Dr. Benson Morah, "Ezenwanne" - His Brother's Keeper. I love that name because it captures the whole essence of your life.

Benson, affectionately known as "Ezenwanne," was a great family man and was greatly loved. Family was always first in his life. As an accomplished UN diplomat, he traveled the globe but never missed any opportunity to spend quality time with his family. He cherished his wife of over four decades, who he said literally "spoiled" him, taking care of his every need. He was so proud of her that he said that to me so many times that I thought he was rubbing it in. But I know it was true. She was at his beck and call. His children were his number one priority, and he gave them the best education that money can buy. He was proud that they are very accomplished professionals in their own right. He teased them a lot while joking and playing with them. He was indeed a loving, supportive dad.

He was very dedicated to his siblings who he loved deeply as well. Since the death of mama in 1976, he assumed the role of a father to them and can be described as a patriarch. When he heard about his mom’s death, he immediately rushed back to Nigeria from Canada to take care of his siblings and ensure their safety. It was a very difficult time for him. He had just taken up an appointment as a professor at the University of Calgary and moved to Calgary. He was a patriarch extraordinaire, very protective of his family and I have always admired him for that. He came back to Calgary with his 3 youngest siblings which was an amazing feat as he didn’t even have a place to accommodate them. That told me even more of my friend who would never shy away from responsibility. He had no place of his own and no money but he took a leap of faith and God blessed him.

He extended his generosity and love of family to his UMUNNA, the greater Morah family. He was always seeking the best way to help lift his family out of poverty and he chose education. Along with his siblings, he set up an education scholarship fund aimed at making sure that no child of greater Morah family would be left behind.

He was a great friend, very devoted and faithful. He and I were like twins from our first year at IGS where he excelled as a student before moving on to Umuahia Government College for Higher School education.

Three of us went to Umuahia for interview and he was the only one selected among us. I went in for the interview right after him and the interviewers asked me if I saw that young walking out from the interview and I proudly said yes that’s my friend and they asked me “did you see how he was dressed?” That’s how a good student should dress.

Right there I knew I had failed. His humility was admired by the interviewers. Talk about virtues Ben was very humble. I was the opposite in that interview, was dressed like a tutor wearing wool trousers and a dress shirt.

After IGS, he continued to Umuahia Government College while I joined the Federal Government Service. We were separated during the civil war and continued our friendship after the war.

In 1972 he went to Canada for graduate studies but never forgot his struggling friend who was dismissed from Federal Civil Service due to his role in the war. He facilitated my admission to the university in Calgary by vouching for me that I was a more brilliant student than him in secondary school, LIES.

He was ahead of the class in graduate school so the Registrar admitted me with only school cert. based on Ben’s personal academic recognition. What hasn’t he done for me?

HUMILITY

The bible verse, Proverbs Chapter 22 verse 4 says: “By humility and by the fear of the LORD are riches, and honor, and life” To me that was his legacy. Alleluia!

Here is Mr. humility, Dr, B C Morah, my friend of 66 years, my helper and mentor who taught me humility.So Ben, you have accomplished all that

God sent you to do including helping me your friend. It was a great privilege to have had you in my life as a friend and “brother”.

My time is coming up and I look forward to seeing you again to part no more. Rest in perfect peace my dearest friend.



Osita Nwofor