In this part of the world, attaining a milestone age usually prompt a celebrant to roll out the drums, hire a band of entertainers and invite the high and mighty to a gathering for merrymaking.
On Tuesday, July 20, ageless and beautiful society matriarch, Chief (Mrs) Betty Edozien clocked 80 years and she was so excited joining the club of octogenarians.
To mark the event, her children and their respective spouses hosted a modest thanksgiving reception in her honour. The event was held at her Ikoyi, Lagos home.
The graceful matriarch, known for her exemplary and exceptional humility, was obviously happy, as family members, friends and well-wishers gathered to celebrate her.
The guests were treated to a whole gamut of fun and the entire venue wore a convivial mood while the event lasted. The celebrant was at her element, dancing and mingling with her family and friends, with so much gusto. She basked in the blizzard of good wishes and felicitations that buffeted her.
Betty Edozien features prominently on the list of Nigeria’s ageless society matriarchs. Although, she is 80, she does not look anywhere close to that age. She takes exceptional care of herself. And while she is blessed with a fair look and flawless skin, it is the shifts in her wellness and beauty routine that she began making in her 30’s that she credits for her epic youth preservation.
The ageless beauty is the widow of Professor Emmanuel C. Edozien, OFR, the late accomplished economist, Professor, businessman and boardroom super strategist, who died at the age of 82, on Saturday, October 5, 2019, after a brief ailment. He was the former Economic Adviser to former President Shehu Shagari.
Prof Edozien was the brother of the Asagba of Asaba, Obi (Professor) John Chike Edozien. He was a man of many colours who was relevant in both the public and private service while he lived. He was a Professor of International and Development Economics and former Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at University of Ibadan, Chairman, Governing Council, Bells University of Technology, Otta.
The Ojiba of Asaba was a philanthropist and he lived a life of exceptional humility. He served as the Economic Adviser to Alhaji Shehu Shagari, President of Nigeria for over three years. He consulted for the World Bank, the Rockefeller Foundation, Ford Foundation, Federal and State Government and multinational companies. He served as the Non-Executive Chairman of PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc since 2006 Until October 31, 2014. He served as Vice Chairman and Director of AMNI International Petroleum Development Company Limited. He also served as a Director of Union Bank of Nigeria Limited. Prof Edozien was a Director of Nigerian Security Printing & Minting Company.
The Asaba-born intellectual contributed immensely to the growth and development of Nigeria’s economy by offering himself to chair many government policy panels and task forces. Besides, he consulted for international organisations, multinational companies and federal and state governments.
The marriage of Betty and Prof. Edozien is blessed with five children – Edward, Linda Anenih, Sandra Solebo, Vivian Ntim and Chiedu Eric, and ten grandchildren.
I have missed beautiful Betty for some 56 years since she returned to Nigeira via Rome but never cease to remember her. I met her at an Africa society Dinner Dance at Birmingham University. She was wearing a full length white evening dress and long white gloves.Charles Mbanefo introduced us.She looked wonderful and judging by these photographs still looks remarkably good at 80.
Emmanuel and i studied together at the University of Michigan, both receiving our doctorates in international trade and economic development under the economist, R.M. Stern. Emmanuel was present at my wedding in 1965 to Ellen Larsen.
We exchanged letters in the mid 80s’ and the we lost touch. We took very different paths in life. Emmanuel continued along the path of becoming a valued economist — while I charted an entirely different course — with the encouragement of Kenneth Boulding (an eminent economist, at the U. of Michigan at the time). My path initially was to explore common ground between economics and ecology (common foundations), and today it is to envision a world in which these two fields reinvent themselves to provide the foundation of sustaining life.
I do miss the days and Emmanuel and I were students – studying side by side, to understand the intricacies of international trade and development. Today i see those fields as profoundly misguided – for they leave to the side the most pressing issues of our time — to sustain the life systems that sustain us!