*To A Great Friend*.
Mrs. Ada Onuba was an “Educator to the Core”!
Starting from her Dad, to her Husband, and to almost all she interacted with, her life was about getting educated and educating others. And as her name goes- Ada or Adaoma, she was a “good daughter”, who “deserved a crown” (Nwanyibueze). Our journey together has shown her to have lived up to her names, including her marital name of Onuba, for she has left a testimonial that “many mouths” shall continue to proclaim. All to the glory of our Almighty Father- Creator of all things bright and beautiful.
One only needs to remain focused, to behold the beauty in all of God’s creation. And so, Adaoma was such a beautiful and sweet soul that I met through our professional relationships with- first and foremost her loving husband (Emma), and then next herself.
Starting from our employment as Federal Officers in the early eighties, Emma and I served within the then Universal Primary Education Teacher Training Programme (Federal Min. Of Education), at the Kaduna Teachers College, Kawo- Kaduna. Somehow, the cordial relationships we had as work colleagues gradually extended to include our families. Thus our spouses became very relevant in complementing the effort of educating all others. An interim structural adjustment to the U.P.E. Programme caused Emma and I among others- to be reposted. And thus, Ada and I then also directly became colleagues at the National Educational Technology Centre (Federal Schools Broadcast), Kaduna (Nigeria). Emma and our several other colleagues got reposted to Federal Government College, Kaduna.
However, the camaraderie that existed among all of us remains till date. For our children have gotten to be interacting almost like siblings, by embracing same bond of friendship they observed us share as parents. Most observable was the loving attention our ever-smiling Ada and same as Emma, paid to all students as well as fellow staff, in all these places. It was hardly distinguishable who was the either FGC or NETC staff between Ada and Emma, her Sweetheart. For they were both devoted and committed to the spirit of “education for all”, that most of us were raised to have been operating with. Ada has been a “Sweet Mother”, for all.
Meanwhile at the NETC, Ada worked in the English language department, often producing and broadcasting several programmes’ episodes for enhancing English language learning, for many years. Her Master’s degree dissertation on the effect of “mother-tongue interference in language learning” remains a masterpiece. Hopefully, the NETC library/archives has preserved all such works of excellence.
Then came our gradual transitioning to become the nucleus of FMOE(NETC ) merger programme, that gave birth to the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN ). The former NE TC component emerged as the Kaduna Campus, initially nurtured by Dr. Suleiman and later translating into having Prof. Tenebe as Provost, while Prof. Olugbemiro Jegede continued from inception as the Vice Chancellor (Lagos Main campus). Both Ada and several of us as NETC staff, had professionally relentlessly contributed a lot of the sacrifices and devotion to duty, needed to bring the NOUN dream to fruition. Such efforts included the initial series of writing and training workshops, in Kaduna, Lagos, Lokoja. Mainly as from 2002- 2004, e.t.c. A lot of sleepless nights of research and production of educational materials. Some of these also involved collaboration with the Commonwealth of Learning (COL). Distance Learning technology through audio and video-conferencing and other collaborative ventures were variously applied during and after the several training/writing workshops. These were also in conjunction with various academic luminaries, drawn from various other Universities- in Nigeria and abroad.
Also not left out were our spouses and families, for they gave us all the best of the necessary support that such huge academic commitments deserved, for the subsequent observable successful outcomes.
At a certain point in the merger process, some of us (NETC staff) were returned to the main FMOE either based on our retirement dates or for reposting to other aspects of the ministry. Meanwhile, a good number of us were retained either on contract basis, following our initial retirement or through some sort of permanent design. As a faithful friend and sister-in -Christ, Ada was always there to ensure that our efforts from the onset were not in vain. She always did us proud.
Ada was one of us that got temporarily posted to set up some of the NOUN field post, in various parts of the country. She did her bit very successfully, then manning the Umuahia location, and later returned to the Kaduna campus, to continue with production. She only just finally retired about three years ago.
Ada’s tenure with the Open University yielded such a resounding success as seen from the memorable very first graduates produced. Such included one of the then former Presidents of Nigeria- President Olusegun Obasanjo. The indelible and elegant procession of staff in their academic regalia at the NOUN ceremonies, included our very well-deserving colleague Adaoma, who to me represented all of us NETC staff (there in spirit), that had stood by the Vice Chancellor- Prof. Olugbemiro Jegede, in all of these- through thick and thin.
Such was a remarkable milestone for an “Achiever”, our sweet and loving, ever-smiling Nwanyibueze Adaoma Onuba (Mrs.)
Our ongoing extracurricular camaraderie- including with our families, led to such birthday celebrations that deserve honorable mentions here, too (e.g. the 40th, 50th, 70th, simple birthday ceremonies of some of us), at either the then Kaduna Club or Ahmadu Bello Way/Yakubu Gowon Way Diners or very recently the celebrant’s residence (still applying our distance learning capabilities). We have continued to text, talk, share knowledge and information. Up until this rude shock of our lovable Ada’s home call, we have had so much to update one another on, a-times being able to talk with both Emma and Ada; so much so that it seems like a dream. My home digital slideshow, seems to be contradicting the reality of it all. Ada is still very much with us, it shows. It has many cherished memories of our “Sweet loving “Ada Onuba”and her husband with the family weddings, including their tastily built and furnished Umuahia “sweet home”!
Let’s just take a moment and manage to say, “Adieu, Nwanyibueze Adaoma Onuba” anyi dum (all of us)!
May our Faithful Maker of All, comfort our Ada’s biological family in particular- Emma (her loving husband) and all the lovely children and their spouses, plus all the amiable grandchildren, as well as all inlaws- beyond every human understanding. She remains “Unforgettable”!
Rest in perfect peace, good and faithful friend!!
ADIEU, Adaoma!!!
Written by: Nonyem Ernestina Egbuonu (Mrs. )
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