THE LIFE OF LATE MAZI CHRISTOPHER OKEREKE IJEOMAH 1925-2006.
Christopher Okereke Ijeomah was born in July,1925 at Amokwe Udi. His father was Cyril Ijeomah, and his mother was Anna Mgbokwo Rebecca Ijeomah (Nee Okoronkwo ) from the Uchegbuom family of Amuvi. Mazi Christopher Okereke was the third and the last child, from the union between, Anna Mgbokwo, and Cyril Ijeomah
Young Christopher had his early education at St Patrick School Amokwe, and later proceeded to St Peter Claver School, Kafanchan, from where he passed with the best result.
Having lost his father at a tender age, he was brought up by his maternal uncle, Mazi Maurice Okoronkwo, whose work as a railway worker, led to live in different parts of the country, most of which was in the Northern part of Nigeria.
Christopher Okereke Ijeomah owed his cosmopolitan outlook and orientation to this background of having lived in various urban centres (the township). He had lived and schooled in Kaduna town; lived in Kafanchan, Zaria, and Gusau, and could speak various Hausa dialects, just as he spoke Yoruba language, (which he obviously, must have learnt through interaction with other Yoruba children at the Railway Quarters).
The young Christopher Okereke Ijeomah, worked for UAC, from where he left to become a produce buyer, (who bought mostly groundnuts for exports). He contributed in the dynamics of “groundnut pyramid of the North” at the time. At UAC, which was the biggest trading company in Africa, he was called (Mai dogo fensil) by his Hausa admirers, (especially those he superintended over), meaning the one with long pencil. In fact, the “pencil” in reference, was the fanciful pen(s) which adorned his breast pocket.
However, he had to leave Produce Buying, to deal in jewelries, especially Gold. This brought some measure of good financial gains , some even thought of him as wealthy”. In the emerging troubles of 1966 in Northern Nigeria, Mazi Christopher ijeomah lost whatever material thing, he had ever lived or toiled for, as his belongings were burnt by the fire set by proponents of the trouble, which had burnt the house he lived in. The break out of civil hostilities which resulted to war in 1967, saw Mazi Christopher Ijeomah return to Eastern Region, thereby taking up appointment with the Ministry of Agriculture which led to his working at various locations, including, Enugu, and Ohaji-Egbema, during the civil war.
At the end of the war in 1970, with great suffering in the land, he took all in his stride, while earnestly engaging himself in honest endeavours.
He later worked with the Ministry of Health, from where he was posted to Arochukwu General Hospital, where he worked until retirement. It was
while at this work, that he happily engaged himself as the Amuvi Postman””
On retirement from the civil service, Mazi Christopher Ijeomah dedicated his life to community service. He countinued as the “mailman” for Amuvi, and happily rendered this service free of charge, devoid of expectations of any material reward. His joy knew no bounds if his delivered letter or parcel, brought joy to the receiver. Until death, he was the national patron of Udumma family meeting, and served as a past Treasurer for the Umenta Family meeting.
He was a man of peace, as well as prayer, whose implicit faith in God was brought to bear with various situations in life.