I sweep, clean my compound daily — 91-yr-old principal

Sir Justus Ezeife

Ninety one-year-old Sir Justus Ezeife, a retired school principal, tells EMMANUEL OBE about his life

When and where were you?

My name is Justus Ezeife, a Knight of St. Christopher. I was born in Igbo-Ukwu in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State in 1923. My father performed the highest title, Ozo, in Igboukwu, which they call Ozo Amuma. But he died young after an attack of pneumonia in 1933. I started school in 1932 with the support of my elder brother, the late Isaiah Ezeife. My father nearly killed him for converting to Christianity. I also became a Christian in 1932. I managed to finish primary school in 1941 and took the entrance examination to Dennis Memorial Grammar School, Onitsha. I came first and won a scholarship. I became the first Igbo-Ukwu person to obtain a university degree and second person in the whole of old Aguata. The first person was the late Mr. Timothy Uzo of Nkpologwu. I got married to former Miss Jessie Akuchukwu Onyekwelu in November 1953. The marriage was blessed with eight children, three boys and five girls. Seven of the children attained adulthood and obtained university degrees.

How was going to school in your area then?

My mother wanted me to consult a native doctor before going to DMGS. But I told her that God, who made me pass the entrance, would take care of me. I entered DMGS in 1942. I returned for my first term holiday to find that my elder brother who was sponsoring me had contracted leprosy and had been taken to Oji River camp in Enugu State where he was for 10 years before he was cured. Because I had nobody to cater for me, I failed the end-of-year examination. But, by the grace of God, I continued and reclaimed my position. I completed my course at DMGS in 1946, passed the school certificate examination in Grade 1 and gained admission to Higher College, Yaba where I was from 1947 to 1948. I became the first person from Igbo-Ukwu to pass the school certificate in Grade 1 and the only Igbo-Ukwu citizen that attended old Yaba College. It was during my days at Yaba that an eclipse of the sun occurred. Many people thought the end of the world had come. But some of us, who were students, knew what was happening and were happy to see the eclipse. We observed it from 2pm till 4pm when there was a total eclipse. The weather suddenly became so cold in the afternoon. From Yaba College, we were transferred to Ibadan in January 1948 where we completed the course in 1948 and did the degree exam. Those of us sponsored by the Church at Yaba had to return home to teach. I taught at Central Primary School, Ekwulobia before I was transferred to DMGS in 1952.

Do you think reintroducing government scholarships can revive education and encourage competition?

Scholarships in those days were for brilliant students. In those days, people didn’t have money to train their children. The problem today (with education) is not finance. It is laziness. People are just not industrious anymore. They are interested in material things. Even today, government still offers scholarship. But it is only those with connections in government that get it. The problem now, to me, is that people are not eager to study.

How do you mean sir?

Nowadays, people don’t study. They look for special centres where they can obtain fake certificates. If you go to some villages, the young boys are no longer interested in hard work or education but after material things. So, to me, overzealousness and quest for material things is the bane of the modern day youth. When I was in the secondary school, you hardly found more than one graduate teaching in a secondary school. But people were devoted in their teaching and students were eager to learn. Now, people don’t want to learn, everybody wants manna to fall from heaven.

Do you think that returning schools to their original owners will restore sanity to education?

I don’t believe that. It is sheer irresponsibility on the part of government to return schools to the mission. It is the responsibility of the government to train the citizens because they have the resources. During the colonial days, the missionaries were only showing government what to do with education. What resources do the missions have? What Ukpabi Asika did at the end of the civil war in 1970 by taking over all the schools was the right thing because it is the responsibility of the government to provide basic education to the citizenry. Any government that hands over schools to the missions is running away from its responsibilities.

Are things better now than in your younger days?

It depends on how you look at it. On material things, I can say life is now better. But spiritually and morally, people are worse off. People these days cannot say the truth and stand by it. Rather than doing that, they will follow the majority to hellfire. Even parents nowadays are not courageous enough to correct their children and that is bad. It is unfortunate that my first son is dead; the second one is a lawyer in the United States. If he does anything wrong, I will correct him immediately. But now, some parents will say, ‘I will not talk to my son because he gives me money.’ We are allowing material things to rule us.

Tell us about your children.              

I am happy that all my children are doing well because of their upbringing. I gave them all equal opportunities. I had eight children, one (a daughter) died while returning from school. But she too went through the university. Afamefuna Okechukwu Nnamdi Ezeife, my first child and a registered Surveyor died at 42 in 1997. He passed First School Leaving Certificate examination with distinction and passed his B.Sc. at the University of Nigeria in Surveying in Second Class, Upper Division. He had five children and they are all doing well because of the same moral standard I set for them.

What did you miss the most in your younger days?

I did not miss much because I was doing virtually everything that was expected of me. We worked hard. From Igbo-Ukwu, I attended a school at Central School Ekwulobia. I didn’t just wake up and go to school. I swept the compound, took the cows out for three miles to feed, came back and prepared for school. People can’t do that now. If you send children now on errand, they would ask for transport fare. This is sheer laziness. In our days, we trekked from here, Igbo-Ukwu, to Achalla in Awka North, Nimo and Abagana in Njikoka Council Area among other places. My regret now is that people are so lazy. I remember in 1936, I trekked from here to Okigwe.

How did you meet your wife?

It was when I was teaching at DMGS that I met my wife, the late Lady Jessie Akuchukwu Ezeife, who was then teaching at Aguleri. I met her through her sister. I liked her and I started making enquiries. When I confirmed that she was from a good family, I went and consulted the father, asked for the rites and he agreed and I paid the bride prize. That was how we started.

Didn’t you get her through your parents?

No, nobody got anything for me and that is why I advise that anybody who wants to marry should make their own choice so that if it is bad, they will endure it but if it is good, they will enjoy it. That is the only way you can have a permanent rest of mind.

How were you able to stay together without breaking up?

Love implies that you have to tolerate one another. I don’t believe with the general parlance which says that a man is the owner of the house. Both of them have equal rights and when there is misunderstanding, they should discuss it. Lucky enough, my wife was highly gifted in leadership. That was why she was offered the position of the leader of the Holy Trinity Church Women Home and Abroad General Meeting for 23 years. As if she knew, she resigned in 1999 and died on January 27, 2000. It was a great blow to my family but we have taken consolation in God. Her death is still fresh in my memory. My wife and I were admitted as Lady of the Order of St. Christopher and Knight of the Order of St. Christopher respectively at St. Faith Cathedral, Awka by Bishop Maxwell Anikwenwa of Awka Diocese, my former student, in 1996.

How did you resolve issues with your wife?

We discussed. We had mutual respect for each other and we didn’t have much problem as such. We trained our children together and loved them equally.

What about those you attended DMGS with?

At the time I gained admission into DMGS, three of us who came in the first, second and third positions, myself, Prof Benson Agu (now in London) who was second and Wilson Onuigbo (a specialist) now based in Enugu chose to serve humanity. I am happy we are still very much alive. I chose teaching, Agu chose teaching and Onuigbo chose medicine. Agu is in London now but I always meet with Onuigbo.

Who was your political hero in those days?

The only person I admired in those days was the Great Zik of Africa (Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe) who was doing the right things, fighting for what was right. He took over from Herbert Macaulay who was the first real leader of Nigeria.

Apart from Zik, is there no other person that left an impressive legacy?

There are many of them even from ancient history, people like Hannibal, Julius Cesar, Alexander the Great, and Mahatma Gandhi are all people that inspired me because they were people that sacrificed their lives for others not people looking for material gains.

Can you think of others at home?

(Laughs) When we come to education, people like Sir Avan Ikoku, Rev Israel Ransome-Kuti among others stood out. They were truthful. They were not parochial. They inspired others.

What was your experience during the civil war?

During the civil war I was at All Saints Grammar School Umunze and the school was not only used as a base but was later used as a medical unit by Biafran soldiers. The person who was in-charge was a younger brother to my student at DMGS. I received and treated him well but instead of being kind to me he treated me badly by first of all forcing me out of my house and with a family of more than six. I had to go and occupy a little house. Not only that, it was through him they commandeered and seized the only car I had. Thus, during the war I was hopeless but God helped me. At the end of the war I did not receive a kobo as compensation. I lost the car but thank God I am alive and my children survived.

You recently celebrated your 91st birthday. What is the secret of your longevity?

My longevity is a gift from God. Another thing is I know my limitations. First, take care of yourself, eat what will sustain your life and when you come to public affairs, be truthful and don’t oppress anybody. Always pray for people’s prosperity. People have sleepless nights when they have something bothering them. When one is not healthy, one should seek medical attention. That is my policy.

Are you choosy about the food you eat?

Yes. I eat more of local food, like fruits, breadfruits, yam and vegetables. But I eat moderately. That is why I planted trees all around my compound. Trees make the environment cool. Imported food and canned food are not good for one’s health. You don’t need to eat excessively. Some people eat up a quarter of a goat just to display affluence. It’s not good for health. Let’s go back to the natural food of our forefathers. Fruits and vegetables sustain life.

How do you exercise?

There are many ways to exercise the body. For example, in the evening I walk at least five miles. I also trek in the morning. Otherwise, I do manual labour by cutting grass until I sweat. Sweating is enough to revive one’s life. The more somebody walks, the stronger he becomes. Even now at my age, I work and sweep the compound daily.

How is life in retirement?

Life in retirement has not been easy depending on how you look at it. Personally, what one gets in retirement is nothing to write home about. But the most important thing is one’s mind-set. At the time I was retiring as a principal, special class, I wasn’t earning up to N1,000 a month. But with the little I saved, I was able to train all my children and my relations. I bought a few shares from companies. I didn’t depend solely on my salary. I was also farming.

Do you have any word for the younger generation?

They should have trust in God, be hardworking, contended and conscientious. By continually doing the right thing and trusting God, they will succeed. They should stop inordinate pursuit of prosperity because it enslaves the body and the soul and brings bout early death. Religious leaders should stop preaching prosperity but return to holiness, good behaviour and honesty. They should emphasise the principle of “To labour is to pray”. The ruin of the present generation is greed. “Covetousness is the root of all evil.”

Any regrets in life?

I am very grateful to God Almighty who made me what I am today. An orphan, he provided scholarship and opportunity for me to attain the best of education for my family; for all my accomplishments and the grace to remain unflinching in my faith for His unfailing goodness and mercies; for all the times of happiness and times of sorrows He remained our rock of ages. May His name be glorified and magnified forever and ever.