CELEBRATION OF RESILIENCE  : Nnewi Community Agog, As Quintessential ,Popular , Gentle Matriach With Golden Heart, Mrs. Nwolisa Virginia Oliukwu  ,Celebrates 84  Birthday December, 31,2025

By Emmanuel Edom                                                                                                               

It was celebration galore and streams of  congratulatory wishes last December 31, 2025,  as women leaders, village heads , traders, residents, friends and well wishers, felicitates with an amiable, kind hearted, calm,  easy going grand mother and Matriach , who many refer to as an ” Icon who has  risen by Lifting Others”, on her meritorious 84th birthday.

The celebrant is no other person than Mrs. Nwolisa Virginia, popularly known as Mama Vayo, a  philanthropist and woman with a heart of Gold, whose passion for human development is immeasurable.                                                                                       

Mama Vayo is a silent heroine, whose efficiency, philanthropic strides and investment in human capital development has been rewarded by God through her  Children’s meritorious and successful carriers  . 

For the soft spoken Matriach , ” Dedication to her faith , Helping people in need and creating an environmentally friendly atmosphere ,  expresses her joy of living a fulfilled life”. 

Mrs. Nwolisa, who could not hide her excitement over her birthday celebration and attaining the ripe age of 84 years,revealed how rising by lifting others gave her joy and how impacting other people positively had made her an achiever. 

Many will spend their lifetime trying to figure out rules to living, however, Mama Vayo, has not only figured them out but has been living them for almost eight decades now.

For this calm headed Matriach, “The greatness of a woman is not in how much wealth she acquires but in her integrity and her ability to affect those around her positively. 

“So, achievements generally could not necessarily be achievements in terms of material things. “This is a way I look at achievement”, She was once quoted to have said. 

“How many people have you impacted in life? How have you changed situations around you? These are areas where one needs to perform well before she is called an achiever”, Mama Vayo said. 

Indeed, Mama VIO,  had performed creditably well in discharging her Motherly duties,  She has been able to give assistance to different people, especially indigent people. 

She has demonstrated the exact meaning of living by using her God giving talent to serve her people and leaving a lasting impression ,while serving and mainly a positive impact on the causes that matter to the powerful.

Her selfless effort to her society is second to none, hence her vision  has impacted more people in her immediate community in Akabukwu , Uruagu ,Nnewi, Anambra State.        

Being the Second daughter of late Okeke Ilosonna of Abubo Nnewichi and Mgbeke , she also is married from Umudim from Nweji family .                                                                    

Infact the death of her husband , late Mr. Edwin Chukwu Kelu , was most painful and had affected her but did not derail her purpose in life, as she was Motivated by the support and love being showered on her by her Children and  residents .

Mrs. Nwolisa , has devoted her remaining life in service to God , humanity and the church .  Though a strict disciplinarian when it comes to sticking to duties, rules and correcting her erring children and  residents ,  but Like a lioness, Mama Vayo  have also assisted,  protected and fought for the interest and right of the oppressed.                                                  That fighting spirit for the oppressed and less privileged , was inherited ,has been ignited and resonates in her daughter , Chief Mrs. Obiora Violet Uche Onaedo , the Founder and President General of Unique Diamond Women Foundation  and Odimma Umuada Igbo Prestigious Women Foundation ,OUIPWF.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    On her birthday , Mrs. Nwolisa, was thankful to God, her Children , Neighbours  and Residents  for according  her the honor.”I feel fulfilled. I am so grateful to God for keeping me alive .  the most precious thing God has done for me is keeping me alive and healthy” . 

“I know he will continue to keep me .God has been so kind to me and things have been working so perfectly for me”,She said .

Excellence, is known to be a rare quality possessed by a few in the society, an ideal that stands out the few, making them exemplary and quintessential in all facts.This is the case with Mrs. Nwolisa Virginia’s journey in life.

Many  residents and women within her locality including her daughter, Onaedo, who were all interviewed over Mama Vayo’s lifestyle , were full of Praises for her resilience, determination, doggedness and kindness.

In her testament, Mrs. Obiora stated thus : ” She is fondly called mama Nwa ,meaning the mama of every born child.She is addressed as mama Vayo.  I am the Vayo  and her first child. I am very lucky to have being the first to suck her breast milk”.

She is the second daughter of late OKEKE ilosonna of Abubo Nnewichi and Mgbeke ,also she  married from Umudim from Nweji family.                                                                                  Indeed, Mrs. Nwolisa Virginia, is a blessing to Nnewi  and her generation, her passion for human capital development is unparalleled.