Prolific movie maker, Meziakpono Chico Ejiro and his industrious wife, Joy, are still celebrating and counting their blessings. Especially after the arrival of their fourth child, a baby boy named Eloviano (meaning light has come to stay), in the United States of America. The showbiz couple’s first three children are Kome, Ruke and Maro. Born at exactly 11.09am, on Friday, April 29, 2011, at the Boston Medical Centre, Massachusettes, United States of America, Viano’s pregnancy and delivery came with so much drama. And in this exclusive interview with YES INTERNATIONAL! Magazine Publisher/Editor in Chief, AZUH ARINZE, the new mother whose native name is Efetebore and the MD/CEO of Real Colours Boutique, in Surulere, Lagos, regaled us with how everything went. Enjoy…
How does it feel to be a mother again?
It feels good o! Having children is a gift from God, so every child brings different experience and it makes you feel responsible for another life.
A lot of us thought you had put a stop to having babies when all of a sudden we saw you with a bulging stomach. What exactly happened?
(Laughs) – It wasn’t planned per se. Actually, I had what they call IUD (Intra Uterine Death). I had the IUD for like three years now. I thought I was having the best prevention, but somehow, I found out I just got pregnant. I didn’t even know until after three months. So, it wasn’t a planned baby. God just gave me a gift unplanned. It was really unplanned.
When it finally dawned on you that you were pregnant, did you pray for a baby boy or girl? Or you just said as the Lord pleases?
Yes o! It’s always like that for me, because I already have a girl and I have two boys…I was just like God, anyone would be okay. I’m okay with anyone.
Why did you choose to have the baby in the United States of America? Are you not proud of Nigeria?
I did not chose to. I went to buy ‘market’ (goods for her boutique). I went to buy my ‘market’ jejeje (General laughter). According to the doctors over there, they said because of the IUD I had on, I was having a lot of complications and I was always bleeding, so they said I can’t fly. So, I was stuck there and I had to have my baby over there.
Your baby arrived on the day Prince Williams got married to Kate and we even heard that you were watching the event live when you went into labour. Can you recount what transpired that day again?
(Laughs) – Ah, it was really a big drama. I was watching the royal wedding. I woke up very early that day, say 5am, American time, and started watching the royal wedding. I and my friend, Azuka Ogujiuba, we were on BB. We were exchanging messages and I was saying, look at this rugged Prince. We were just gossiping about the wedding and all of a sudden, I stopped ‘BBing’ and she started calling, ‘What is going on?’ That’s all I knew until I had Eloviano later. That day, I had to call my friends I was staying with, Stanley Ikeogu and the wife, Linda. I said this thing, it’s like it is happening o! Let’s start going to the hospital. That was it. And I had Viano.
What new things did you just find out about giving birth with the coming of Eloviano?
Hmmm! I learnt plenty things (Laughing). You know I was there alone? Normally, when I have my babies in Nigeria, my mother will come, a lot of people will come, friends will come, pepper soup is waiting, they are taking care of my baby; my mother even baths me! But in America, ah, I saw pepper. Only me one! I will bath my baby, I will bath myself, I will cook my food, I will take care of myself. It was not easy at all. It was really stressful. Ah! I see Oba, like we say in Warri. At the end of the day, I had to leave Boston for New York to go back to my business, because that was the primary reason I was there. I had to do my business with my baby and it was terrible. In short, words cannot explain what I went through.
Generally, how would you sum up the joys of motherhood?
Meeen! You cannot explain it. Motherhood is…(stammers) in fact, it’s a thing of joy! It’s something that every woman should pray for. And I use my son to pray for my friends that are looking up to God for the fruits of the womb, for God to bless them because ah! Forget, Azuh, I cannot explain what it means to be a mother. Every child brings a different feeling; every child comes in a different way. They come in different ways, different characters, different ways, so you really cannot explain it. It’s just a thing of joy. That’s all I can say.
You didn’t plan for Eloviano, but God chose to bless you with him. If God decides to bless you again, will you welcome it?
Abeg o! (Laughing). Even when I went to the church in New York and they were sharing testimonies. I just went to thank God for my child because it was a very complicated pregnancy and the pastor was now praying, ah, God will bless you o! For this testimony and everything. And before the man said more children, I said pastor, please! I beg you! (General laughter). I beg you. Please, channel that prayer well. God should bless those that are looking for the fruits of the womb, not me; I think I’m done with having babies. Please!
NB: First published June 2011