For many, death is the end of life. But for the few and rare individuals who spent all of their lifetime serving God and humanity, they continue to live on in the hearts of all the people whose lives they touched, their admirers and all other people who took notice of their good works. So their good works immortalize them for posterity serving as unforgettable, indelible historical milestones of their life transforming encounters in their sojourn on earth.
Such was the life of Noble Sister (Madam) Mary Atim Walter Nta, whose mortal remains were laid to rest recently in Akwa Ibom state following her transition to higher glory. Madam Nta who passed on the 4th of May 2017, just four days to her 90th birthday anniversary, was a celebrated mother, grand mother, great grand mother, community leader, philanthropist and avid promoter of Christianity and particularly the catholic faith.
Her life was an incredible mix of utmost dedication to her family, relentless commitment to the service of the communities where she found herself and selfless devotion to the advancement of the work of God. Her ability to successfully combine all of these virtues was what made her outstanding and amazing to people around her. She was an inspiring light to multitudes. It was not a surprise that her funeral was a celebration of life, a life well spent and worthy of emulation by all standards.
Madam Nta was born on the 8th of May 1927. The circumstances of her birth perhaps prepared her for her future compassionate disposition to life. She was the first daughter in a polygamous home, so she learnt early to be responsible for others and to care for them. She was also fortunate to have a father who was interested in the education of his children irrespective of their gender or his subsisting relationship with their mothers. Those were the days when many parents did not recognize the value of western education.
She began her elementary education in 1936 at Central School, Ikot Ubo. In 1943, she relocated to Calabar and continued her education at Duke Town School where she did her standards 5 and 6 and obtained the First School leaving Certificate in 1944. She proceeded for further education at Holy Child Teachers College, Ifuho, Ikot Ekpene in1946 and obtained the Grade II Teachers Certificate in 1948. It was from this stage of her life that she started her pioneering streak of achievements at the age of 21 by becoming the first woman to obtain the prized certificate in Ubium, her community.
With this certificate, Madam Nta began a teaching career at Convent School, Esene in Opobo, now Ikot Abasi. She also taught in several other primary schools. But she did not stop her quest for education at this level. In 1964, she was admitted to the University of Ibadan for a diploma programme and was awarded an Associateship Certificate in Special Education with distinction. She also sat for and passed the GCE A Level examination in History, Religious Knowledge and Economics as a private student. As a result of her higher qualifications, she was elevated to teach in post primary schools, among which were Salvation Army Secondary School, Akai, Holy Child Secondary School, Calabar and her alma mater, the Teacher Training College, Ifuho.
In 1971, Madam Nta advanced her career as an educationist further higher by transferring her services to the ministry of education as an Education Inspecting Assistant. In this cadre, she rose to the position of Secretary, Divisional Schools Board, where she dealt with issues of policy and administration of schools. She continued her career advancement in this cadre until she retired voluntarily and meritoriously from the services of the Cross River State Government as a Principal Officer in 1984. Many people who admired Madam Nta’s successful career and benefited from her mentorship, goodwill and generosity, would hardly believe that the wonderful woman achieved her success story amidst challenges which ordinarily would have broken down or weakened or entirely changed a woman’s resolve to build a great family. She suffered, early in her marriage, the misfortune all women dread, the loss of a loving and supportive husband.
She had gotten married in 1951 to a well educated and promising federal civil servant working in the prisons service. It was a blissful union. The couple shared so many things in common, including a passion for education, which saw the duo engaged in academic pursuits at the university of Ibadan at the same time in 1964. Unfortunately, her husband was killed at his post as Chief Superintendent of Prisons in Ibadan during the 1966 military coup. At that time, they had six children, the eldest child barely 14 years old. She had to face the upbringing and education of the children alone, with hardly any form of assistance. From then on, the task of building a closely knit, responsible and great family fell on her. She was neither discouraged nor disillusioned. She struggled to accomplish it and she succeeded, with all the children becoming graduates in different respectable professions and distinguishing themselves in the society. Her eldest child, Ekpo Nta, a reputable lawyer and administrator is the current chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission. (ICPC).
Folu Olamiti Media Consultant wrote from Abuja.