Despite her numerous trips to the ancient Gbaramatu Kingdom in the Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, Chief Ambr. (Princess) Caroline Ene, JP, finally stepped her feet in her maternal hometown, Igoba Federated Community, in the kingdom for the very first time, on Thursday, July 30, 2026, in a trip the Bolou-ere of the ancient Ogulagha Kingdom in the Burutu LGA describes as an "eye opener".

The visit of Chief (Princess) Ene, prompted by the loss of her dear mother, Queen Forcados Izonpade Ene, who hails from Obotobo II in Ogulagha Kingdom but whose father, among other ancestors, was from Igoba, is aimed at affording her the opportunity to reconnect with her folks ahead of the burial of the late mother.

In the course of the historic visit, if there is one aspect of the visit she would never forget, it was the hospitality she received as soon as her feet stepped on the shores of the community that most Gbaramatu people in other communities in the kingdom had ancestral lineage in.

"Despite being a daughter of Igoba, the reaction of the people on seeing me was so heartwarming. In fact, it was a special treatment they accorded me being in their midst. The respect and attention that I and my family received was tremendous," she later admitted to PENGlobal in a chat.

On arrival, in line with the Gbaramatu Ijaw tradition, she and her entourage were welcomed, entertained with money and drinks, and presented with smoked dry fishes as parting gifts from the Igoba people in demonstration of their love and expression of the joy in finally welcoming home one of their illustrious daughters.

According to the Bolou-ere, her mother, who is the only child of the mother, occasionally visits the community while alive, but she (Chief Ene) was not fortunate enough to accompany her on those trips back then.

"It was more surprising for me to learn that the only primary school in Igoba was named after my great great great grandfather," she exclaimed after a historical lecture by the Ama-Okosuwei, Pa. Elder Samson Agbasa, and other elders of the creek community that were in attendance.

"In fact, I've learned so much from this visit and I'm more excited that I've been able to know more about my mother's lineage and my relationship with other families in Igoba. And I know my beloved late mother would be very happy wherever she is," she admitted.

When asked how she felt like being in Igoba, her hometown, for the first time, she responded: "I feel so happy. Having traveled around the world, I will tell you that Igoba is a tourist destination because of its serenity which brings you closer to nature. It is so good to be home," she admitted.

However, Chief (Princess) Ene, whose father hails from Kokodiagbene Community in the kingdom, was quick to notice the absence of basic amenities in the community, especially when she was informed of a pregnant woman who had been ill, with permission sought from her to allow the woman to join them on their way back to Warri for medical treatment. She was stunned on how fragile life could be for inhabitants of the creek community that is home to a majority of the Gbaramatu people.

"I was just imagining if there is a health emergency, how will the people here handle it? Because as a remote community with no health center it could be traumatising. Moreover, external communication is quite a challenge as there is no network infrastructure on ground. The situation is quite appalling," she lamented.

Speaking further, while moving away from despair on the precarious situation, she assured, "I'm now part of the Igoba people. I've told them that I will be part of anything my family and the community is doing."

The Chairman of Igoba Community, Chief (Hon.) Friday Bobo, the Ebi-Ibananaowei of the kingdom, who was part of the delegation that accompanied the Bolou-ere, noted that the visit, though occasioned by the loss of one of their beloved daughter, was nonetheless an opportunity for a reunion in the family.

He therefore used the medium to appeal to all sons and daughters of the community to retrace their way back home and to join hands with other stakeholders to contribute to the positive developments of the creek community that is in dire needs of infrastructures that would uplift the burden of the inhabitants of Igoba who continue to grapple with survival in the 21st century.

As the entourage of Chief (Princess) Ene departs the creek community, she could not help but look forward to what role she could play to keep alive the legacy of her forebears. This was not just any visit, it was also the fulfillment of destiny. She resolved silently in her mind to continue writing the history of her family in Igoba where her late mother stops. In fact,  on Thursday, July 30, 2026, a new chapter in her name had already began to be written in the history books of Igoba.

View more photos on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18x9ERYndH/