Baptism and early christian life of prayer

Because of her pagan family background, she was not baptized as a child but it did not prevent her embracing Christianity at an early stage. By December 1976, the same year her son was ordained a priest, she was baptized with the name, Elizabeth. It must be noted that even before her baptism, she was already a dedicated member of St. Anthony of Padua society. She was also dedicated to reciting her holy rosary daily.

GOD’S INTERVENTION

God finally rewarded her faith with five children; three boys and two girls. Her first son, Reverend Father Emmanuel Edeh was born on 5th May 1947 at 2 pm. His birth was indicated by a total eclipse of the sun that covered the whole world. 

EXPANSION OF HER CHARITY

After the birth of her children, Mama Omeogo remained very prayerful and faithful to her Catholic faith. She prayed in season and out of season and she also continued with her works of charity in various ways. Having gathered many children around her through prayer, caring and charity, she desired that they be given adequate academic training. This is what led to the establishment of Elizabeth Nursery/Primary School in Akpugo while she was still alive. Most children in the school are under her scholarship.

CHARITY TO SUFFERING CHILDREN DURING THE NIGERIA-BIAFRA CIVIL WAR

During the Nigeria-Biafra civil war, when thousands of children were dying of kwashiorkor and starvation occasioned by the deliberate blockage of Igbos by Nigerian soldiers to prevent them from getting food supplies, Mama Omeogo got herself involved in making sure that children around her got food to live on. This was achieved through the sharing of food items gotten from her farm with those affected by war. Mama Omeogo would trek to Enugu through bush paths to Awkunanaw to buy food for the children. 

CHARITY TO THE NIGERIAN SOLDIERS

On one occasion, Mama Omeogo unknowingly walked into the unhappy Nigerian soldiers who had been shooting people. Muttering her prayers, she greeted them as she passed ‘Sanu Ndaiki’ meaning “greetings on your work”, to which the Nigerian soldiers responded “Sanu”. Mama on coming back performed her usual act of charity by buying Akara, Moi-Moi and groundnut for the soldiers. This made the enemy soldiers help to direct her on which path to take safely. The war ended shortly afterwards.

BLOCK ROSARY CENTRE FOR CHILDREN

By the 1970s, Mama’s home had become a rallying ground to many children and adults who came with different problems. As the children increased in number, her compound became a block rosary centre for children. Mama continued to perform her acts of charity till death. 

THE ORIGIN OF MAYFRESH MORTGAGE BANK

To ensure that her dedication to work of charity and of helping the poor and the needy continues forever, about three years before her death in 1996, Mama Omeogo began to make some savings, accruing from her farm work and palm produce and she was giving it to her son Fr. Edeh to keep for her. This was with the instruction that he should keep them and use the money to help the poor, the needy, the suffering, the handicapped, the lonely, the widows and widowers. 

The proceeds were sometimes meagre and ranged from ten naira (₦10), twenty naira (₦20), thirty naira (₦30), to four thousand naira (₦4,000) and ten thousand naira (₦10,000). After her death, the whole money was gathered and it amounted to ₦360,000 naira. At this time, the federal government of Nigeria approved that Community Banks could be opened by interested individuals with the sum of ₦240, 000. Guided by the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mama’s children, used 240,000 naira from the money to establish Umuofor Community Bank to actualize and bring Mama’s dream to fulfilment. Later on in 2004, the bank was transformed into what is now known as Mayfresh (Savings and Loans) Mortgage Bank.  Therefore, to carry out Mama Omeogo’s instruction, Fr. Emmanuel Edeh has continued to use the proceeds from the bank to do charity only. So far, the proceeds have been used for the following charity purposes:

SCHOOLS

The proceeds from the Mayfresh Mortgage Bank have been used for the establishment and running of seven campuses of Madonna University, Caritas University and Osisatech Polytechnic and College of Education.

Madonna university, elele campus

RELIGIOUS CONGREGATIONS

The proceeds from the bank have been used to found and run four religious congregations, namely: the Congregation of Fathers of Jesus the Saviour FJS, The Congregation of Sisters of Jesus the Saviour SJS, The Monks of Jesus the Saviour and The Nuns of Mary, Mother of Jesus the Saviour.

BUILDING PROJECTS IN THE INT'L SANCTUARY

The proceeds from the Mayfresh Mortgage Bank Ltd have been used for the daily running of the international Sanctuary Elele, and for the four gigantic Churches and many guest houses in the Sanctuary

The Eucharistic Adoration Church

MAMA OMEOGO SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMME

Many students in Madonna University, Caritas University and Osisatech Polytechnic are on Mama Omeogo Scholarship. These students are from less privileged homes and the handicapped who come to the sanctuary for prayers.

Cross Section of Students on Mama Omego’s Scholarship in Madonna University, Caritas University and Osisatech Polytechnic & College of Education

2009 AWARD

MRS CHRIS MARY MADUKA

She is the organizer of a charity home known as Omeogo Charity Home in Makurdi, Benue State. This home is deeply involved in gathering and looking after a large number of children abandoned in Makurdi barracks by many soldiers who have deserted the barracks. She was given the sum of fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000).

MOST REV. DR. RENE MARIE EHOUZOU

He is the Catholic Bishop of Port Novo, Benin Republic. He is in charge of some homes for the destitute and homeless in Benin Republic. He was also given the sum of fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000).

2010 AWARD

MOST REV. DR. KELVIN FELIX

He was the Archbishop of Casteries, St. Lucia in Caribbean Island when the catastrophic earthquake struck Haiti in which innumerable people lost their lives. He was deeply involved in reviving and nurturing the victims. He was given sixty thousand dollars ($60,000) to take care of the victims.

MOST REV. FERNANDO CAPPALLA

He was the Archbishop of Davao Archdiocese. He received the sum of forty thousand dollars ($40,000) to aid the suffering children of Vietnam and Philippines.

2011 AWARD

MR LEANGHOIN HOY

He is a Buddhist from the kingdom of Cambodia (Asia). He was recognized and given the award because of his colossal effort to bring together and cater for those who were grossly affected by the natural calamity (tsunami) that engulfed the Cambodian Kingdom for months; wiping away thousands of families, and leaving many children helplessly floating on the ocean for days. He was given the sum of forty dollars ($40,000) to take care of them.

THE FAMILY OF OBIUKWU

This family lost four children in Madalla Bomb blast that happened at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church Madalla, Niger State Nigeria. Following the effect of this disaster, the board of directors of MICPA granted the two surviving children (Maureen and her little brother, Celestine Obiukwu) full scholarship to study Medicine and Engineering respectively in Madonna University.

MR. CHRISTOPHER EZEAGUKA

He resides in Lome (Togo). He was given this Award because of his grassroot charity that has given hope to many children within that capital city. He was given the sum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000)

MR. NJOK BIBUM ALOYSIUS AND MRS. MARGARET BIBUM

They are the founders of Buea School for deaf and dumb in South West Region of Cameroon where children who are deaf and dumb are given free education, free medical treatment and feeding. They were given the sum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

MADAME NGO DJOB MARIE CATHARINE

She is the Foundress of St. Arnille Marie Handicapped Centre in Cameroon where she takes care of children and adults with any kind of deformity. She was given the sum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

2012 AWARD

MISSIONARIES OF CHARITY

This congregation is based in India and they engage in grassroot work of charity to the street urchins who are abandoned to die in the streets of India. They were given the sum of forty dollars ($40,000)

ENGR. EMMANUEL KOMODA

He was recognized and awarded because of his selfless service to the victims of Bayelsa flood. He was given the sum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000)

DEACONESS DEBORAH OBODO

She is a civil servant who used her meagre income to take care of the victims of flood in Bayelsa. She discharged her duties among the handicapped so well that they regarded her as a mother of all. She was given the sum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

2013 AWARD

MR. RAY AND MRS. JILL

Ray and Jill are couple from England whose mission is to the abused and abandoned children in England. They were given the sum of forty thousand dollars ($40,000).

2014 AWARD

ST THOMAS UNIVERSITY FLORIDA, USA

The award in 2014 was given to St. Thomas University Florida, USA for their scholarship scheme dedicated to sponsoring of indigent students especially those from poor countries. Following the award, the president of the University, Msgr. Cassell set aside an endowment fund of sixty thousand dollars ($60,000) called Fr. Edeh’s Foundation Scholarship to indigent students. This foundation furthers the desires and practice of Mama Omeogo’s charity in the hearts of the most advanced continent of the world. The event drew people from across United States, Germany, Croatia, Nigeria and England.

2015 AWARD

VICTIMS OF EBOLA VIRUS IN SIERRA LEONE

Following the gross effect of Ebola Virus in Africa, the board of directors of MICPA awarded the sum of forty thousand dollars ($40,000) to the victims through Archbishop Ganda on behalf of the Bishops Conference of Sierra Leone.

PARTNERSHIP WITH UNICEF

As part of Mama Omeogo Charity, the MICPA Foundation partnered with UNICEF by giving an award of One Hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) for the supply of substantial relief materials, provision of psychologists for counselling and psychosocial support to the displaced and rescued victims of terrorist movements. The fund is also for the provision of scholarship to ten girls affected by the terrorist attacks. 

NORWEGIAN RED CROSS

Through the special charity of Mama Omeogo, MICPA Foundation partnered with the Norwegian Red Cross with the sum of Kr200,000 ($200,000) for the provision of rehabilitation, relief materials and education of the Syrian refugees, especially helpless children affected by the war and unrest.

2016 AWARD

GIGANTIC AUDITORIUM FOR VERITAS UNIVERSITY

The proceed from the bank was also used in 2016/2017 to build a gigantic auditorium for Veritas University Abuja (a university owned and managed by the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria). This was to encourage the Nigerian Bishops to continue the physical, moral, spiritual and intellectual development of our youths in the best tradition of the Catholic Church. The auditorium was named after Mama Omeogo.

2016 TILL DATE

FREE FLIGHT TICKET FOR FOREIGN PILGRIMS

It is important to note that pilgrims from various countries and continents of the world come in thousands to the Sanctuary of Jesus the Saviour and Mother Mary Elele, River State Nigeria. These foreign pilgrims are not allowed to pay for their own flight tickets. The MICPA Foundation pays the flight tickets for the foreign pilgrims who intend to come on pilgrimage to Elele. The cost is taken care of by the MICPA (Madonna International Charity Peace Award) Foundation which is a brainchild of Mama Omeogo Charity.