Eclipse of a shining star
By HARRISON AKAMULE
The true worth of a person is scarcely known until after his or her demise. Only a few individuals have this rare recognition in their lifetime and amplified at their death.
Chief (Barr) Veronica Bamuza -Mutu is one woman who distinguished herself and neutralized gender differences , earned herself a meritorious accolade while she was alive and magnified at her death.
Born on the 21st May 1946 to the Mutu Agbede family of Akugbene and Egwe Mutu of Akugbene and Ofounibenghan ( Okrika) of Bomadi and Burutu LGAs both of Delta State, Chief Veronica Baro Bamuza- Mutu lived a multi-faceted life which contradicted the proverbial dictum-“jack of all trades master of none” because she actually proved to be master of all.
As a lover of education, she was a tutor who taught and rose through the ranks to become a principal in Ayakoromo Grammar School, Ayakoromo .
Being the first woman ever to be appointed as commissioner in the defunct Bendel State by the then governor Prof.Ambrose Alli in 1981, Chief Veronica Bamuza -Mutu proved her principal Prof. Ambrose Alli correct for his choice of her and proved all critics and disenting opinion holders wrong.
As Commissioner for Information, Manpower Establishment and Health, she duplcated the hitherto single Bendel Television in various parts of the state by setting up satellite stations across the state.
Under her watch as commissioner,she initiated Outside Broadcasting Vans(OBV)to transmit live events.
She repositioned both the then Radio Bendel and The Observer Newspaper from which the Delta state Pointer Newspaper took it’s bearing. As a woman who knows her onions, she influenced the reactivation of several traditional institutions which had been dormant for many years.
With her appointment as the first woman Commissioner and her performance, Chief Bamuza- Mutu paved the way for the appointment of women into the exalted position of Commissioners of cabinet rank.
