By Solomon Azu
All roads in the Cross River State on Sunday led to Calabar the Tourism capital of Nigeria, as the Cream de’ la Cream of society including former governors, captains of industry, politicians, friends and family gathered to celebrate the Queen Mother of Ejagham Nation Worldwide, (Ntoe Anakae Ejagham), Ntunkae Grace Arit Etta Eyo Ita on her 70th birthday celebration.
They joined her at a Thanksgiving Service held at the Palace of the Ndidem of the Quas and Paramount Ruler of Calabar Municipality, in Big Qua Town, Calabar.
The event, which began around 2 pm and ended around 6 pm had the auditorium filled to the brim.
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While delivering the sermon on the topic: The importance of Thanksgiving, the Senior Pastor of Anselem Independent Baptist Church, Calabar, Rev Sunday Elton, admonished christians to cultivate the habit of thanksgiving at all times whether in good or bad times.
“We must always give thanks to God because thanksgiving to our God can move him to do more for us. Thanksgiving is a sacrifice, releases joy and peace and deepens faith”, he admonished.
He attributed Grace Eyo Ita’s attainment of 70 years and his career success to God’s grace.
“You have been abiding in Christ and with Christ. The essence of life is a life lived in God, anything other than that is waste. You have been abiding in God, nothing should discourage you.”
The cleric prayed that for years to come, the Lord would keep the celebrant standing and growing.
“People who were born after she was born, many of them are gone. But God has kept her alive, not just being alive, God kept her to be purposeful, to know why she is living,” he said.
The celebrant’s son, Rt Hon (Dr) George Oben- Etchi who described his mother as epitome of discipline and “almost a perfectionist,” said in an interview that the occasion meant a lot to the family, having watched her grow to become a septuagenarian.
“It means a lot to all of us, the children. We’ve watched her grow to 70. We’ve loved her the same way since we were small. We are happy that she is happy. She is a very celebratory person, so we’re happy to see her celebrating. It brings joy to our hearts.
“The most interesting thing about her is that she is almost a perfectionist. She’s someone I look up to, not just as his son, but as a role model in general,” Oben Etchi added.
In his goodwill message, the former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Arch Obong Victor Attah described Ntunkae Grace Eyo Ita as a figure worthy of emulation, lauding her years of dedicated service and professional accomplishment as a politician, beacon of leadership, a visionary entrepreneur and philanthropist adding that she was celebrated because she did well. Many people can attest to it.
He praised the celebrant for her unwavering commitment to faith, describing her as a source of encouragement and spiritual strength to those who come in contact with her. Attah also commended her passion for uplifting women and young people, saying her guidance has helped many discover purpose and direction in life.
According to him, Ntunkae compassion and generosity have remained evident through her consistent support for the vulnerable and her dedication to bear burdens of others.
He described her as a leader of integrity, whose humility and wisdom have earned her respect within and beyond the Cross River State.
The former governor added that her impact is not only felt in Akamkpa and the Ejagham nation but also in the entire country, where her counsel and example continue to inspire responsible living.
He stated that Ntunkae Grace Eyo Ita’s represents a model of service and dedication, noting that her commitment to peace, unity, and moral values has strengthened relationships within her community.
Obong Victor Attah also acknowledged her role as a pillar of support to many, saying her prayers, mentorship, and words of comfort have remained a lasting source of hope for those facing challenges.
He prayed for God’s continued grace, strength, and long life upon Pastor Amara, wishing her more fruitful years ahead.
In her testimony, the celebrant said, ” He has done so much for me, I cannot tell it all. Look at me. A very little girl, 70 years ago, started my life with children here and there.
“At a point, I just said, ah, is this how my life will end? But God, in his infinite mercy and love, just changed me from what I was to what I’m supposed to be. I cannot, I cannot thank him enough. He is my father.
“He’s everything I stand for. He’s the person and the man and the woman and brother and sister that I have. And I rely solely on him.
“I thank him today. He gave me seven children, delivered them, and God helped me to take care of them and nuture them to who they are today.
“I just see it that so many things happened, unfolded, each and every one of them. In order not to take them, drag them to my problems, all of them are doing well. They are there, doing their thing, and God is standing by them.
But how many, how many can I share? When the children called me for a meeting yesterday, this one was telling me, Mommy, do you remember I was at Bar Beach, and we were almost drowning? I said, eh, I didn’t know. This one said, Mommy, there was a time the other one took a car. I said, eh, I can’t remember.
Too many things that they were saying. I couldn’t cry enough. Cry of happiness.
Not of anything else, but happiness. That I can sit with them and talk together, and watch as I walk down the room, and those who are married, have children, and others. Me, I’m not a mother of just the seven children, i’m a mother of so many children. I work for people. I work for children.
It has become, anything that I’m doing, some will call me and say, ah, Mommy, what are you doing? When are you doing it? And what am I supposed to contribute? I say, whatever.
It’s not enough to stand here and talk about God because from day one to the age that I am today, He has been very faithful. Some of my old friends, they will tell me, You, you started like this.
You have been hard working. You have been a struggling woman. It’s not easy to go into politics, try to go to school.
Not only that, you also try to run some companies and take care of things the way I did. So I say, God, I don’t even know where the energy was coming from, but you are so faithful and nice. King of Glory, I want to stand here and thank you so very much.
During the reception, chairman of the occasion, High Chief Asuquo Ekpenyong extolled the virtues of the celebrant who he described as the delectable lady of Cross River politics and the Senator that never was. “She was a frontline politician who was recognised nationally and appointed to several high profile offices in the country, a role model on how politics should be played”.
Guest were served foreign cuisine and native delicacies as well as assorted wine to their satisfaction.
High point of the celebration was the cutting of the birthday cake and presentation of her book entitled “Clean Living”.
