Williams Akpan, Calabar
The 90th birthday of Lady Bernadette Emah Ebri, mother of former Cross River State Governor, Dr Clement Ebri, has provided an occasion for reflection on the enduring influence of motherhood, education, faith and family values, as political leaders and relatives celebrated her life and legacy in Calabar.
The nonagenarian was celebrated on Wednesday at the Ebri family residence along Clement Ebri Avenue, State Housing Estate, Calabar, where hundreds of guests, including family members, dignitaries and well-wishers, gathered to honour her.
Among those who felicitated with her were Governor Bassey Otu and the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, whose messages acknowledged her contributions to family life, education and society.
The occasion was particularly significant for the former governor, whose emotional tribute offered an account of his mother’s influence on his upbringing and the values that have remained central to his life.
Describing her as more than a stepmother, Clement Ebri said, “To me, she is not my stepmother. She is simply my mother. My beloved Mama Mkpani.”
He recalled that her entry into the family brought warmth, discipline, cohesion and intentional maternal care, explaining that her professional experience as a teacher informed her approach to child upbringing.
For Lady Bernadette, he said, motherhood involved more than providing food and shelter; it required character formation, guidance, consistency and the cultivation of values capable of preparing children for life’s challenges.
“She paid attention to the little things because she understood that the little things, repeated over time, shape character,” he said, recalling the household timetables through which the children learnt domestic responsibilities and cooperation.
Her influence also extended to the family’s spiritual life. Ebri recalled that regular Catholic worship, baptism, confirmation and confession were integral to their upbringing, providing a religious foundation that complemented the discipline practised at home.
The former governor also reflected on his childhood experiences in Umuahia during the mid-1960s, particularly the Saturday market visits with his mother, which he said taught him practical lessons about planning, responsibility and human relationships.
He described the relationship between his mother and father as an example of peaceful partnership, recalling that he never witnessed them quarrel during his years growing up in the household.
“In all the years I lived with them as a child, I never witnessed them quarrel, not once,” he said, adding that their example influenced his understanding of marriage and mutual respect.
Her culinary skills also featured prominently in the tribute. Ebri recalled the traditional Efik and Ibibio meals she prepared, describing the dining table as a place where family affection and cultural identity were expressed.
“Those meals were more than food; they were expressions of love, care and the beautiful cultural heritage she brought into our lives,” he said.
Beyond the domestic sphere, he recounted her resilience during the Nigerian Civil War, when the family sought refuge in Umuahia and trekked into surrounding forests to escape air raids. Even under those conditions, she continued to provide food and care for the children.
He also recalled how she accompanied him to secondary school in 1965 and maintained contact through letters, an experience he said demonstrated that motherhood was defined by presence, responsibility and sacrifice rather than biology alone.
In his goodwill message message to the family, Governor of the Cross River State Senator Police Bassey Edet Otu described Lady Bernadette as a virtuous mother, educationist and woman of faith, invoking the biblical assurance, “Her children rise up and call her blessed.”
Speaker of the State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Elbert Ayambem, in his own felicitation, described her life as one of achievement and humility, saying, “You came, you saw and you conquered.”
For a better society
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