Her Royal Majesty, Obi Martha Dunkwu, the Queen Mother of the Anioma Traditional Dynasty, has joined her ancestors.
Obi Dunkwu, the only female traditional ruler in Delta State and Omu Anioma, who is also known as Queen Mother, reportedly joined her ancestors at the age of 68 on Friday.
Sources confirmed that the revered female monarch passed on at a hospital in Asaba, the Delta State capital, where she was undergoing treatment.
A source confirmed that Her Royal Majesty had complained of symptoms of malaria before being taken to the hospital medical attention.
Born at Okpanam in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State, Obi Martha Dunkwu attended St. Joseph’s Catholic School, Barkin Ladi, Plateau State and St. Murumba’s College, Okpanam, Delta State.
She worked for a couple of years in Ministry of Finance, Benin City, Edo State before proceeding to L.T.C. College of English and Secretarial Studies, London, England. She also attended South West London College, England, Henderson State University, Arkansas and University of Nevada, United States of America.
Obi Martha Dunkwu was crowned Omu of Okpanam on 26th January 2002, Omu Anioma on 15th January 2010 and NNEOHA on 19th October, 2020. The female throne was relatively unknown until her enthronement, bringing light, respect and beauty to the traditional office.
On 7th October 1998, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba Erediauwa, the late Oba of Benin, presented Obi Martha Dunkwu Royal Beads (Ivie-Urhu – Beaded Necklace).
She is a Member, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (MNIPR), Member, Institute of Administrative Management (MIAM), England, Associate Member, Nigeria Institute of Management (ANIM), Past and First Female President, Asaba Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ASACCIMA), Past and First Female President, Delta State Council of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (DELCIMMA) comprising of Warri, Sapele, Asaba and Ethiope Chambers of Commerce, Pioneer Public Relations Officer, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) and Honorary Life Vice President, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Member, Federal Government/Private Sector Committee on Technical & Vocational Education and Training, TVET (2012-2013) and Member of Board, National Orientation Agency, NOA (2013-2015), and she was awarded Anioma Man of the Year 2014 by Anioma Trust Newspapers.
Obi Martha Dunkwu further received Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Edo and Enugu States Chapters’ Amazon and Merit Awards 2010/2011, Excellence Media Award by the Frontline News Media, Southern Zone, Cultural Ambassador Award by the Community Newspaper Publishers Association of Nigeria (CONPAN), Delta State Chapter, NUJ Prestigious Award presented by the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Edo State Council, Special Recognition Award presented by the Association of Lady Pharmacists (ALPs), decorated Zero Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Ambassador 2018, Lion of the Year and Two Star Fellow Awards by the Lions Club International, District 404 Nigeria, Best Patroness (2014/2015 Session) by the Faculty of Arts, University of Nigeria, and others too numerous to mention.
In 2001, the International Biographical Centre, Cambridge, England selected Obi Martha Dunkwu to be included in the “2000 Outstanding Intellectuals of the 21st Century”. Excerpts of the award read: “The Oxford English Dictionary defines intellectualism as the “Doctrine that Knowledge is wholly or mainly derived from pure reason” and it follows by saying that an intellectual is a person possessing a good understanding, enlightened person”. Surely, therefore, this definition is the reason for your selection to be included in this prestigious publication which is due for release in late 2001”. Obi Martha Dunkwu was granted “21st Century Award for Achievement and included in the WHO IS WHO IN THE 21st Century also by the International Biographical Centre, Cambridge, England. On October 3rd, 2001, she became pioneer recipient of the Indomitable Spirit Award” Abuja. On 19th June 2005, Obi Martha Dunkwu was conferred Doctor of Science “D.Sc” degree (Honoris Causa) by Columbus International University, Virgin Island, United Kingdom. An Inductee, Nigerian Women Hall of Fame, Abuja, holder of many Traditional Chieftaincy Titles in Delta and Edo States and, Patron, Media Correspondents’ Chapel of Edo State Council of NUJ.
Obi Martha Dunkwu was Media Consultant for the late Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Omo n’Oba n’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Erediauwa and the late Orodje of Okpe Kingdom in Delta State. Her friends and colleagues in the media admiringly call her “Royal Image Maker.”
She established the OBI MARTHA DUNKWU FOUNDATION for Girl-Child Education in the nine (9) Local Government Areas of Delta North Senatorial District (Anioma) and of course, Omuship Installation in Anioma and Women Development Initiative, a Centre which will be dedicated to the study of Omu Institution.
Obi Martha Dunkwu epitomized leadership through conviction and relationships based on fairness, loyalty and trust. She was acknowledged as a proven leader, media guru, efficient motivator, recognized performer, able administrator, enterprising business person, Royal Image Maker, committed Public Relations practitioner who translating professionalism into excellence, crisis manager of the highest order and Information Manager par excellence.
Omu Martha Dunkwu is a die-hard Nigerian, an ardent believer in Nigeria’s leadership of the black world has received numerous Awards and Conferments. She is a loving, devoted, caring, disciplined and God fearing mother of a son and grandmother of two grandsons.