BIOGRAPHY OF MOTHER ORESOA

Mother Onomoresoa Agatha Selo-Ojeme was born in Benin City, Edo State in the late fifties into a devout Catholic home to the late Pa Daniel Oyemoba Selo-ojeme (KSM) and Lady Agnes Buku Selo-ojeme from Ewu Ishan Edo State. In 1977, after her secondary education, she entered the convent as one of the pioneer members of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart Congregation, which was founded by the then Metropolitan Archbishop Ebosele Ekpu of Benin Archdiocese. She furthered her education at Viterbo College, United States of America, and received her first degree in Education / Religious Studies in 1985.

After her Religious profession, Mother Oresoa served as Vocation Directress and Postulant Mistress in the congregation. In 1988, she was in charge of Brother Roman Catechetical Centre, Ekpoma in Edo State, Benin Diocese. She had a passion for the poor and was inspired to go deep into serving them. In 1990, she was sent to head a school for able children in society, but she was not fulfilled due to her passion for the poor destitute children in society.

Mother Oresoa served her congregation with total dedication for 16 yrs and also reached out to the abandoned poor whom she met during her apostolic work for her congregation. She found consolation with her Community members as she stretched out her hands to serve the poor which she had passion for. But she was given a command on her vow of obedience to limit her service to her congregation against her spirit and charism. She tried in her obedience to adhere to the command of her Superior with pain and sacrifice, but her passion for the poor, whom she saw daily whenever she walked the streets and slums of the cities, could not rest her soul. She longed to be with them and assist to give them back their dignity.

In 1992, Mother Oresoa was elected the Vicar General of the Congregation, where she gave her services and commitment to her religious vows and other commitments of her duties. Not being fulfilled, she requested a leave of absence which was denied, so she requested a dispensation and was granted this on 26th October 1994.

Before she requested dispensation, she went through several considerations of the action. She had a one-month retreat with a Jesuit Father, the late Rev Fr Paul Maher. After that, she went for counselling and prayers with the late Abbot Augustine, Monk of Benedicta Monastery, Ewu, Edo State. All these notwithstanding, the call to serve the poor persisted. She found herself at a crossroads. Would it be the congregations or the inner fulfilment of a disturbing filial cord with the destitute, the low of the societal social strata, the helpless street children and the broken-hearted? The burden was enormous and she took ill and was admitted to a hospital. On her sick bed, she received a revelation to serve the poor. Immediately, she made a vow to God that she would serve God the poorest of the poor; to fend for them, console them, be their sister and mother; love them and speak for them.

Upon receiving the dispensation, Mother Oresoa left for tutelage in the Eastern part of Nigeria, Bende, Umuahia, and then in Imo State. She worked with one Rosaline Conwell, an English woman who served in Nigeria for twenty (20) years living and caring for the destitute and the mentally deranged people. She worked with her for five months. There, she saw in practical terms and experienced the commitment required in caring for the destitute.

With the practical experience gained, she went to her cousin, Mr. Anthony Efediyi in Jabi Life Camp, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. There in Abuja, she read in the Catholic Weekly “Good Shepherd” that there was a vacancy at the Social Welfare Office in the Archdiocese of Abuja. She quickly applied, hoping to see her passion satisfied; but with disappointment, her application was turned down. In distress, she started ministering to the street boys and girls along the streets of the then-developing areas concentrated around Area 1 Shopping Centre, Garki, the then-centre of commerce and activity in Abuja. She has extended her mission to the Poorest of the Poor in other states of Nigeria. Kaduna and Edo States. She has also opened communities in Yendi diocese Ghana for (alleged witches) and Ayim (mentally ill and women and men of easy virtue. Accra Ghana.

For the past 28 yrs, Mother Oresoa has dedicated her life to serving the Poorest of the Poor and the marginalized. She is a tireless advocate for their rights and dignity. She founded an NGO called Association for the Poorest of the Poor to support the mission and also founded the missionary Servants and Sisters for the Poorest of the Poor to continue the mission. She is a living example of the power of love and compassion to change the world.