Wednesday, the 4th day in September 2024, was a day long planned for by the Igere Ladies, comprising daughters and wives of the Igere family in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State. When the day finally came, it brought the anticipated joy as the acclaimed oldest woman (Ama-Okusu-ere) in the coastal town of Tebujor, who is over a hundred years of age, Mama Kalatortorbo Igere, was dignified as she received doses of love from his family on a special visit.

Known popularly as Kala Aunty, the aged Mama Igere is well known for her midwifery skills and has trained many women in the art of childbirth, and in the process helped to guide the entry of many souls that are transiting from their natural place of incubation (womb) to life on the Earth.

Asides her midwifery skills, she is reputed as a wonderful masseur who knows how to relieve body pains of people by the subtle touch of her hands on muscles in the body. Her knowledge of herbs is not unexpected as a masseur and a midwife. Blessed with this gift, Kala Aunty had brought respite to patients who sought remedy from her on their health challenges.

The Igere Ladies, majority of whom reside in the city of Warri and other neighbouring towns far away from their coastal home, having knowledge that Kala Aunty will not be around forever, decided to create time to come back home to spend some quality time and to rejoice with their aged mother, grandmother, great grandmother and mother in-law in her abode.

Speaking on behalf of the women, Mrs Ebidoumene Igere, the Chairlady of the Igere Ladies, said, "We are here to celebrate a special day with our Mama, with our mother in-law, a woman of 120 years," and added "She is the elder sister to my father in-law" while describing her relationship with Mama Igere.

"We don't want to show her love when she passed away. We want to do that now that she is here with us. We would have loved to be here everyday, but we all know the challenges in this modern Nigeria. Wives and women in general who were once said that their place is in the kitchen now have to eke out a living to support their husbands and the home," she further explained.

"We are here to follow her rejoice so that in our old age, our grandchildren, our daughters will also celebrate us. This is our mission today, the purpose why we are here. We are not here for sorrow, but we are here for happiness, we are here for celebration," she declared excitedly.

The women, who, earlier on arrival at Tebujor, in their large numbers throng the home of Kala Aunty. They dressed her up in regalia outfit, danced and sang for her, offered prayers and took turns on photograph with her.

"She's my mother's elder sister, the same father with her," said Mrs Omasan Igere alias Mama G, the Coordinator of the Igere Ladies. "I've learned a lot from her. She taught me how to deliver women in pregnancy, how to massage, how to prepare herbs to use when someone is in pain," she recalled the huge benefit she gained while growing up in her presence.

Another of the Igere Ladies, Mrs Doris Aduke, said, "We've come to meet my grandmother to play with her today. We love our grandmama who is very old. Some people in family don't get old to this age, but God has blessed us. Our grandmother is very old, all of them are old. So we are happy to come play with her," she added.

A member of Tebujor, Mr Jamaican Oboko, praised the aged Mama Igere for her good works when he said, "This woman, who is about 100 and something years today, we celebrate her and rejoice with her. But by the grace of God she wil live five to six years until the time God will call her home. This is a woman that raised many children, deliver women, bring great children into this world. This woman is not a bad woman that's why God gave her the greatness. By the grace of God, we will continue to celebrate her."

The Chairlady, Mrs. Ebidoumene, thanked the husbands of the Igere Family for making the visit a realty. "We also say 'Thank You Jesus' for the family that brought us together through marriage. We are proud of our husbands. Without them this day wouldn't have been possible. We say Thank You," she said on behalf of the women.

Today (2024) she is acclaimed as the oldest woman in the town of Tebujor. According to family members, some claim she is 120 years, while others say she is approaching 120 years. Yet, there are those who simply peg her age as "above 100". This is not unexpected as she was born at a time when parents were unmindful of the existence of a calendar, only using significant events to pinpoint one's date of birth back then. 

But despite the dispute in her age, one thing is certain, she has made significant contributions in the lives of many, contributions that cannot be quantified in money terms. It would not be out of place to say that her long life is God's way of rewarding her good works.

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