Late Noble Lady (Nneoma) Rosemary Uche Ohagba was born on the 31st day of August 1939 to the family of Late Mr Paul and Jane Amafili of Ubahadara, Amorie Ubulu, in the now Oru West Local Government Area of Imo State. She had a strong Catholic upbringing; the father being a Teacher and renowned Catechist at Christ the King Parish, Ubulu, whilst the mother was the founder and patroness of Block Rosary Crusade in Ubahadara village at the time.
Lady Rosemary attended and completed her Primary School education at Christ the King Primary School, Ubulu in 1959. Due to her impressionable personality and catholic behaviour, the British Missionaries who were in charge of Catholic Schools at that time, picked her as one of the best students and posted her to Holy Rosary Primary School, Orlu in 1960, on a Probationary Teaching Appointment. She later emerged one of the best Teachers of the school at the time. She was transferred from school to school by the Whites in order to broaden her teaching horizon. Some of the schools include; Holy Rosary School Ozara Amorka, Holy Rosary School hiteowere, etc.
Her prolific teaching career was interrupted when she found her heartthrob, Sir Iduu W.A. Ohagba, KSJI of umuebike village in Ubahuekem Ihiala, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State.
They were both joined in Holy Matrimony on the 20th day of November, 1970 and their marriage was blessed with 5 children, 15 Grandchildren and 9 Great Grand Children.
Driven by her passion for self-determination and to support her entrepreneurial husband, she learnt the business of fashion designing and catering under Late Mrs Bridget Chukwuneta of Umuezekwe Ubahuekwem hiala, then residing at Onitsha. She fared well in the business for over four years and became an accomplished home economist.
Inspired by her teaching nostalgia, even at a time when female child education was treated with much disdain, Lady Rosemary in 1978, with unflinching support from her husband, sought and ained admission into the then famous St. Monica’s Teacher aining College (TTC) Ogbunike and graduated with flying colours 1980 and as an adherent of scholasticism, she did not end there, e continued with an enrolment into the then Anambra State Polytechnic Oko (Now Federal Polytechnic) for a Sandwich course and graduated in 1985 with NCE.
During the period of her Sandwich program at Oko Polytechnic, Lady Rosemary made some foray into poultry farming.
That perceived business experiment eventually metamorphosed into a fortune. She became a renowned poultry farmer, albeit in small scale for many years.
Her successful teaching career took her across several schools including;
Uzoakwa Primary School, Ihiala Afor-Igwe Primary School, Ihiala.
St. Michaels School, Ihite Okija.
Community Primary School Ubahuekwem, Ihiala and
Ubahuekwem Primary School, Ihiala from where she retired at the Mandatory retirement age in 2010.
SERVICE TO CHURCH AND HUMANITY:
Lady Rosemary Neoma Ohagba in her dedicated and unwavering commitment to the Catholic faith served the church in varying capacities; viz: Secretary, CWO St. Gregory the Great Parish, Ihiala (under Late Mrs Franca Obi as president).
President, CWO St. Gregory the Great Parish, hiala (1992 – 1998).
Secretary CWO Ihiala Region (under Lady Maria Uzoka as the then Organizer).
Pioneer Lay Reader at St. Gregory the Great Parish, Ihiala from Parish inauguration in 1986.
Secretary, laity council.
Member J.D.P.C.
Member Evangelization committee of Nnewi Diocese and St. Gregory the Great Parish, Ihiala respectively.
She was honoured with the title of Life Member of C.W.O. Onitsha Archdiocese by his Grace Archbishop Obiefuna in 1985.
President of C.W.O Life Members, Ihiala Region – 1995-2002.
Financial Secretary, CWO Life Members, Onitsha Archdiocese, under Mrs. B.O. lleka as President (1998 – 2002).
It is worthy of note here that under her watch as President of C.W.O. St. Gregory the Great Parish, Ubahuekwem hiala, she conceived and laid the foundation for what stands today as a magnificent edifice, the C.W.O Hall of St. Gregory the Great Parish, Ihiala.
OTHER RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES/ SOCIETIES: Lady Rosemary’s Life of service to God and mankind need not be over emphasized. Following her Late Mother’s footsteps, she was one of the founders of Block Rosary and till death a Patroness of Nnewi Diocesan Block-Rosary Crusade since 2010. She started by establishing a Block Rosary Center in her family house.
She belonged to several religious societies in the Catholic Church including;
1. Divine Mercy Prayer Group.
2. C.B.I.U.
3. Sacred Heart Society.
As a chorister, she was a foundation member of Abuoma Society of Nigeria, St. Gregory the Great Parish, Ihiala.
In addition to the foregoing, her recognition in the catholic family was climaxed in 1999 when she was found worthy and thence initiated into the Noble and Prestigious Order of Knights of St. John International, Ladies Auxillary (Our Lady of Lourdes Commandery) LAUX 441 lhiala.
In the year 2002 in recognition of her tremendous support and efforts towards the growth and development of Catholic Women Organization, her Local Parish, the CWO of St. Gregory the Great Parish, Ubahuekewm Ihiala honoured her with the befitting award/title of NNEOMA (Good Mother).
The leadership and entire members of C.W.O Ihiala Region, sometime in 2015 in recognition of her quintessential contributions towards the growth of the church and women honored her with yet another deserving award/title as NNE DI EBUBE of CWO Ihiala. In Socials, Neoma was a member of Asamma Dancing Group, Ubahuekwem Ihiala and Daraedochie CWO Dancing Grou Umuebike Ubahuekwem Ihiala.
For NNEOMA, living means service in all forms; to God, church and humanity. She was a true philanthropist and peace loving.
Our prayer is that God may grant her gentle soul eternal repose in the Lord’s bosom.
LEFT TO MOURN HER:
Noble Sir Iduu W. A Ohagba, KSJI, GJP. -Husband
CHILDREN: Valentina Chinwe Ohagba, Esq Chioma Martha Ohagba – Nwachukwu Sir Chika Kingsley Ohagba.
Obinna Charles Ohagba.
Okey Leo Ohagba, Esq
SON-IN-LAW:
Dr. Francis Chukwudi Nwachukwu.
DAUGHTERS-IN-LAW:
Adaobi Muoka – Ohagba.
Nneka Uba – Ohagba
