By Eric Elezuo
Behind every successful man is a woman, the saying goes. However most women behind successful men are on their own prolific power brokers, intellectual think tanks, elaborate entrepreneurs and classy slay queens. They have not hesitated to hold their own in every facet of human endeavour, and one woman, who has combined all the aforementioned qualities to her advantage is the stunningly beautiful wife of the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, who doubles as a Judge of Rivers State High Court of Justice, Mrs. Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom Wike nee Obuzor
A fountain of knowledge, beauty, passion, tenderness and human kindness, Mrs. Wike is a woman of many parts, bestriding like a colossus the office of the First Lady of Rivers State and the tasking job of a law officer of the state.
Endowed with a rich flavour of classical intelligence, Mrs. Wike, who hails from Odiokwu, Ahoada West of Rivers State, was born on May 24, 1972 into the Christian home of Dr. Ikechukwu Amadi Obuzor of Odiokwu in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Rising from her humble beginnings, Mrs. Wike took up the challenge of proving that the female folks have quite a lot to offer to capital human development, and the quest to make the society more habitable and crime free. It was therefore, not a surprise when she took her challenge a notch further by opting for the law profession. This was at a time when most females were still hiding under the apron of societal norms, especially that which categorised the female gender under the kitchen and bedroom functions. She was different, willing to break barriers and conquer territories.
This she did when after a prolific primary and secondary education, pitched her tent at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, where she received thorough tutelage in Law, graduating with an LL.B. (Hons.) in 1996.
On graduation from the university, she was admitted into the Nigerian Law School, Victoria Island, Lagos, where after one year, she successfully bagged the Barrister-at-Law degree (B.L.). In 1998, she was called to the Nigerian bar, and there kickstarted a career-law practice in Port Harcourt that saw her breaking the glass ceiling and rising triumphantly above board to berth at the highest career position in the state judiciary.
In 2005, she attended the University of Sussex, United Kingdom by virtue of the prestigious British Chevening Scholarship and obtained a Master’s Degree in Law (LL.M) in 2006.
After she was called to the Bar, Wike joined Efe Chambers as Legal Counsel in charge of litigation. Following her trajectory of top performance, she was elevated to serve as Magistrate Grade I. As the gold fish that has no hiding place, her dexterity and commitment to duties found her out, and she was again promoted to Chief Magistrate Grade II in 2009, and by February 2012, had risen to the office of High Court judge, and she is presently the presiding Judge, High Court of Justice, Nchia.
Wike is a recipient of the Chevening Scholarship award (UK). she also holds a master’s degree in law (LL.M.) from the University of Sussex.
With a high range of exposure garnered in the line of duty, Wike has adjudicated over top flight cases and left both accused and prosecutor overwhelmed at his wealth of knowledge, wisdom and delivery. She is also widely travelled with membership of various standard organisations in her kitty. In the first instance, she is a member of the International Bar Association, International Federation of Women Lawyers Rivers State Branch, National and International Association of Women Judges. She is also an Associate Member of the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators (ICMC) and an Associate member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (ACIArb).
That is not all, Wike is also a member of the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators as well as a former member of Magistrates’ Association of Nigeria, Rivers State and a one-time Public Relations Officer of the Association.
She has attended conferences, workshops and leadership programmes organised by the National Judicial Institute (NJI) and the Lagos Business School (LBS) amongst others. An observer of Judicial Proceedings at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in Amsterdam on an excursion by LL.M students of the University of Sussex, U.K. in 2006.
She enjoys travelling, cooking, reading, listening to classic and contemporary music and keeps fit through swimming and playing lawn tennis.
Wike is married to her heartthrob, Barrister Nyesom Wike, whom she met and fall in love with during their early days in the profession, and together they have weathered the professional storm, and are blessed with three adorable children.
Mrs Wike’s influence in Rivers State as the First Lady and the Nigerian judiciary as a law officer speaks louder than her simple mien and exuding confidence. From her corner, she has provided leadership guidance as a public servant and a wife to her husband and boss, Mr. Governor, leading to the admirable impact the administration is making not only in the state, but in the federation.
By her candour and well crafted antecedents, Wike has contributed in making Rivers State judiciary a shinning and leading light in references and precedents. She had launched peace of mind not only in the judiciary of the state where both the common man and the elites are sure of justice, but also in her primary constituency, her home. It is therefore, not by accident that her husband is rightly addressed as Mr. Project. Of course, he is blessed with the peace of a home, which his wife, Eberechi gives, and so can critically analyse situations towards taking the best of decisions thereby churning out the best of democracy dividends.
The sky remained a starting point for the ebullient symbol of law and family peace, as she still has many more years to serve her fatherland. And based on her antecedents and time tested performances, it will not be an understatement if one boldly say that higher offices beckon.
For your abilities and scandal free career pursuit, you are our Boss of the Week. Congratulations ma!
