THE ANGELA NWANERI MEMORIAL LIBRARY (BOOK READING SERIES 3)
In progression to the book readings review organized by the Angela Nwaneri Memorial Library, a project of the Margaret Okoroagu Nwaneri Foundation (MONF), the book reading series 3 on discourse is aimed at highlighting the relevance of proper home training, education, religious and social upbringing of the girl-child in the contemporary world.
To hold forth about the lifestyle of the teenage ANGELA NWANERI who transited at the adolescent age of fifteen years, the Angela Nwaneri Memorial Library was enacted in 2018 by MONF. Perhaps, in retrospect to the exemplary lifestyle of Angela, who was aptly categorized as a diamond Child with distinct traits is seemingly immortalized through the Library as a practical means of empowering the present day girl-child and scholars with the requisite academic know-how.
In light of this, the book reading ritual conducted periodically by the Foundation in connection with the Memorial Library was made manifest. Since 2018 as years go by, participating students have not blinked an eye in their enthusiasm of not only excelling in their internal and external examinations, they have further reiterated their keen interest in living lives that would be a reference point for generations yet to come, bearing in mind the roles said to had been Angela’s principles while she lived that earned her appraisals from the living.
The third book reading was successfully held on January 13, 2024 with the book in focus entitled “Angela, The Diamond Child”. The benefactor, Prof. Dr. Uchenna R. Nwaneri in his tenacity to ensuring a seamless academic enhancement of the rural scholars is at the epicentre in unveiling the late sister, Angela and what she truly represents in the present society (though Posthumous). Departed decades ago, her impeccable smart nature in character and learning was made afresh through the novel, “Angela, the diamond Child”.
Notable among the contents and descriptions of Angela which was extracted from the book, “Angela, the Diamond Child” has this to say about her background; “Angela grew up in the midst of her family members. She had seven siblings. They are eight from the womb of Mrs. Margaret Nwaneri. The eight siblings are Ezinne Scholastica Igwe (Nee Nwaneri), Late Angela Nwaneri, Sir Iky E. Nwaneri, Late Chinyere Nwaneri, Chief Tony Nwaneri, Professor Uchenna Nwaneri, Late Mary Chinwendu Nwaneri and Amb. Tochil Nwaneri.
“Angela was raised under the care of her loving parents “Chief Nathaniel Nwokenaibeya Nwaneri and Mrs. Margaret. Her childhood was very peaceful. Angela’s early life was very rosy filled with many interesting parts. As a child, she enjoyed the benefits of having responsible, caring and loving parents. “Chief Nathaniel Nwokenaibeya Nwaneri’s family bond was so outstanding. Eze Omeudo instituted peace and unity in his family through his unique and fantastic style of leadership. Peace was an integral part of the family. The mentorship Angela and her siblings enjoyed from their parents molded them to imbibe the spirit of oneness within the siblings.
“Eze Omeudo’s love for his family and humanity was so fascinating. He was always very ready to go extra miles in solving his family’s problems and that of those around him. Eze Omeudo’s children learnt a lot from their father’s humanitarian outstanding quality. “Angela lived with full enthusiasm of accomplishing her future ambitions. She never lived like one whose life would cut short without fulfilling all her prospective ambitions.
“She was very obedient to her parents and free minded to her parents and siblings. Almost everybody in her family preferred to do house chores with her because of her free mindedness, generosity, honesty and straight forwardness. She was loved by every member of her family because of her outstanding qualities. She never allowed anything that could promote conflict in her family. Angela was a very jovial person and lover and promoter of peace.
“However, Angela was brought up in a Christian way. Her parents were devoted Catholics and involved in the leadership of the church. They were deeply involved in Sunday services and most of the weekly activities of the church. “The family of Chief Nathaniel Nwokenaibeya Nwaneri maintained a high level of integrity due to their commitment in their religion. They were respected for their high level of integrity and moral values. “Angela was very focused and articulate, and as well had leadership qualities that guided her in coordinating things around her. Things around her were so organized because of her disciplined character. Everybody that was around her cherished her uniqueness and progressive mindset”.
She was a strong motivator, and people around her learnt a lot from her unimaginable wisdom, one of the major factors that propelled Prof. Uchenna Nwaneri to build and name the Library after her. Enlightening on the life of her sister Angela, Mrs. Scholastica Igwe (Nee Nwaneri) affirmed that, although, Angela died early, she lived a moral life that present day Children may not be able to live. She added that Angela’s life depicted obedience, dedication to duties and selflessness which endeared many people including her peers to her. Mrs. Scholastica further averred that Angela was homely, stressing that if anyone wanted a headcount of dutiful daughters then, Angela was always a rallying point.
On the academic archive of the late sister, Angela Nwaneri, Madam Igwe described her as an intelligent, elegant girl until her demise in class three. According to her, Angela attended Holy Rosary Primary School, and Mercy High School Nbawsi all in Aba, Abia State. On Angela’s Christian life, it was discovered that she was so pious to the extent of being a member of the Legion of Mary and an arrowhead in the Block Rosary who never missed the service of God for one day throughout her fifteen years stay on earth.
Continuing, Mrs. Scholastica commended the Chairman, Board and Benefactor of MONF for establishing the Angela Nwaneri Memorial Library to the use of students in Amiri and her environs, buttressing that from the review so far, the library has been impactful. She therefore challenged the students to live a life worthy of emulation whose legacies would transcend beyond Amiri, Oru East, Imo State and Nigeria. From PJ-Akpan, Rosemary Ada Esq. (Nee Nwaneri), in an ode to Angela Nwaneri pen down thus, “Angie was effortlessly charming, loved and appreciated by everyone. People were naturally drawn to her. She was engaging and exuded a lot of confidence even at that age. She had this magnetic personality that endeared her to all and sundry including teachers, students; seniors, peers and juniors alike.
“She had a positive attitude towards life, hence she already had a dream, vision and plans about what she wanted out of life. She was very much aware of her fascinating beauty, her elegance, glamour and gorgeousness. “From her, I learnt the need to be focused and study to rise above our parents and make a difference in life. She always talked about being independent, famous and the need to live in affluence in order to impact our world and not live the way our mothers lived. She had everything planned out. She used to point to some successful women at the time and asked me if there is any thing special about them, and if any of them had an extra head, hand or feet.
“She did things with military precision. Therefore had zero tolerance to laziness and lateness. She kept to time and never flouted the school rules. She had a keen sense of humor and never missed any opportunity to impact what she felt would be useful in future. “I could recall an incident when bros Aiky in a bid to collect more pocket money added six sanitary pads to his list of school items. She showed it to me and said she would have bursted his bubbles but decided against it. When I asked what sanitary pad was used for, she went ahead to educate me about its usefulness to every women. Yes, she always advised that I should never allow anyone to cow me into accepting something I did not like.
“A part of me died when we resumed after a long vacation only to learn that she had transferred to another school. As if that was not enough, by the end of that school term, Chinyere Ukenta and I were picked by her mum and headed straight to Nwaneri’s compound in Amiri. I kept asking them questions but they all kept mute. “We got home only to discover that my darling sister was gone forever. When she died, she came to the dormitory to show me that she had transited but I could not understand it. I knew something terrible had happened, but could not put my finger to it. I thought my father had passed and I cried. “Angie with her charisma would have worked hard to to live in affluence, something she told me we must achieve in life. Women of affluence. “Umunwanyi ji ego”. “Women of substance”.
Unfortunately she never lived to actualise the dream and vision. Her death was a terrible blow to all who knew her. REST ON DEAR SISTER ANGELA TILL WE MEET AGAIN TO PART NO MORE”, PJ-Akpan, Rosemary Ada Esq emotionally submitted.
The fourth book reading is bided to hold on April 13th, 2024 with the DG NIGCOMSAT, Jane Egerton-Idehen as a revered guest on the zoom gathering that would be aired live on different social media platforms.
COMPILED BY:
ONYEKACHI EZE
(JOURNALIST)
+2348033988607
