(Every last Friday of the Month, AKAWI celebrates an Amazon who has died for her beliefs or her work and left a lasting impact on humanity).
VIVIAN OGU is an Amazon who was killed at the ripe old age of 14 for her beliefs and her refusal to be raped by a gang of robbers.
She was born in Benin City, Nigeria on the 1st day of April, 1995 and was the second of four children. Vivian grew up as a very intelligent child and was also a staunch member of the Catholic faith.
Vivian was unlike so many children of her time. She exhibited strong leadership potential and also became the president of the Holy Childhood Association at the mere age of 9. She personally organized and raised funds for the Association to pay for the treatment of so many other kids in hospitals, and organized visits to orphanages t help less privileged children. She was said to have organized several talks with youths and youngsters where she taught them and shared her beliefs and values about purity and virginity.
At such an early age, Vivian already felt compassion for the less privileged and had a passion for helping them and advocating for them.
Vivian easily filled her role of inspirator to so many kids despite being a child herself. She was disciplined and very dedicated. She showed a strong inclination for pursing her goals with commitment.
On 15th November 2009, on her way home from church, a group of men descended on the Ogu family and robbed them. They grabbed Vivian and dragged her off into the bushes and tried to rape her. She was frightened but in spite of that, she stood her ground and fought them off and resisted until they killed her with a gunshot.
The news of her death and the circumstances threw her family and the entire state of Edo into mourning and grief and in a great show of solidarity, the State Government donated the land she had been killed upon to the Archdiocese of Benin City. The church appropriated the gift at once and a Missionary center is currently being built on that land in her honor. The Local Government also named a street after her and the Vivian Ogu Movement was started in her honor ad inaugurated on 29th March, 2014 with the aim of influencing youngsters positively.
Her death left so many people with the conviction that one person could make a difference despite their age or circumstances and her death continues to inspire other children and young people.
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NB: DO YOU KNOW ANY STRONG AFRICAN WOMAN WHOSE STORY OF TEARS AND TRIUMPHS CAN INSPIRE OTHERS? PLEASE INBOX US A NOMINATION OR EMAIL akawi@akawi.org. WATCH THIS SPACE EVERY FRIDAY FOR A FRESH STORY OF AN AFRICAN WOMAN MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD. AT THE END OF THE YEAR ONE OF OUR NOMINEES WALKS AWAY WITH AN AWARD AND MONETARY PRIZE.
