Scholastica Odochi Anuta

Donatus Ihejirika, a devout Catholic was an Educator and Agriculturist. Anastasia Ihejirika was an entrepreneur who supported the husband as they sought to raise their children as Christians and give them the best that Western education could provide. Donatus was largely responsible for bringing the Catholic Church to the Community and was the Chairman of the Parish Church Council for several years.

Having obtained the First leaving school certificate, Scholastica enrolled at the prestigious all girls Catholic run Owerri Girls Grammar School where she obtained the West African School Certificate in 1972 in Division One. Thereafter she enrolled at the Government owned Queens College, Enugu but before she could sit for the Higher School Certificate, she was accepted as a freshman at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka to read Physics.

On graduation, Scholastica taught high school physics at Federal Government College Benin City, Nigeria for five years. In December 10, 1980, Schola married John Davies Anuta. In January 1983, Schola left with her family to the United States and enrolled in the Graduate School of Auburn University Auburn, Alabama to read Physics. She taught undergraduate laboratory physics and subsequently graduated with a Master’s degree in Theoretical Physics.

She returned to Nigeria and worked as the pioneer head of the Information Technology at the Bureau of Public Enterprises; a government agency charged with the responsibility of privatizing and commercializing over-bloated and inefficient government enterprises. She attended several overseas courses to fine her skills in Information Technology and in the process acquired numerous certifications in Data Management and Warehousing, Security Administration, Analytical SQL and Statistical Functions, Oracle Database amongst others. She assiduously worked her way up and attained the position of Director, Management Information Systems.

In search of more challenges, she transferred to another agency: the Nigerian Investment and Promotion Commission in a similar role as Head of Information Technology. She overhauled the information infrastructure of this agency ensuring that information needed to attain organizational goals and objectives was readily available to Management.

Married to John Davies, Schola was totally committed to raising her family and inculcating the benefits of hard work to her children. I met Schola in 1975 in the University cafeteria. She was with three of her friends and I went up to talk to her. We were both sophomores, relatively young, and 5 years later I married the love of my life and thus began a journey that was 6 weeks short of 39 years: attached like a Siamese twin to a lady who exuded so much confidence, could stand her ground on any subject, carried the burdens of people she hardly knew, and never shied away from speaking her mind.

She was a deeply religious Catholic, a trust worthy and reliable friend, a doting mother who spared no quarters in ensuring that her kids and husband got all they wanted. On numerous occasions during her travels, she came home with luggage containing all kinds of goodies and gifts for her family and friends. She was a terrific cook, and even after the exhaustion occasioned by the demands from the office, she found time to cook meals that the family would eat. Her love was not limited to her immediate family. She gave her all to her extended family and friends and welcomed them with open hands when they visited our home. For family members who were unable to pay school fees for their children, Schola volunteered and accepted such responsibilities. This lady was so accommodating that our home became an open house to family and friends, which derived from a belief she always had: that as creations of the Almighty God, we must love our neighbors as ourselves.

Events of the last month appear so surreal. Where is my Dons baby? Where is Mom? Is she really gone? That is the question our kids and myself have battled with in the last four weeks. That we are gathered here today is enough indication that our Pearl has gone. I make bold to say that we have lost a wonderful Mother, devoted wife, sister, lover, a very good friend and an exceptionally remarkable human being. Our consolation is that the soul of our Pearl is resting in paradise; free at last from pain, fears, challenges and struggles of this imperfect world.

-John Davies Anuta