Commentary: Life Of Christiana Izualor Nweke

Mrs. Christiana Izualor Nweke was born on August 18, 1926 to the family of Chief Nwotite Odogwu and Janet Nwotite of Amabo Awkuzu. She was the last of eight siblings. At the age of nine, she left home to become a house girl. At the age of 15, Christiana was abused by her employer. Thus, she ran away.

Chief Edwin Nweke, 25 years old then, who recently returned home from the Second World War, saw Christiana running as if she was being chased. Concerned, Edwin took his gun and followed her behind to make sure she made it home safely.

Her parents were appreciative that he escorted her home. She was moved by Edwin’s actions, which led to a romantic relationship between the two, ending in their betrothal. They moved from Awkuzu to Kaduna, where Edwin continued in the military. Christiana bore eight children, two of which died before the Nigeria Civil War.

Throughout the time she was a housewife in the military camp, she empathized with the women who lost their husbands due to the war. She provided comfort, financial support, and care for them. During the war, she took care of all her children in various refugee camps. After the war, she adopted two more sons who lost both parents during the war. She raised Paul and Daniel as her own.

Later, Chief Edwin retired and became a civil servant. Christiana started farming to create a better living for her family, in addition to supporting the widowed women. From her savings, she expanded to buying and selling various food items. She also went back to Kaduna, where she further expanded her business and reconnected with the military women.

Christiana noticed that certain products that were abundant in the northern parts of Nigeria were scarce in the southern part, and vice versa. She began selling those commodities in the regions where they were most needed. She became known by the women in the northern region as “Bank Nwanya”, a woman never lacking money. She would provide loans to the widows so they could open their own businesses and would give them merchandise to sell to support their families.

Mrs. Christiana and her husband valued the importance of education. Though neither of them finished elementary school, they ensured that all their children obtained higher education. Some of their children even travelled overseas for their education.

Mrs. Christiana Nweke’s philanthropic excellence placed her in a position of leadership in the various cities and states she and her family lived in. She was fluent in the three major Nigerian languages: Igbo, Hausa, and Yoruba, which helped her spread her influence across Nigeria. She built a house at Kaduna and leased it to people.

At the death of her husband in 1991, she continued. In 1996, she travelled to the United States to be with her children. She lived in the US for 16 years where she continued to be an advocate for widows.

In 2012, she came back to Nigeria after losing her first son, Chief Edwin Nweke Junior. She battled with various illnesses due to aging but remained strong in her spiritual life. She had passionate love for her children, grandchildren, and great grand children. She enjoyed life. Christiana didn’t like quarrelling but believed in sharing and giving.

On her last day on earth, she called her remaining son and advised him to continue her legacy of supporting the widows and those unable to help themselves. She told her last daughter to be calling her “Bank Olili”, no more “Bank Nwanyi” because she had fought the fight and enjoyed her hard work, to the glory of God.

Mama is survived by three children, 34 grandchildren, 11 great grand children, 15 sons and daughters-in-law. Adieu mummy, “Bank Olili”. Burial mass takes place tomorrow at Saint Raphael’s Catholic Church, Awkuzu by 9am, thereafter interment at her compound, while condolence visits continue. There will be outing service at the same Church on Sunday, October 17, 2021.

WRITTEN BY DR. IGNATIUS NWEKE