, pidgin English and loved vocabs when cracking jokes. Mama was the type that carried her younger one's along with her and she so loved children and we grew up calling her Aunty.

Mama loved dressing as an Urhobo woman on two wrapper with Igele gear (head tie) leather shoe and beads to match with powder on her face and neck.

HER  LEGACY

She left behind a legacy of a solid family whose values are in consonance with her life's belief of honesty, truthfulness, transparency, fearlessness, courage, determination, hard work and peaceable living with all men and women. She imbued in her children, a fighting spirit against oppression and demand for justice in the midst of difficulties. She never believed in owing a man and was a legend with implicit faith in God being our helper in times of needs. She left her children with a legacy of love, respect to elders and loving your neighbor as your self and above all, never to serve any other God, except the One and True God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth. 

HER DEATH

Her death was an unusual situation. On the 1st of March, 2021, she had collapsed and was rushed to the hospital unconscious and was placed on admission to undergo serious treatment. After being in coma for a week, she slept in the Lord.

She is survived by a Brother, nephews, nieces, relatives, friends and 6 Children. Amongst whom are Duke Ogagavworia, Matthew Ogagavworia, Michael  Ogagavworia, Esther Arebamen (Nee Ogagavworia) Victor Ogagavworia, Ejimiyovwi Ogagavworia and twenty six (26) Grandchildren.