Face-to-Face Encounter with Patience Odeh Gerrits

More than being the sleek and fashion freak she is known for,Chief Mrs Patience Odeh Gerrits sits atop stitching kids and women foundation, an NGO she founded and funded for the past five years. She depicts the mien of a compassionate mother who actually wanted to see the less privileged ones taken out of the street and elevated to the next level of comfort.

In this exclusive interview with Ayodele Oshikokhai, after her father’s burial, the Netherlands based woman of ruby unfurls her life trajectory, her successful marriage to Jan Gerrits, her pet project and what she missed most in her late father.

Excerpts…

Congratulations on your chieftaincy title as chief Oluaa Oyherafe of Okpe kingdom, What informed this?

The chieftaincy title of chief Oluaa Oyherafe of Okpe kingdom was conferred on me by HRM Etah Okishimede, Idogun III Olokpe of Okpe kingdom as a result of my contribution to the development of the town, my cultural affiliation and upliftment of our tradition everywhere in the world. The recognition is also to encourage others to come back home to develop our town. I am now the cultural ambassador of Okpe kingdom in Europe. Today all my children are virtually at home culturally in any part of the world. They speak my dialect, dress culturally in our attire and dance to our native songs too.

Can you recollect some fond memories of your growing up with your mother and what you missed most in your late father?

I have so many fond memories of my mother, although the most cherished ones are those I shared with her when I was a little girl. The moments were the times we spent together in the kitchen preparing food for the family. Those things I learnt from her then have now become indispensible house management. Good food is also a good way of bringing smile and satisfaction on the faces of family members.

On what I missed most in my late father is that my father was a phenomenon. He was a wonderful man; he was generous to a fault. He was very kind-hearted and humorous. He was a very intelligent man too. I am happy I took some of his traits and humor. My mother was very close to my father. They were always together, like siemen, they were never separated at anytime, except when my father died.

In the entire time I have known them; they had always done things together. They always make sure our education comes first. They struggled to pay our school fees. They never at any point in time play with them. They make sure we go to school regularly. My father was a school teacher, but established for my mother and they earns a descent living and devoted all they had to the good upbringing of us their children.