Evergreen Memories of Etete Ozekizibe – A Reminiscence of Her Lifetime, Written by Enideneze Etete
Mrs. Ozekizibe Etete, fondly called Oze, was a woman of substance. She was an epitome of beauty, intelligence, humility, respect, love, care, peace, hard work and dedication to service in the Lord’s vineyard and to humanity.
She exhibited these qualities in her interactions with people of all classes.
Ozekizibe was born on June 9, 1977 at General Hospital, Port-Harcourt, to Elder Benin Epiri of Agudama-Epie and Madam Calabaere Otoro of Onopa-Atissa (all of blessed memories).
Besides care by her biological mother, Calabaere; her stepmother, Mrs. Ovieonume Benin Epiri also supported Ozekizibe’s upbringing.
Her educational career began at Sacred Heart State School 1, Port-Harcourt, where she obtained First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC) in 1989.
She proceeded to Government Girls Secondary School (GGSS) Oromineke, Port-Harcourt in 1989. In 1993, she left the school. This was due to her father’s disengagement from Hotel Presidential, in a mass retrenchment of workers, and subsequent relocation of his family home.
Back home, she was enrolled at community Secondary School (CSS), Agudama-Epie in 1993, and finished in 1995. While in the school, she was Senior Prefect (Girls) in her set.
From 2003 to 2014, and with the financial backing and moral support of her husband, she undertook studies in different tertiary institutions of learning. Her academic efforts earned her qualifications in secretarial administration, and in journalism, respectively.
Shifting to journalism was to achieve her childhood dream of becoming a broadcaster. This ambition blended with her husband’s interest, and was encouraged by him.
Thus, she honed her skills with graduate and postgraduate qualifications in journalism, from the International Institute of Journalism, Abuja, University of Maidugiri (UNIMAID) affiliate, in 2009, and 2014, respectively.
She later obtained a Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree in Mass Communication from Nasarawa State University (NSUK), Keffi in 2022. Her specialization was Public Relations and Advertising (PRAD), with thesis on News Commercialisation and Public Service Broadcast Obligation of Government Stations in Bayelsa State.
These were besides local and international training workshops in specialized reporting: parliament, gender, equity, health, population, culture, election, and media law/ethics, funded by local and foreign donors.
Oze intended to enroll for a doctoral degree programme to major in public relations discipline, but this ambition was delayed by health challenges.
Late Mrs. Ozekizibe Etete started work as Assistant Executive Officer at the then Bayelsa State College of Arts and Science (BYCAS), Agudama-Epie in 2006.
She grew to Executive Officer in 2008. She transferred her services to the Niger Delta Television (NDTV) in 2009, when test-transmission began.
At the NDTV, she began work as Reporter 2, did general reporting in various fields, and also cast news translations in Epie language.
From 2013 to 2017, Ozekizibe was the station’s correspondent at Bayelsa State Government House/Liaison Office, Abuja and Nigeria’s Senate.
She also covered national events in Abuja, for instance, the 2014 National Conference, National Festivals, Independence, and Democracy Anniversaries, conventions of political parties, as well as presidential inauguration.
Returning to the station in 2018, she served as Controller of News/Editor/Head of Reportorial Crew until her demise.
She was a committed member of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bayelsa State Council, and Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ). Her commitment earned her leadership assignments on various positions in her chapel.
Among them are Chairman NUJ, NDTV Chapel, which she was recently inaugurated before her untimely passage. Previously, she was Acting Chairman, and had also served as Secretary of the Chapel for five years.
At communal level, she was elected twice and served as Secretary of Agudama-Epie Women Council of Chiefs. She provided administrative leadership, effective records management, and mobilized women for communal and civic activities of government and non-governmental organizations, until her death.
As a member of many social clubs, for instance, Agbila Asuevie Women of Epie, Ozekizibe served as secretary and financial secretary at various times, and managed funds efficiently.
In God’s vineyard, Ozekizibe was a committed member of the Greater Evangelism World Crusade (GEWORC) in Port-Harcourt, as a young girl, and later Agudama-Epie branch of the church.
She served as children Sunday School Teacher, active member of youth fellowship and later women fellowship, choir mistress and chorister at other times, secretary, treasurer and financial secretary of these wings at various times.
When her husband was posted to Bayelsa State Government House Abuja in 2013, as Special Assistant/PRO, she was equally posted by the NDTV. But, branches of Greater Evangelism where far from the city center where they resided. Thus, they worshiped with the Redeemed Christian Church of God nearest to their resident in Maitama.
In the RCCG, Hope of Glory Parish, Abuja, she was a chorister and member of the women fellowship. She encouraged her spouse who was chairman of men fellowship, and also ensured their children partook in choir and drama performances.
Returning to Bayelsa, the family was introduced to the then Pastor of Divine Grace Parish, Kpansia, Pastor Peter Akpe, through a letter by the Hope of Glory Pastor, Dr. Chudi Ugona. Thus, she and her family began to worship at the Divine Grace Parish, Kpansia-Epie.
There again, Ozekizibe, joined the choir. Her children equally took on drama and other roles in the church.
Oze was married to the husband of her youth, Mr. Enideneze Etete, with whom she put resources together for their development and the training of their children.
Their union, which was consummated traditionally, begat five children: Mr. Fienseta, Miss Ukievie, Mr. Owuluso, Mr. Etiyame, Miss Izibevieni, and had baby Fiona as a granddaughter from their first son.
She was also a foster mother to many children, notably Mr. Wunughubo Etete (DJ Kelvin), Mr. Bonsizibe Etete, Mrs. Maria Agugu-Tekena, and Ruth Loveday. Oze, was a pillar of support to her spouse y the children.
Her love and care knew no boundaries, as she treated her people and her in-laws equally, extending same treatment to outsiders as well.
A strong and hardworking woman, Ozekizibe engaged in cooking banger rice, fried fish, and moi moi for sale, ran a female salon established by her husband, and also cultivated cassava and cocoyam, to support the family.
She also co-owned the Brilliant Group of Schools (BRINAPS) in Agudama-Epie, one of the foremost private schools in Yenagoa, before Creation of Bayelsa State.
Besides performing roles of director, she also taught arts subjects in BRINAPS. Products of are engaged in different careers, locally and internationally.
Mrs. Ozekizibe Etete’s untimely departure occurred on April 3, 2025, following a major surgical procedure.
As part of her funeral, journalists and friends of the NUJ held candle light procession and night of tributes, at the Ernest Ikoli Press Center, Azikoro Road, Ekeki, on Thursday, May 1, 2025.
It was followed by funeral service and interment by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), in Agudama-Epie, Yenagoa, on Saturday, May 3, 2025. While final rites (Beletiomo) took place on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.
As her name, Ozekizibe means, “Leave it for God”, the Almighty Father knows best.
Yet, it wasn’t easy to say goodbye.
