Alhaja Princess Aminat Ighuenemeh Ikharo-Garuba

With the complete exist of an entire generation of an individual it becomes extremely difficult to come by useful and satisfactory information about that individual in the bid to document an appreciable aspect of the life and time of the personality in focus. However, this piece is simply intended to recapitulate in a flash the genealogical background of a princess of one of the foremost ruling kindred’s of Auchi as well as her mercantile exploits, having been reputed to be one of the most influential female traders in the entire KuKuruku Land.

Born into the venerated Ikelebe Dynasty of Auchi—Edo State, Hajia Aminat Ighuenemeh was one of the twenty-one children of Ikharo Ikelebe who ascended the throne of Auchi in 1905. Hajia Aminat Ighuenemeh’s mother, Oyogu from Iyofa-Akpekpe in Auchi had six children for Ikharo.  They are in their order of seniority: (1) Brai Daudu, (2) Momodu-father of Bala Parker who lived in Lagos all his life, (3) Iyawo—who was popularly called Hajia Agbede, (4) Aliu, (5) Hajia Aminat Ighuenemeh, and (6) Alfa Bello. Of the twenty-one children fathered by the Ikharo, thirteen were males and eight were females.

The point must be said that before the young Aminat Ighuenemeh’s betrothal to Garuba of Afobomhe, Akpekpe in Auchi, her father Ikharo had, due to age, gradually withdrawn from major traditional functions and appointed his nephew Momoh Oshiogbele to act in his stead. Momoh Oshiogbele later ascended the throne in 1919, the year Ikharo passed on.

Alhaja Aminat Ighuenemeh married Garuba Iregbeneh of Afobomhe and had the first three children for him. The first child—Alhaji Yaya Garuba—who became an influential businessman, politician, and transporter. He was popularly known as V.I.O. Among Yaya Garuba’s children are Zakawanu Garuba—Businessman based in Auchi, Momoh Yaha Garuba who reside in Belgium, Hassan and Hussein Yaya Garuba—both civil engineers based respectively in Warri and Port Harcourt, Aliyu Yaya Garuba who reside in Auchi. The second child—Isah Garuba became the foundation managing Director, Total Filling Station in Auchi.

One of Isah’s many children is Mohammed Garuba, a great scholar and businessman in Auchi. The third and last child of Aminat Ighuenemeh and Garuba Iregbeneh is Hajia Fatima Abiri, a matriarch of the great Abiri Dynasty of Iyekhei-Auchi. Hajia Fatima Abiri perfectly stepped into the shoes of her mother and her children are Madam Alimat Abiri—Auchi; Hajia Sadat Abiri-Ibrahim—U.S.A.; Hajia Juwerat Abiri—Proprietress Abiri Group of School; Jeminat Abiri—Spain; Bekisu Abiri-Momoh, FCT Abuja; Alhaji Abdulmiminu Abiri, a charted Accountant and Management Staff with NNPC; and Hassan and Hussain who reside in Lagos and the U.S. respectively.

On the passing of Garuba Iregbeneh, Hajia Aminat Ighuenemeh remarried Garuba Inanemoh his brother in absolute compliance with Auchi traditions and customs and in strict adherence to Islamic tenets. She had four more children by Garuba Inanemoh in the following order: Zika Paddy Garuba who became a renowned businessman after his studies in U.K.; Dr. Rabi Garuba Aliu who studied in the former USSR was the first woman at Auchi to hold a PhD; Madam Lefishetu Garuba; and Ms.  Mesaletu Yusuf Abubakar.

Alhaja Princess Aminat Ighuenemeh had seven children in all, three males and four females. The only surviving of the seven are Hajia Fatima Abiri and Madam Lefishetu Garuba.  The Elder, Hajia Fatima celebrated her 75th Birthday on the 3rd of July, 2009.

A very successful merchant Hajia Ighuenemeh moved rice and beans in large quantities from one market to the other across the length and breadth of Kukuruku land. She was one of the first traders who bought and sold smoked fish and bush-meat for a very long period unchallenged in the land by any other competitor. Hajia Ighuenemeh was a regular and routine trader at the very popular Kpata as the market located at Agenebode in Edo State by the Niger River and overlooking Idah in Kogi State.

In recognition of her leadership qualities, the sitting Ogbachi Meleau Nene Momoh, during the reign of the fourth Otaru of Auchi—Alhaji A.K. Momoh awarded Hajia Princess Ighuenemeh the Ozewua title. However, in her usual modesty, she politely rejected the title due to pressure of business. She did, however being a stickler for tradition and customs performed all the rites relating to the title.

Alhaja Princess Aminat Ighuenemeh Garuba’s life and time stretched beyond the reigns of the following Traditional rulers of Auchi Kingdom Viz. Momoh Idaoh Oshiogbele, Momoh the first 1919 – 1944; Momoh Jimah Momoh, Momoh the second, 1945 – 1955; Abu Keremi Momoh, Momoh the third 1955 – 1970.

Alhaja Princess Aminat Ighuenemeh Garuba passed on peacefully and gracefully in 1993.

By Sadat Abiri-Ibrahim,MS, PMHNP, MPH