Genevieve, daughter of the late Obi of Agbor Kingdom

Plans foundation for abused girls, the underprivileged

Armed with awful memories of growing up in Nigeria as an orphan despite being a princess, Genevieve Ikenchuckwu, second child of the late Obi of Agbor Kingdom, Obi Ikenchukwu I, has decided to return home. Genevieve, who has since 1999 found succour in the UK, is coming back to Nigeria solely to rescue vulnerable orphans and victims of abuse on the platform of the Obi Ikenchukwu Foundation which she is floating in memory of the late Obi and his queen, Grace.

The princess, whose younger brother is the Dein of Agbor Kingdom, Keagborekuzi I, is a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Whales. In this interview, Genevieve talks about the rigours of growing up without parents, her consequent abusive marriage, life in Edo State University, and more.

BY JOSEPHINE AGBONKHESE

It is 15 years since you left for the UK. What is this foundation you’re coming back home to set up all about?

This foundation is in memory of my late father, HRM Obi Ikenchukwu 1 of Agbor Kingdom and my mother, Queen Grace Ikenchukwu (nee Isedeh), also late. That is the father to the current monarch, the Dein of Agbor. The Queen died in 1977 while the King died two years after, 1979 precisely. The foundation is in honour of the both of them and what they stood for within their short period of life and reign in Agbor- their altruistic approach to life: investing in the lives of others and ensuring the education of their people. The king apparently spent most of his life doing that. He believed that education was the key to a better life and one that his people, the people of Agbor, deserved. That’s a legacy I believe should be continued and that’s what the Obi Ikenchukwu Foundation, OIF, has come to do.

Your father died in 1979. Why did it take about 40 years to remember you have to sustain his legacy?

All my life, I’ve always wanted to do this. I just didn’t know how to go about it or where to start. Don’t forget that by 1979 when they both died, we were kids. I was only eight when dad passed and six when mum passed. Now, not only am I an adult, I’m also a solicitor and I understand the importance of education and the plight of orphans. The foundation, you’ll find, is aimed at promoting the welfare of the orphan child and female victims of domestic violence. So, for me, these are very important issues to be addressed.   Yes, it took me this long because I needed to grow from the child I was when my parents passed on. Now, as a professional, specialising in housing litigation and domestic violence, I’m able to appreciate the plight of these vulnerable groups of people more because this is an aspect that I am familiar with and actually make a living from in the UK. I have always dreamed of helping orphans by giving them a home and education however possible.

How does that work- living in the UK and running a foundation in Nigeria?

This is my first step to relocating to Nigeria and my little way of giving back to my community. I’m in Nigeria now and I might just remain here, depending on how things go. The foundation could of course be run with or without my presence because there are people who are very much on board in terms of staffing. I also have members of the royal family, including the late Queen’s family, who are excited about this project. More importantly, this is going to benefit not just the Agbor people but the people of Delta State, the South-South and the entire nation. If it becomes necessary for me to remain here, then I would be happy to remain.

You’re of royal blood and a successful professional, but we know man’s needs are inexhaustible. Isn’t this foundation another money-making strategy?

That’s a question I’ve had to answer repeatedly. They argue that orphanages, like I plan to set up, are being established to make money. I don’t need to set up an orphanage to make money. I’m a successful solicitor and valued in my office in the UK. I own my own property and advice the government on housing related matters. For me, this is simply my way of giving back to my people. As a professional, I am versatile and can blend in pretty much any area of work, aside law. So, I take exception to being compared with one of those who set up foundations to make money. In fact, it is a criminal offence in my opinion to make money off vulnerable individuals in the guise of setting up an orphanage. However, I am not opposed to receiving honoraria or salary payment consequent to your position/responsibilities within the orphanage. Being an orphan myself, I will not want to be used as a bait to make money. I feel like this might be my niche and perhaps my purpose here on earth.

What do you remember about your dad and mom since you were quite tender when they passed on?

My memory of my mum is quite vague. All I remember about her is the tall lady in the blue lace, that’s all. All I have now are photographs of her but   I do remember my dad’s smile and how he was always dressed in white. He loved to play lawn tennis and he wore white shorts and t-shirts. I remember a man who came across as a free spirit. I also recall that people loved to gather each time he came to see us at my aunty’s where we lived. Apparently, the king’s children customarily did not live in the palace. I remember him in a light blue Mercedes and a convoy of few other cars – usually Mercedes too. He was very generous as well because he used to buy us and our cousins loads of clothes and gifts each time he came.

What beautiful memories! Becoming an orphan must have been a nightmare…

Being of a royal background sort of cushioned the effects. Though, it also had its downs. I won’t wish such on anyone because it means a total lack of parental presence, love, attention, guidance and more. I never had that and will never know what that means. Growing up as an orphan means moving from home to home, it means uncertainty most of the time. But what hurts me the most about the orphan child is the complete lack of care. It can never be the same as having maybe a parent by your side. So, for me, growing up as an orphan is tough business, it’s being left on your own to grope in the dark until you find your way – all by yourself. It’s learning to be self-dependent, sufficient and determined. Determination, as a matter of fact, got me to where I am today. Growing up as an orphan means learning from very, very silly and sometimes stupid errors and avoidable mistakes. It means making wrong choices that may have been avoided if only you had a parent to point you in the right direction. It often means being taken advantage of with the resulting effect of being abused.

Did you have to at any point pay your own bills?

My aunt made sure we went to good schools throughout pre-nursery, nursery, primary and secondary years of our lives. I believe my dad made provisions for this before his demise. Once we finished secondary school, we began to see life for what it really was. We suddenly realised what it meant to be orphans. From then onwards, we were passed from home to home and it continued that way until we got to the university. My first year at the university was tough. I attended the Edo State University, EDSU, precisely where I had my first degree, LLB. I recall seeking sponsorship for myself and my three siblings. I had approached the state government via a local government office in Agbor in the first instance. Then, on one of my visits to my aunty’s in Surulere, Lagos, I heard about a prominent Agbor man who sponsored just about anyone.

I located one of his companies on Olosa Street, in Lagos, known at the time as “Institutional Investors” where I completed an application on behalf of the four of us directing the manager to my siblings’ various universities to be contacted. Our application was approved once they knew who we were and to date, I feel like I owe this man a big “thank you” for his generosity and kind gesture toward us and possibly other orphans. It was not a lot of money but it covered our tuition and accommodation. We had to basically help ourselves for every other thing. So, here is a “humongous thank you” to “you know who you are”.

The greatest challenge for me was that when everyone went home on holiday, I didn’t have a “home” to go to. So, every holiday, I would have to choose carefully where to go to and remaining on campus was not an option (those who attended EDSU knew how dangerous it was). Relatives were not always welcoming or warm towards us. So, you can imagine my relief when I got married, hopeful about going to build my own home. Little did I know that I was going to be exposed to violence of a different nature in my marriage.

Following my abusive marriage, I travelled abroad for a couple of reasons – I was ashamed of being regarded as a divorcee and I felt the need for a change of environment especially for my mental health. I had been called certain names repeatedly in my marriage besides the physical abuse that I could not get those names out of my head. I am convinced that what happened to me in my marriage would not have happened if my parents were around. This is an example of the “wrong choices” referred to above that might have been avoided with parental guidance. The idea behind OIF is to give the closest we can to a normal life to the children in our care.

To prevent the children from being passed from home to home because they’ve offended aunty A or uncle B. That can only be possible when there is stability and the children have a roof over their heads. That is the idea behind the “OIF VILLAGE” which I’m setting up. I never had any form of stability in my life except from when I moved to London following my marriage in 1999.

How easy was life in London compared to Nigeria which was supposed to be home? 

I was eventually able to sponsor myself through the Law School and my Masters program at the University of Westminster. I was determined to succeed and never to seek assistance from anyone back home. I worked full time and studied part time at the law school. For my LLM, I studied and worked full time – never try it! I had no need to rely on anyone and the UK gave me an opportunity to be independent and I achieved a lot based on merits and not who you are or who you know. I purchased my first property in the city of London barely four years after I arrived.

The UK became my first “true home” and I was thankful to God for the opportunity to be able to own my own home. It was a tiny apartment in central London but it was the best thing that happened to me at the time and a great achievement. In England, I built a home for myself based on merits and I felt like I deserved it. With Nigeria, however, things are a little different. Given the challenges that I was faced with at the time, I didn’t think that it was possible to achieve in Nigeria what I was able to achieve in England, through sheer hardwork and determination. However, Nigeria has many strengths that anyone can tap into to become someone in life. For instance, Compared to the western world, Nigeria is a more caring society and somehow you just never feel totally isolated. I speak from experience because I have met such Nigerians as Mr. Niyi Otunla, the Accountant General of the Federation, who continues to play the role of a father and has remained ever so constant in his care.

So, what’s the concept behind the OIF Village?

The idea is to provide a settlement, like a home, for orphans and victims of domestic violence, especially underaged abused girls. Within the OIF Village, we would have structures such as the “OIF Residence” which will house the children/orphans. We also have the Rehabilitation Centre for girls rescued from child trafficking or the sex trade industry, called the “Grace Isedeh Centre”, GIC, named after my mother. Apparently, child trafficking is a major problem in Nigeria, in particular Edo and Delta States. I understand that some states are ill equipped for these eventualities and little provisions are made for the rehabilitation of these girls when rescued.

Sadly, I understand that Delta State is one of such states. Hence, the incorporation of GIC within OIF. The idea is to rehabilitate these girls and send them back home as self-confident, new individuals. Those who do not have homes will remain in the OIF Village and be educated or trained in various skills. Within the Village, we also have a Vocational Centre called the “Obi Ikenchukwu Development Centre”, OIDC. Here we hope to identify and build special skills and talents of the children who will then be transferred from the OIF Residence to the OIDC to be properly mentored. We presently have about four people who have volunteered as mentors for these kids.   My desire is to see these disadvantaged children grow and become what they are meant to be. To help them fulfil their purpose in life. Long term plans within the village will be the inclusion of a school, inter alia, which should start in the next two years. There are so many other plans for the village and you should see them unfold between now and the next five years.

When will this village become reality?

The foundation will be launched on the 14th of December 2014, at the Civic Centre in Lagos at which we also hope to raise funds to commence construction of the village. The construction work should start sometime in the new year depending on how much we are able to raise.

Is there land readily available?

We have acquired a land being, courtesy of my brother the Dein of Agbor. So, we are   hoping to start work as soon as possible in 2015. All things being equal, the village should be ready toward the end of the year 2015. The plan is to have a temporary site pending the completion of the village, then we transfer the kids. I am hoping that by the end of next year, we would be commissioning the completed village.

And what if the launch doesn’t provide enough money for the village?

That’s why I’m in Nigeria. I’ve been talking to people and corporate bodies to partner with us because this project is for the good of the society. I understand this is the first of its kind in the whole of the Delta region, and I hope the people of Delta State, especially the people of Agbor, including the government, will see reasons to partner with us and assist us in making OIF a reality and giving the less privileged a better life. So far, responses have been fairly encouraging and we are happy that more and more people are signing up.   We are hopeful and like my father once said during his last interview in the summer of 1978, “I know the people of Agbor will come through” for us. Not for me, for the “crown”, for their late Obi whom they love and miss so much and what he stood for. According to my dad, “the people of Agbor are loyal”. And I am very optimistic that their legendary loyalty will play out this time in a big way.   I hold on to my father’s words and remain hopeful.