By Mercy Ogolekwu, Turkey
There are some people who deserve to be celebrated, even if it’s not their birthday.
This woman right here JCIN Amb Princess Joy Omagha Idam, Co Founder of JCI Abuja Unity and 2009 President Abuja Unity, deserves my special appreciation. 🌹
Destiny brought us together in 2008. She was a very Senior Officer, and I was the most junior. To many, I was only useful as an errand girl. But she saw beyond that.
I was a teenager who had just arrived in the city of Abuja, not knowing my right from my left. She saw what no one else saw — a young girl in need of guidance and mentoring.
She introduced me to Junior Chamber International and proudly told everyone I was her daughter. Many still think she is my mother till date. She registered me for trainings, sponsored my participation, and opened doors I never imagined.
Because of her, I was able to travel to different states in Nigeria and even outside the country for conferences, where I made friends and attended life-changing trainings. The then National President had no choice but to approve her request that her “two daughters” to be part of his entourage on every trip.
She ensured I took on leadership roles and guided me through every step. Not once did she ask me to run personal errands. Instead, she was always on the lookout for opportunities and made sure I was among the beneficiaries.
One of the highlights of her kindness was on October 1st, 2009. Our office quarters where I lived was invaded and sealed by the Police. I was left with only the clothes on me and no phone. I remembered a cousin who lived behind my office. I ran to her, but she was traveling to the village for a burial. She offered me a place to sleep that night, but I had nothing to change into.
The next day, I called “Mummy Joy” from a business center — thankfully, I knew her number offhand. She was out of Abuja at the time, but she immediately gave me her home address and asked me to meet her daughter, Sharon.
I found the address, and Sharon received me like a sister. She gave me clothes to wear and stood by me until my accommodation issues were resolved. LIKE MOTHER LIKE DAUGHTER funny how many people thought we were actually sisters whenever we were together 😁😁
What kind of love is this? So selfless. So unconditional.
Even when I became distant due to personal struggles, she never stopped checking on me.
She would always say;
Go girl, well done, you can do it, I am proud of you. These words always echo in my ears and keeps me going.
Ma’am, please take your flowers. 🌹🌹🌹🌺🌺🌺
Thank you for seeing me, believing in me, and raising me.
JCIN Amb Joy Idam and JCIN Amb Sharon Akuboh God bless you I am grateful.
