Give it to Mama Bakassi as she is fondly called, she is well loved amongst many society women especially within her circle of friends. She is one woman who has many friends across the society. This can not be taken away from her personality because she means different things to many people.
Many who have come in contact with her surely have one good thing or the other to say about her. She has a big circle of friends and also she has very close friends. She can simply be referred to as one of the society matriarchs of our time.
Senator Florence Ita-Giwa is a woman who has over the years sacrificed a lot for her people. She is indeed an epitome of motherhood. The woman of substance has remained a shining light and a reference to women who are looking to chase a dream in politics.
In one of her famous quotes, “There is no greater joy, nor greater reward than to make a fundamental difference in someone’s life.”
This has been Senator Florence Ita-Giwa’s guiding philosophy, as she has always tried her best to make the dreams of her friends, anyone she comes in contact with and her Bakassi people come true. It is no longer news that she has continued to dedicate her life to the service of humanity.
Indeed, in the area of humanitarian services, she has also received a lot of kudos. Her contributions particularly to the people of Bakassi would be archived for many generations to see.
Princess Ita Giwa was born with a heart of gold. The woman of substance, who is endowed with grace and charm is also said to have worked her way into the hearts of her friends through her genuine love and kindness over the years.
One rare thing you can find in Senator Ita Giwa is her love for people. She really loves her friend so much that many at times, she goes all out to celebrate with them. She has had to cancel many of her trips to be with her friends she has had to give up important things for her dear friends. One of such was recently when she gave up her birthday celebration for her late friend, Arch. Dada Marquis memorial party. She is one woman who, if she is absent at any of her friends party, she will make sure she hosts that friend alongside some other friends of hers to celebrate with the person. She has done this many times over. Few weeks back, she couldn’t make her friend, Chief Mrs Ireti Asemota’s husband’s memorial party but she organized a beautiful lunch in her honour with many of their other friends. Another of such was also when Barr. Shade Balogun turned 65, she could not make the party but few weeks after, she hosted Barr. Shade Balogun to a lovely dinner at her Upscale Victoria Island Restaurant, Echoe of Calabar. This is what Senator Florence Ita Giwa is made of. She is the chief organizer of many of her friends parties, she brings all of them together and it is at her event that you will see, older, younger and also same age celebrities partying together. She does not discriminate and this has worked well for her.
No wonder, many society women always want her to be at their parties and also want to be her guest.
Affirming that she has become a rallying point for her many friends is like stating the obvious because judging by her lifestyle, it’s clear to see that Senator Florence Ita Giwa’s life is all about people.
In appreciation of her worthy deeds, she has been given many accolades, recognized and honoured with many awards at home and abroad.
She has definitely come in contact with some people in her life who were more than friends to her. Her sojourn in the social world has brought forth many friends who have become like a family to her, one of such is ageless beauty, Hajia Abba Folawiyo, popularly called Sisi Abba, the pretty wife of Baba Adinni of Lagos, late Wahab Folawiyo. Recall, At her 70th birthday, many friends rallied round her and most of them were friends of many years. So many celebrity women trooped out in their numbers to celebrate the beautiful icon that year.
At her birthday, she did a very uncommon thing, because of the love she has for her friends, she gave back to the society by celebrating her 10 years of service to humanity. At the birthday dinner, she rewarded some of her close friends and associates who have in one way or the other impacted her life. One of them was Hajia Abba Folawiyo.
Unknown to many, Hajia Abba Folawiyo’s friendship with Senator Florence Ita Giwa has gone beyond mere friendship and has also passed just attending parties together. In fact it was at Senator Florence’s birthday that she took everyone down memory lane about how her friendship with Hajia Folawiyo has passed being friends but has become a family thing. At her birthday, she said some few words about Hajia Folawiyo when she wanted to present her with her award. She said, Hajia Abba Folawiyo is one of the people she holds in high esteem and will forever be grateful to her for the motherly role she has played in her life for over 30 years. She also said whenever she calls on her for anything at any minute or hour of the day or even 2am, she does not hesitate to respond to her calls. She also emphasized that sometimes she leaves her children with her and she takes good care of them whenever she has any cause to travel. She does like a grandmother to all her children and she has never complained for once.
What she said drew many applause from the crowd and the over joyous Hajia Folawiyo stepped on stage to receive her award. They gave each other a beautiful hug and in return Hajia Folawiyo thanked her. No wonder, many times at parties, you see them together and you wonder if it’s just social friends they are to each other not knowing the behind the scenes of their friendship. They always attend each other’s party to signify how well they love and care for each other.
Senator Florence also has some other friends in her circle whom she goes all out for like HRH Yewande Onileere, Mrs Folorunsho Alakija, Mrs Dupe Sagoe, Chief Mrs Nike Akande, Chief Mrs Oprah Benson and many others.
Call her the bull who treads where everyone fears to enter, then you are very right. Call her a man in a woman’s body then you are truly stating the obvious because Senator Florence Ita Giwa is truly a woman who is fearless, bold and can give her all to humanity. She has been tagged a ferocious fighter who has a loud voice to fight for the right of women in the country and it seems she has vowed to dedicate the rest of her life to the service of humanity.
If you are in doubt, you will have a rethink when you consider her passion for her Non-Governmental Organization where she fights for her people especially the issue of Bakassi. Born 77 years ago, Senator Florence Ita Giwa was the Senator for the Cross River South constituency of Cross River State. She attended the Kilburn Polytechnic in London, United Kingdom. She became a nurse, then a representative for the Beecham Pharmaceutical Company, and then moved to Standall Pharmaceutical where she represented Lagos State. She was married to Dele Giwa, the founding editor of Newswatch Magazine. She joined politics and emerged as NRC chairman for Delta State. Thereafter, she was elected a member of the Federal House of Representatives 1992-93 and was a member of the committee on devolution of power constituent assembly 1994-95. She became involved in Bakassi affairs, and earned the nickname “Mama Bakassi”. She was elected Senator for the Cross River South constituency in April 1999 and was appointed to committees on Rules and Procedures, Environment, Foreign Affairs, Women, Niger Delta and Drug & Narcotics. After leaving the senate in 2003, she joined the People’s Democratic Party PDP, and became President Olusegun Obasanjo’s Special Adviser on National Assembly Matters. Ita Giwa has worked against human trafficking and sex slavery. She has received the OON (Officer of the Order of the Niger) and The Sun Lifetime Achievement Award.
Not many people know that she is a product of the media having been born by a journalist. no wonder, she has warmed her heart to many journalists who are always at the fore front to propagate everything that she does. She has enjoyed enormously from the media that she practically makes the news every time.
Senator Florence Ita Giwa’s growing up years was a beautiful one. She had a privileged upbringing. Her mother is Beatrice Bassey Ita, a renowned journalist who used to work with her typewriter back in the day. She learnt a lot from her very energetic mother. From her mum, she learnt living her life for her people, the art of style, looking good while not losing focus from her goals. Her father, Chief Bassey Ita was a Policeman, Civil servant who turned a traditional ruler in Atabong Bakassi, so by circumstances of her birth, she is a princess of the Efik Kingdom. Her mum wanted her to be a journalist but she followed her passion and became a Nurse. Upon completion of her training as Nurse, she practiced for a while both in Nigeria and London and later turned a Pharmaceutical Representative for Beecham-Sandoz Pharmaceuticals before establishing her own pharmaceutical and medical equipments outlets both in Calabar and Lagos. She later ventured into Oil Ltd before joining the board of the prestigious Waltersmith Petroman and later ventured into politics. She once lunched a book ‘At a good place” during her birthday where she revealed all about her life.
The beautiful, handy and well written 210 pages book is a book which captured all about Senator Florence Ita Giwa from her childhood till age 70. Her life and all her struggles were generally prioritized in the book. The book tells a story of a very active lady and her eventful life. It captures the essence of a giant persona who has done her own bit to impact society in her own little way.
-TAYO OYEDIJI
(08111811219)
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