On a day like this, exactly 50 years ago on October 11, 1975, our house at number 41 Tairu Onigbanjo Street, Itire, Lagos, was not bubbling as usual. The reason was easy to decipher.
Our mother, Maria Osogom Odiakose, was in labour the previous night and spent the night at an hospital close to Domino Supermarket.
The atmosphere was thick. The laugher ceased.
The children stopped playing.
The expectations were high.
The fears were also high because it is not every woman that goes into labour room that comes back alife.
Many went from delivery room to the mortuary.
But OUR CASE IS DIFFERENT.
Early on October 11, 1975 news filtered into Tairu Onigbanjo Street that Mrs Maria Osogom Odiakose had been delivered of a bouncing baby girl.
Everywhere erupted in jubilation. The reasons for the jubilation are legion. One being the fact that this is her ninth child.
Even as a little boy I remember vividly how my childhood friend congratulated me.
Eventually, myself and Kenneth, a neighbour’s son, rolled the tire we were playing with to the hospital where Mama was admitted.
The hospital staff frowned on us when we got there because we were not “properly dressed.”
When I told them my mother is in the hospital and just gave birth they were all smile and allowed us, with our dirty play clothes to go inside.
We eventually got into the private room where only Mama and her new born baby were staying.
At the sound of our entry Mama opened her eyes, recognized us and told me “le nnwenei” (look at your sister).
We turned our eyes and looked at the cute baby sleeping peacefully in the cot.
She was so cute that I even tried to carry her, out of ignorance or childhood exuberance before Mama told me to allow the cute baby to continue her sleep.
Today, October 11, 2025 the cute baby is 50 years old.
It is a day of joy for all of us in Udugba large family and Thomas Uzunye Clement Odiakose nuclear family.
The reasons are legion to list here. She has been a blessing to the entire family.
This is to wish our wonderful sister, Mrs HELEN IFY IROBA a very big HAPPY GOLDEN BIRTHDAY.
From her big brother whose pen will never run dry of ink, MIKE ODIAKOSE
