The Esajeres surpass themselves in organizing the 1st Wedding of the Year between Ebere & IK

The Prince & his Princess shares Love inside their hut

It was the first Saturday of the
year, January 2nd 2016 and from all indications, it was the very
first wedding of the year. The grand events was the official marriage of Ebere, the beautiful daughter of Guardian Newspaper’s veteran Political
Editor, Mr. Akpo Esajere and Ikechukwu the handsome son of a former
Director of Engineering, Leventis Stores,
Mr. Joseph Amaechi Okobi and his
lovely wife Mrs. Patricia Obiagheli Okobi who is the  immediate Past Vice Principal of Ogba Junior  Grammar
School
, Lagos.


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The event started with an early
morning traditional marriage ceremony at the modest home of the bride’s parent
somewhere in the heart of Ogba in
the Ifako-Ijaiye Local Development
Council area of Lagos-South West Nigeria where family, friends and well-wishers
joined other Nigerians to support the Okobis
 and Esajeres
for the traditional marriage of their children, Ikechukwu and Ebere.
 The event which started as early as 8am
metamorphosed into a bigger celebration with a white wedding bash at Amazing Grace Pentecostal Church (Solution Ground) by Bakare Avenue off  Shipeolu
Street-Palmgroove
Lagos under
the leadership of Bishop (Dr.) Mrs.
Chioma Grace Dauji
at 12 noon and ended with a grand reception at Quad T Event Center by Eco Bank Bus Stop (Opposite UPS),
Gbagada-Lagos.
Your Africa’s Number 1 Celebrity
Encounter Blog Asabeafrika is
official blog for the event.  Here we
bring you the unpublished scoops from our first marriage of the year. Enjoy!

Ebere & Ik looks into the future with hope

The Couple
Ikechukwu Okobi Joseph the newest groom of year 2016 is a
graduate of Computer Science from University of Nigeria (Nsukka) while his
pretty bride, Eberechi Esajere is a
graduate of Agric Economics from same institution. She currently works with one
of the branches of Zenith Bank PLC
in Lagos. The two met couple of years back in UNN. Ikechukwu was in his final year, leaving while Ebere was just getting into
the institution. It is not all the time and in many instances do you find a
lady enroll into a higher institution and twice lucky to pick a husband
material out of such institution. And it is not equally all time you find a
man, especially having finished his studies and about to leave, being so lucky
to pick a wife material out of school. IK
hails from Ibusa in Delta State South-South Nigeria while his pretty Ebere is from Isoko in same Delta State.

Ikechukwu talks to the GDA

Meet Groom’s Parent
 Engineer
Joseph Okobi
a former head of Computer Engineering division at Leventis
Stores
is the father of the groom while groom’s mum is an educationist
of over three decades experience. Her name is Madam Patricia Obiagheli Okobi, she retired last
November, 2015 as the Vice Principal of Ogba
Junior Grammar School
in Lagos-South
West Nigeria. She retired on Monday November 16th which falls on her
birthday.  The two were looking very
dashing and happy at the home front of their in-laws, the Esajeres as they ask for Ebere’s
hand in marriage for their son, Ikechukwu.

Mr. & Mrs. Akpo & Sylvia Esajere

The Bride’s Parent
Bride’s parents
are Mr. Akpo and Mrs. Sylvia Esajere all from Isoko
in Delta North of Delta State, South-South Nigeria. Mr. Akpo Esajere is a veteran political editor and political
analyst with the leading Nigerian elite’s Guardian
Newspaper
. He has practiced for over three decades and one of the most
respected Politics Editor in Nigeria; his pretty and charming wife who gave him
5 loving kids (3boys and two ladies) was the former Circulation Manager of Hallmark
Newspaper
, National Mirror Newspaper and today she is the Copy Sales
Manager of Daily Sun Newspaper, one of Nigeria’s largest
circulating tabloids. They were both in a celebration mood as they received the
Okobis in their humble home for the
historic occassion.

Groom’s Parent, Joseph & Patricia Okobi ready to pay the dowry and take away Ebere

The traditional ambience of the venue
The
traditional marriage took place at the modest home of the Esajeres (Bride’s Parent) in Ogba area of Lagos-South West
Nigeria. A portion of the large compound was re-designed to suit the taste and
nature of the occasion as a traditional hut was erected for the couple. The hut
made up of traditional mats strewn with white linen, had two horsetails which
signify royalty. Inside the hut are medium baskets made from traditional canes
which dangled on the wall.  The seat
inside the highly crafted hut is made of traditional raffia tree embossed with
a white tailored cushion and two pillows for the comfort of the couple. The
design caught guests’ attention at the occasion which lasted for two hours.

A Very Happy Akpo Esajere & wife, Sylvia, In-law, Patricia look with keen enthusiasm
Ebere & Her Father-in-law, Joseph Amaechi Okobi

The Traditional Cake too
The
traditional Wedding Cake was another article of the event which caught the
fancy of guests and well-wishers who stormed the Okobi/Esajere traditional wedding bash. The cake spoke much of
cultural heritage and royalty as all props assigned the cake by the designer
spew cultural inclination. The Cake which adopted the red and white color of
royalty had a crop of Kolanuts in
white and red color embossed around it. The foundation of the cake is that of a
royal crown spiced with kolanuts and beads which signifies
royalty, fruitfulness and authority.

The Traditional Wedding Cake

A fruitful Marriage for Ebere & IK

Why the Event was delayed by 30
minutes,
The
traditional marriage which had guests from both families taking their seat as
early as 8am was delayed by 30 minutes as the Master of Ceremony  Dennis
Ofeh
  came some thirty four minutes
behind schedule. He quickly apologized and went straight to work as the event
started earnestly. The event opened with prayer and breaking of Kola nuts
which is very synonymous with both the Isoko (Bride) and Ibusa
(Groom) cultures in Delta state—Southern Nigeria.

Elders conducting the Kola Nut breaking segment

Meet Pastor who invited Jesus to the
traditional marriage
Pastor Andy Onochie of Winners Chapel seems to
be the man of God the Esajeres and Okobis entrusted the prayer of the day
unto. This handsome man of God who took his seat at the Groom’s family’s side
was the one who opened the prayer session at 8:34am inviting Jesus into the traditional marriage. Pastor Andy Onochie was also the man
who opened the prayer segment at the Reception which took place later in the day
at Quad-T Events Center in Gbagada area of Lagos. He
equally invited Lord Jesus into same
ceremony. It appears that while bride’s family provided the Master of ceremony Dennis Ofeh, the groom’s family
provided Pastor Andy Onochie for prayers. Well, nobody can fault Pastor Andy’s decision to bring Jesus to IK and Ebere’s wedding
as it is on record that Jesus’s
first miracle in the Holy Bible was performed at a marriage feast.

The Naira Rain Kola Nut

How traditional Kola nut breaking
generated over N100K
For
strangers who are not too familiar with the cultures of the Okobis of Ibusa and the Esajeres of Isoko land, breaking of
the Kola nut was just another
cultural ritual in a traditional marriage. But that segment of the marriage
turned out to be a chance to learn more about Kola nut breaking culture as a lot of attention was given to that
aspect of the ceremony. The MC, Dennis
Ofeh
announced to both families that the wedding was a “Happy New Year
Wedding” and that he expected everyone to treat the kolanut breaking segment as the first kola nut breaking
activity of the year since the event is taking place a day after New Year
celebration. He also told the guests that the Isoko people of Delta
State guides Kola nut breaking jealously. 
And before anyone could say “Okobi” both groom’s family and the bride’s
family with their legion of friends and well-wishers have contributed almost a hundred
thousand naira
as every guest kept dropping between N3k to N5k, 10k and
upward. The smallest donation was N1k. The segment became the most celebrated
segment as it served as a prelude to other attendant activities which announced
that a traditional marriage has taken place. The segment was conducted in Isoko
and Ibusa
dialect as elders at the event agreed that Kola
nut
does not speak English.

Akpo Esajere congratulates his brand new In-law Joseph Amaechi Okobi for a job weldone

Ebere signs her marriage register

Signing of Marriage Certificate
It was the
next high profile segment of the ceremony as the Esajeres excused the
gathering and led the Okobis into the living room of their
tastefully furnished apartment where a few representatives from both families
were given the privilege to witness the signing of the traditional marriage
certificate between the Okobis and the Esajeres in fulfillment
of all traditional rites that their daughter, Eberechukwu has been
finally given out in marriage to Ikechukwu. It started with a prayer
from bride’s father, Mr. Akpo Esajere
who showered blessing on the couple, praying that the marriage will be fruitful
and graceful. Groom’s dad was the first to sign the marriage register after
other traditional rites like paying of dowry were observed. It was a joyous Engineer Joseph Okobi who signed the
traditional marriage certificate before the bride and groom appended their
signatures and a certificate handed over to them under the Isoko marriage union.

The Bridegroom with their Parents
The Bride’s Maids @ Church

Groom’s Friends and siblings storm
event
Among big
boys who stormed the event for I.K.
& Ebere’s traditional wedding is groom’s brother, Jude Okobi an IT Consultant and last
born of the Okobi family. His two
sisters, Rosemary and Isioma (Married) were also on hand to
ensure their brother got the best emotional support on his day of joy. Others
who are friends of the groom are Barrister
Valentine Okonji
, Mr. Mbanefo
Anthony
, Engineer Nonso Anyatonwu,
Prince Demola Sonubi (A graphic expert) and the Duke of Ibusa town, Prince Nduka Zobs. They were all in good spirit as they arrived with Ikechukwu and featured in the entire
events from home down to church where majority of them turned to groom’s men
before heading to the reception.

The Okobis & the Esajeres

The brand new husband, Ikechukwu Okobi shares selfies with relatives

Etisalat Model, Bode Taylor in the
House
This
handsome and clean looking dude was the cynosure of all eyes as he stormed the Esajere’s home in the early hours of
that first Saturday of January 2016. His name is Bode Taylor, a model with leading telecommunications company,
ETISALAT. He was also at the church as one of Groom’s men and at the Wedding
Reception as well.

Groom’s younger sisters, Isioma & Rosemary with a male guest

Bride’s siblings too
Bride’s
three brothers and elder sister were also at the event; the three Esajere boys who all adorned white
attires are Chichi the first child
and scion of the Esajere dynasty.
The other two are Obaro and Oghale the last born of the family. Her
elder sister Mrs. Veno Omamuli and
her husband Mr. Timenyin Omamuli (An
Itsekiri born business man) were also around to make the day a wonderful one
for their sister who was taking her first step in marriage.

Akpo Esajere prays for daughter, Ebere & husband, Ikechukwu

Cutting of the cake & the Meal of
the Day
The
traditional wedding cake was cut at exactly 10:10 am as guests were served meal
of Yam
& Pepper Soup with goat
meat and assorted drinks. The Convoy of cars conveying guests, family, in-laws
and well-wishers later left Ogba for the White wedding (at Palm
groove area of Lagos) at 11 am as the Church wedding was to kick start by 12
noon.

Bride’s Dad, Engineer Joseph Amaechi Okobi signs the dotted lines for daughter-in-law

 Amazing Grace Chapel, a Church run by a female
Bishop
 Amazing
Grace Pentecostal Church
(Solution Ground) on Number 1, Bakare Avenue, Palm groove, Lagos is one big church you will like to find
yourself inside. The church has a capacity to host about 2000 guests and
worshippers at a seating. The interior is painted in light brown color with
well decorated furniture, Air Conditioner systems and a coordinated team of
choristers, instrumentalists and men of God who assembled for the entire Okobi
and Esajere guests. Guests were welcomed with a great rendition of
musical entertainment as they stormed the church in droves. Mother of the
bride, Mrs. Sylvia Esajere is an
Evangelist and Coordinator of the Amazing
Grace
Choir which was the reason
why the entire choir was in a gay mood on that January 2nd and even
rendered two newly composed wedding songs for the couple.  The Uniqueness of the church however lies in
the fact that it is under the leadership of a female Bishop, Bishop (Dr.) Mrs. Grace Chioma Dauji.
The church is bride’s parent’s church. 

Bride’s Parent ready for the signing of marriage register
Ebere & IK at the most strategic hour of their lives

The Solemnization of IK & Ebere
The
solemnization of IK and Ebere started at 1pm as the Lady Bishop (Dr.) Mrs. Chioma
Grace Dauji
and her husband, Apostle
Edward Baba Dauji
in company of other ministers of God namely; Rev. (Dr.) Mrs. Kindness Obembe, Pastor
Raymond Efeturi Yugbowvwre,
Pastor
Joseph Chukwudi Nwadubasim
and Evangelist
Abiodun Joseph Adefuye
invited the couple to the altar for the process of
the white wedding. It was unique all the same to find a woman Bishop
coordinating the first wedding of the year. 
Bishop Chioma Dauji who
dressed in unique cream colored queenly regalia marched with her bishop crown
was in her best of mood as she coordinated the event to the admiration of many.
It was the first time many guests and friends of the Okobis and Esajeres
would see a female Bishop coordinating a wedding ceremony.

Ebere & her Mother-in-law, Patricia Obiagheli Okobi

 Groom and Lady Bishop’s drama excite guests
during marriage vow
It appears
that Ikechukwu Okobi the groom looks
cool, calm and collected but what you cannot take away from him is his deep
sense of humor which is quite legendary. This humble and innovative alumnus of University of Nigeria brought his wits
of chosen words to bear during Item No 8
& Item No 9
which are “The Marriage Covenant” and “Marriage Blessing & Exchange of Rings”.
When he was being asked all the attendant questions regarding his total
acceptance of Ebere as his wife and lifetime partner; instead for the
handsome Ikechukwu to call her by
name, he would rather use words like “My
Beloved
”, “My Sunshine” “My Angel” etc for all questions asked
by the Lady Bishop. And when it was Ebere’s
own turn to equally address her man, she said “My World” instead of calling
out his name. The drama got interesting when the crowd chorused “No, no, no”
which means they wanted to hear names being 
called out by the couple, the Lady Bishop quickly interjected and
defended the bridegroom by telling her worshippers/guests this “He has the
right under the sun to call his bride any good name he chooses to address her
today”. The drama later drew applauses and appreciation as the groom continued
with his “My Sunshine” “My Beloved”, “My Sunshine” devotion under the banner of
her Lordship, Bishop Chioma Baba Dauji.
It was the most dramatic and fun filled segment of the wedding ceremony.
Analysts believed IK & Chioma’s decision to use such loving
and kind words to describe each other are a sign of their deep love for one
another.

IK endorses Ebere as his legally married wife
Lady Bishop Dr. (Mrs.) Chioma Grace Dauji of  Amazing Grace Pentecostal Church Worldwide

What  Lady Bishop Dauji told IK & Ebere
Among other
activities like song ministration, Holy Communion, Signing of marriage
register, and Presentation of Bride & Groom to the church among other
activities, Lady Bishop Chioma Dauji presented her sermon
titled “You Can Not Fix Price on Love”. The lady Bishop
encouraged the brand new couple to employ Love as the driver of their marriage
and never to sack love at any given time in the relationship. Bishop Dauji noted “You can not fix
price on love because love stands by itself. Love breeds Patience” The Bishop
said the marriage which is a product of love is incomplete until something is
put into the marriage “This marriage is incomplete until you put something in
it” she stressed. Dauji said even though
IK
and Ebere bring forth their
covenant kids later in the union those kids will surely grow and move away to
live their own independent lives at a later date in life and the remaining
commodity in the marriage will be I.K.
and his Ebere, The Preacher
continued “After a number of kids coupled with the challenges of raising them,
beauty might disappear but the only commodity that will keep the union is
Love”. The Lady Bishop advised that even though there is nothing bad in a man
helping his wife out with house chores once in a while, it is still the Primary
duty of the woman to do such. “Yes, I support a man helping a woman in the
kitchen once in a while but it is not the full duty of a man. Every man that
has lived a bachelor’s life has tested bread and beans before, he has tasted guguru and groundnut. If you can’t cook for him, I don’t know what you can do
for him to win him”  “In marriage, nobody
graduates, no convocation”. The Lady Bishop went further telling her listeners
that as a Bishop, she do leave her altar straight to the kitchen to make her
husband happy at home”. The Bishop said a great act of humility is desired from
both parties, stressing that “The one that can easily say ‘I am sorry’ is the
one that loves most; it is love that keeps us running in a marriage. Love
starts the race and ends the race for us because marriage is a university
without graduation”.

Ebere & Ik gets their marriage certificate from Dennis Ofeh
Lady
Bishop Dr. (Mrs.) Grace Chioma Dauji hands over Certificate of Marriage
to the First Couple of Year 2016, Mr. & Mrs. Ikechukwu & Ebere
Okobi

How Lady Bishop’s husband, Apostle
Baba Dauji shocked guests
Many people
who witnessed the White Wedding ceremony of IK and Ebere were quite
surprised at the humility displayed by the husband of Lady Bishop (Dr.) Mrs. Chioma Dauji. Her husband, the Kaduna State born Apostle Edward Baba Dauji really played the role of not
just a supporting husband to his Igbo wife but a very humble husband at that,
as he held the microphone for his wife all through the ceremony, making sure Lady Bishop didn’t have any stress
holding or dropping the microphone. Even though other ministers were standing,
the Kaduna State born Baba Dauji
chooses to be the one holding the microphone for his wife.  Apostle
Edward Baba Dauji
showed his bishop wife so much respect that people
started wondering how a man could play such a humble role in his wife’s
ministry. It was such a unique and new lesson altogether for all men who
attended the event.
Groom’s Parent Speak

Ikechukwu goes home with his brand new wife, Ebere Okobi (Nee Esajere)
Bride’s Mum, Mrs. Sylvia Esajere

I want IK & his wife to put God
first
—Eng. Okobi
Groom’s dad, Engineer Joseph Amaechi Okobi spoke with Asabeafrika and this is what he said in the brief encounter with
Africa’s number 1 Celebrity Encounter Blog.
What advice do you have for your son
today; he just got himself out of the bachelor’s club?
Well, the
first advice I will give him and his wife is that everything must start with
God; they must learn to love God, to serve God and to be happy with the Lord in
this world. Once they are happy with the Lord, every other thing will go well
with them because if you love God, then, you can see the Lord in your neighbor.
Your neighbor is your brother, your sister; the passer-bys are all your
neighbors. After that, all the other things will be added unto them.  It is the Lord that would guide them. So,
once they have their trust in the Lord, He will guide them through life. We can
only wish them well as they joined themselves together today.
Can you tell us your full names and
identities?
My name is
Engineer Joseph Okobi. I was the head of Computer division in Leventis
before I retired.

The Lady Bishop Dr. (Mrs.) Grace Chioma Dauji stamps IK & Ebere’s marriage certificate
Groom’s Mum, Patricia Obiagheli Okobi

I want divine intervention for them—Groom’s mum
Madam Patricia
Obiagheli Okobi
, mother of the groom also gave her
prayer to the couple through Asabeafrika
Madam, what do you wish your son
today as you escort him out of bachelorhood into marriage life?
By the grace
of God I wish them all the best in their married life. I wish them God’s
blessings, God’s protection, divine intervention in all what they are going to
do in life and when it is time for God to bless them, he will bless them
marvelously and multiply them and they will see their children’s children in
the name of Jesus.

Bride’s Parent, Akpo & Sylia Esajere amidst relatives

Let us know you fully ma?
I am Mrs. Patricia Obiagheli Okobi, I was the Vice Principal of Ogba Junior Grammar
School
before I retired. I retired last year on November 16 which was
my birthday.
(The
Concluding Part tagged “Why I married
Esajere’s daughter”
+ Scoops from Reception Comes on this blog shortly) 
…Always pray to be among lucky
people
who celebrate their Events on Asabeafrika….Talk to our Events Agent on 081-0506-5267 or write Asabeafrika@gmail.com!
Groom’s Dad, Joseph Amaechi Okobi signs the marriage register
Groom’s Dad, Joseph Amaechi Okobi
IK gives Ebere her first Holy Communion after wedding before Her Lord Bishop Dr. (Mrs.) Grace Chioma Dauji
IK gives Ebere her first kiss before the Church
IK unveils Ebere for a Happy Wedding Life
Ikechukwu Okobi signs the White Marriage register as Newly Wedded Mrs. Eberechi Okobi looks on
Ikechukwu signs the marriage register
Lady Bishop Dr. (Mrs.) Chioma Grace Dauji with her husband (holding the microphone) Apostle Edward Baba Dauji conducting Ebere & IK’s white wedding
Lady Bishop Dr. (Mrs.) Grace Chioma Dauji blesses the New Couple
Pastor Andy Anochie inviting Christ Jesus into the event
Prince Ikechukwu Okobi, Brand New Husband-2016
Some of Bride’s Sisters

The Amazing Grace Choir did enough exploits

The Esajere boys Chichi (M) Obaro (L) & Oghale (R)

The Groom & His Men on arrival to his In-law’s home
The Man; Akpo Esajere signs the wedding register
The Marriage Certificate from Amazing Grace Pentecostal Church Worldwide
The Traditional Wedding hut