It was on Saturday, 25th Sept, 2021 at the conference hall of Federal Secretariat, Benin City when the Bible Impart University, USA Nigeria Satellite Campus at it’s 9th matriculation and 8th convocation ceremony called out an array of distinguished personalities for honour.

“These are men and women of impregnable integrity and success from their individual achievements in various walks of life. The university carefully selected them for their contributions to the body of Christ and to the larger society” said Dr. Johnson Osamuyi, the university’s VC.

Among those bestowed with the legendary awards was a Nigerian-born US based nurse and pastor, Mrs. Gladys Ohenzuwa who received the prestigious award for her humanitarian services in Nigeria and US.

Much was not said of her aside the few highlights of her selfless deeds to humanity but beyond the award galore, there was more to Pastor Ohenzuwa than what the brevity of the ceremony could afford. I was intrigued.

My curiosity led me to the elavated podium where the awardees sat. I introduced myself to her and told her I was interested in her story; who she is, what inspired her humanitarianism which she was awarded for and her life journey. All these could not be possibly exhausted in the euphoric bustle of the ceremony so we scheduled an interview appointment.

Exactly a week later, I and one of the Observer Newspaper’s photographer, Betty Otiemoria were at her exquisite home which she called “humble abode” to listen to the woman who intrigued us at the occasion. It is a story of a woman who turned pain into gain. With courage, kindness and love the world is better off with a Gladys in it.

Elegantly dressed in her cute and cozy fall gown, Pastor Ohenzuwa wearing an affiliating smile expressed how honored she was to receive us. Seeing us brought back her childhood memories of the Nigerian Observer Newspaper which she said “I grew up to meet The Observer, my elder brother worked there in those days. I had an uncle who worked there too. The place used to have a clinic, cafeteria and all that. It was an exciting place to be. But that was a long time ago. In the early 70s I suppose”.

We had not settled for the interview yet she had already connected with us through her nostalgic memories of the organization we now work for. There was no dull moment with her as we discussed plethora of matters ranging from her personal life, the humanitarian services which she is passionate about, her experiences in Nigeria and US. You couldn’t wait to hear all that.

Through Gladys Akugbe Ohenzuwa Foundation, Pastor Ohenzuwa is poised to empower women and youth. “In Nigeria, we enroll our beneficiaries in trainings of their interest like catering, carpentry, ICT, and after that we give them seed capitals to start up a business. We moniter them to make sure they don’t squander the capital. The only agreement we have with them is that after they are trained, we will bring others to them to train”. She said.

Suffice it to say that Pastor Ohenzuwa’s humanitarian services pre-existed the foundation. “I am giver of everything, my joy is to come through for people”, she said.

Untill Bishop Johnson Osamuyi advised Pastor Ohenzuwa to have a registered non-governmental organization in order to drive her vision of helping humanity, she had worked closely with churches for outreaches such as free medical check ups and treatments for those who can’t afford hospitals in addition to sensitising the people about hygeine, balance diet and all that concerns well being.

According to Pastor Ohenzuwa, “we plan to reach out to youths and rural communities who apart from being bedeviled by poverty also wallow in ignorance. Without information, our people are plagued by wrong decisions”.

Gladys Akugbe Ohenzuwa Foundation is open to partner with selfless individuals and organizations “ours is a non profit organization. God did not call me to make money from it but to use it as platform of selfless service. So anyone who is ready to give talents, knowledge, time and any resources at all is most welcome”. She noted.

She revealed that “apart from contributing to bettering the lives of people through selfless love, I want people to come to Christ who alone is the Living Water. There is this peace that comes from living out the teachings of the Bible. Nothing else in this world can give that peace”.

But before leaving for the US, Pastor Ohenzuwa was a broken woman trying to pick up her pieces, “my first marriage was tough and frustrating, there was no child but that’s the story for another day. Then I realized that there was still life ahead. My life did not have to end because my frustrating marriage ended, so I forged ahead and the rest is history”.

On getting to US, Gladys joined the Esther Generation in Houston, Texas, a Christian fellowship that encouraged women to discover God’s purpose for family and marriage. It’s concerned with addressing challenges of women in the society based on Christian values.

It was there that Gladys who is now fondly called Mummy General for her motherly disposition to many rediscovered her purpose – the passion to help.

“Even though I was yet single and without a biological child, I helped families to raise children, and it gave me fulfillment”. She reminisced.

It was this reinkindled passion that would make her organize outreaches when ever she visited Nigeria with her hard earned resources.

Pastor Ohenzuwa believes that “we have roles to play as citizens, we must not always wait on government for everything. Besides, we are the government”.

Single-minded not to go through the pains she went through in her first marriage, the ordained pastor with Hope Restoration Church Houston, Texas waited in prayer for another husband, “I asked God for a husband that would have the same passion of serving God and humanity”. God answered that prayer and “gave me a husband that not only encourages me, he gives me one hundred percent supports so long is God”. Remarked Pastor Ohenzuwa.

Together God has blessed the union with a bouncy baby boy whom they christened Osawonamen George Ohenzuwa. Gladys is a “testifier of the Lord’s goodness”

What about times when kindness and love are paid back with contempt? I asked. “I am aware of sharks in the world, betrayers and backbiters. So what? Was Christ not betrayed by his own disciple? I know this truth and that’s why I arm myself with love and forgiveness. That is what makes us Christians”. Gladys said empathetically.

Your past does not have to determine your present or future “I tell people not to use their experience to judge others. In hindsight, sometimes God is teaching us virtues that can only be acquired through hard times”.

On her assessment of Nigeria at 61, Gladys looked at Nigeria who got independence from British colonial masters two years before she was born as “no where”. She acknowledged the brilliant human and natural resources that the nation is blessed with, “but the political class has destroyed this country with greed”.

While there is no denying the fact that the citizens are fed up with the mismanagement and corruption, Gladys said “we should channel the energy during elections and make sure we vote out bad leaders. We deserve better than the peanuts or the bags of rice the wicked politicians give during elections, by the way I strongly disagree with the money politics which is being played in Nigeria”.

Speaking further on Nigeria, she expressed dissatisfaction with the way youths and women are being marginalized in governance”but I want them to rise up and take back their destiny, let us have the likes of Nancy Pelosi or Hillary Clinton who can stand up to men.

The youth should realize that they can change the course of this country, the power lies with them. No one can disputes that Nigeria holds a great potential but are we going to talk about potential forever?” Gladys asked rhetorically.

Congratulations to Pastor Gladys Ohenzuwa on a well deserved award for her long years humanitarian services.

Sinafi Omanga is a serving Corps member with The Nigerian Observer, Benin City.