A blessing is all that my mother has ever been to me, to our family, and to everyone who’s had the honor of knowing her. She is a woman whose presence feels sacred, whose values are stitched into her daily life, whose essence carries the kind of love that leaves you better than it found you.
Growing up, I was surrounded by pure, intentional love. The kind that holds you, shapes you, and teaches you without ever needing to shout. My mother raised us in a home full of warmth, but also full of values. She gave us everything she could, her time, her wisdom, her laughter, her prayers and always, her unwavering belief in who we were becoming.
I grew up in a household where "I love you" was said freely, without hesitation. Where hugs and kisses were constant, not reserved for special occasions. It didn’t matter how many times she saw you in a day, whether it was once or ten times, you’d still get a hug. A kiss on the forehead. A gentle “I love you” whispered like a prayer.
That kind of love doesn’t just comfort, it builds you. It reminds you, again and again, that you are worthy, seen, and safe. That no matter how loud the world gets, you will always have a place where love is spoken, not assumed.
At 11 years old, I told her I wanted to be an astronaut. Not once did she laugh or dismiss it. She simply encouraged me. That’s who she is, the kind of mother who made you believe you could touch the stars. She nurtured every dream, no matter how big, and made us feel capable of anything.
Even before that, as a preteen, I remember sketching women’s wear, fashion was my quiet obsession. I loved style, design, elegance. Instead of telling me to focus on something “more serious,” my mother proudly glued my fashion sketches on the wall of her little work cubicle. She saw me. She saw my light before I knew how to name it. And she celebrated it.
As a teenager, I began to fall in love with the creative arts, acting, modeling, and even singing. She didn’t roll her eyes or try to shut it down. Instead, she enrolled me in modeling and acting classes, giving me space to explore, to express, and to grow. When I said I wanted to sing, she didn’t discourage me she didn’t push me to “be realistic.” Instead, she amplified both school and creativity. She made sure I knew that I could pursue my dreams without compromising my foundation. That balance she gave me? It shaped everything.
But don’t mistake that gentleness for softness. At the center of all that love was discipline. My mother instilled honesty, responsibility, and strength in us from the very beginning. She made it clear that our lives were our own to shape, and she gave us the tools to shape them well, spiritually, financially, and morally.
Her faith in God has been the north star of her life. I’ve watched her walk through life’s challenges with grace, never losing sight of her belief that everything comes from the Divine. She always reminded us: “what is meant for you will never miss you, and what isn’t, no matter how hard you chase it, won’t stay.
One of the lessons she was unwavering about was choosing a spouse. For my mother, it was never about surface-level traits, it was always about the soul. She taught us that the right partner must come from a family that values integrity, respect, and pure faith. These, she said, were the ingredients that shape a boy into a man, and a lack of them would lead to unnecessary pain and avoidable experiences. Her standards were never about money; they were about character. If someone fell short of those values, no matter how charming or wealthy, we knew that wasn’t a partnership for us.
She lives by her values, radical honesty, integrity, kindness, humility, and authenticity. She’s never competed, never chased what wasn’t hers, never spoken ill of others. Her success, which is both admirable and inspiring, came not through shortcuts or compromises, but through patience, intelligence, resiliance and consistency.
She taught us to honor people. To love deeply. To walk through the world with our heads high but our hearts open. And in all she’s given to others, she never lost sight of her home, her family has always been her greatest treasure.
I grew up in a household that was open to every faith, every tribe. A place where Uncle Ejike, Uncle Mike, Aunty Habiba, Aunty Fati, and so many others weren’t just guests, they were family. My mother didn’t just preach unity, she practiced it daily.
If I become even half the woman she is, I know I will have lived well. I will have raised children who know love, who stand tall in their values, and who honor the legacy of a woman who lived with grace, gave without condition, and loved with her whole heart.
She is a matriarch. A priestess in her own right. A woman of quiet strength and divine clarity. She’s shown me what it means to live in purpose, to lead with love, and to stand firmly in your truth, without ever putting others down.
One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned from her, however, is her humility. She was never too proud to apologize, even when her emotions got the best of her. I remember seeing her apologize to us as children when she felt her actions didn’t honor us the way she intended. Even though she was the older one, the mother, the authority, she understood from a young age that honoring a soul, regardless of age, is essential. She showed us, by example, that it takes great strength to admit when we are wrong.
That lesson has shaped who I am today. It’s why, as an adult, I am able to apologize when I know I’ve wronged someone. I never shy away from owning my mistakes. I’ve learned that accountability isn’t a weakness; it’s a gift that allows us to grow and build stronger relationships with those we love.
And now, the only peace she needs, the only gift worthy of all she’s poured into us, is to know this:
That we have not forgotten our values.
That we still move through the world with integrity.
That we never lose sight of God as the center of everything.
And that we will live out our dreams fully, boldly, and without apology.
Because that is the life she raised us for.
Thank you, Mother. You are the blueprint. The blessing. The beginning of everything good.
