₦airaland Forum

Orisablog:
GODWIN EHIMA - A LIGHT THAT CAN NEVER GO DIM.

Life is indeed transient. Good men don't stay around for long and its painful. However, consolation comes with the realization that a man has lived his life mostly in God's service, commitment to his family and general service to humanity.

Pa Godwin Ogie Ehima was born in the year 1937 and transited into glory in October 2023. He was born in Igbontor community of Igbanke land in Edo State to the family of Mr. Ehima Nwota and Okuwe Nwota with four other siblings in the family. There were four boys and one girl, and he just so happened to be the first child of the family.

He attended BDC Primary School in Igbontor clan and later proceeded to Standard School from which he obtained his Standard Six Certificate. After his graduation, he got employment with Africa Timber and Plywood Company (AT&P) in Sapele, Delta State. He worked there for several years and came back home to Igbanke between 1966/67 as a result of the Biafra war.

At this time, he joined his father who was a farmer/hunter in the village for them to do business together. He completely took over the hunting business from his father and actually excelled in the business and incorporated his younger brother into the business because it was now a family business. Most of the time, they spent several days in the bush hunting, before coming back home.

On one faithful day, on his way from the farm with his younger brother, he met a lady by the name “Monica Natayo” and her sister who were coming back from their uncle’s farm and were going back to their own clan, since they were from a different clan. Later that evening after getting some rest, he went in the company of his friend and colleague “Mr. Dimoko Otu” to the lady’s clan to pay her a visit. He later came back home from the visit and told his father that he had found a lady that he would like to marry as his wife. The father asked a lot of questions and made investigations about the lady’s family, and everything was good. So, his father approved of it with the assurance that the lady was from a noble family.

While the Biafra war was still on, most of the young boys in the village were being enlisted in the army, but his mother warned him never to join the army because she didn’t want to lose her son in the war. But without informing his parents and siblings, he quietly went and got enlisted in the Army in 1969. The family kept wondering where he had disappeared to, because he didn’t leave any message or clues relating to his whereabouts. Only for the family to find out that he was at the Army Training Depot.

After his training, he was deployed to Asaba as a young soldier and was serving in Asaba in the then Bendel State (now Delta State). He later came home to see his family and told them he joined the Army because he wanted to serve his fatherland. He also used the opportunity to perform the marriage rites for his wife. He got married to her and took her to his base, He then got another posting to Obiariku also in Delta state.

He served in Obiariku for several years and was later posted to 31 Fab Artillery Brigade in Alamala, Abeokuta, Ogun state. After serving for some years, he was deployed to the medical unit and was trained as a professional Nurse in the Army. He was serving at the Medical Hospital (MRS) in Alamala Abeokuta until he retired from active service in 2004 after serving for 35 years.

Together with his amiable wife of almost six decades, they both had and have raised Nine amazing children (Six Boys and Three Girls), and they are also blessed with wonderful grandchildren.

Pa Godwin Ogie Ehima was a father to all. He impacted lives and made a lot of sacrifices. He was the people’s doctor. They all called him doctor - his colleagues, friends, and outsiders. Even when he was not on duty, they would troop to his house in the barracks then, to get free medical treatments when they were sick. Sometimes, with his personal money, he would buy medication in order to treat people. He assisted many young boys who were interested in joining the Army then, to be enlisted. Most of which rose to become top Army Officers. He had an open-door policy to everybody as he was always available to counsel both young and old on various topics and issues of life. He was full of wisdom, and he treated everyone with love and respect.

He is a devoted Christian that loved the things of God, no wonder until his death, he was the Men’s President in his church of many years -Assemblies of God Church, Lafenwa Barracks, Abeokuta in Ogun State Nigeria

He was good to both immediate and extended family and to everyone he met. He did his best to make sure everyone was good. He was a good man; he was a Hero, and he was a father to all.

Rest well in the bosom of the Lord!