MARIS LECTURE: Check an exceptional woman, Omon-Irabor, who combines home management, business and book work
IN today’s world, women are excelling in different fields. From effective management of homes to businesses, women have held their own. In places of worships, they occupy more space than men as they often pray for their loved ones.
Dr. (Mrs) Comfort Omon-Irabor, Medical Director, Hellyncom Eye Clinic, Warri, Delta State, falls into that category of women that are always multi-tasking. To say that she is a busy woman will be an understatement as she combines the management of home with her business and still finds time to churn out books and participate actively in church activities.
Recognized severally as a philanthropist, she is the Mother of the Day for this year’s edition of Maris Annual Public Service Lecture.
Few days to the lecture, the Secretary, Maris Trust Council, Comrade Fidelis Egugbo, has unveiled the profile of Dr. (Mrs) Omon-Irabor, saying that her pedigree as a successful mother, wife, businesswoman and active participant in religious and voluntary activities are bound to inspire more women to delve into more areas that will improve the society.
“In a few days time, precisely, Wednesday, March 31, 2021, we will be at the Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba, Delta State, to listen to Chief Monday Onyeme as he speaks on the topic, ‘Effective Tax Administration For The Delivery Of Democratic Dividends.
“Professionals in different fields, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Delta State, Peter Mrakpor (SAN); Mr Emeka Anthony Odo, Executive Chairman, Enugu State Internal Revenue Service; Dr. Shefiu Abiodun Muritala, Accountant-General of Lagos State; Hon. (Barr.) Orezi Esievo, Executive Secretary, Delta State Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprise Development Agency (DEMSA), and the Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts, Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Anthony Elekeokwuri are discussing the lecture which will have Dr. Kemi Emina is Moderator.
“An exemplary democrat who is using tax payers money to make Deltans prosperous, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor of Delta State will be the Chief Guest of Honour, a real estate operator, Chief Kennedy Kanma is the Father of the Day and Very Rev. Fr. John Konyeke is Spiritual Father of the Day.
“In our characteristic manner of unveiling the profile of key players in this year’s edition of the Maris lecture series, we present an abridged version of the profile of Mother of the Day, Dr. Mrs Comfort Omon-Irabor:”
DR (MRS) COMFORT OKAGBARE OMON-IRABOR (NEE AHWINAHWI, THE LATE IZOMO OF AGBARHO)
Dr. Mrs. Comfort Omon-Irabor is a product of Unity School, Agbarho and Our Lady’s High School, Effurun.
As a very young brilliant student, she was a prefect in the two schools. She was admitted into the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, where she studied Building and Structural Engineering.
Her thirst for education and professionalism saw her proceed later to the University of Benin, Benin-City, where she obtained a Doctorate degree in Optometry.
She worked for a little while and proceeded to Caddiff University, Wales, United Kingdom where she took a post grade course in Clinic Optometry and emerged as a consultant in low vision.
Due to her hard work, she was recommended by Wales Optometry Post Graduate Education Centre (WOPEC) and was subsequently made a diamond member, College of Optometry, London.
Since her return to Nigeria, she has gone into private practice and she is the Chief Medical Director, Hellycom Eye Clinic, Enerhen Road, Warri.
Dr. Mrs Omon-Irabor is the pioneer Chairperson, Women in Optometry of Nigeria, Delta State chapter.
A two-time state Treasurer of Nigeria Optometry Association (NOA), Delta State chapter, she is a devout Catholic and one time President of the Catholic Women Organization of Nigeria (CWO), St. Cyprian’s Parish, Warri.
She is presently serving as the Director of Contact at the Benin Ecclesiastical Province of the Catholic Women Organization (CWO). The province is in charge of three states of Edo, Delta and Bayelsa.
Dr. Mrs. Omon-Irabor is a patron of the Catholic Youths Organisation of Nigeria (CYON), Warri Diocese; Man of Order and Discipline (MoD), Warri Diocese and also, the patron of the youth wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Catholic Block (YOWICAN).
In 2016, Dr. (Mrs) Omon-Irabor was invited to the United States of America (USA) by the World Global Ophthalmologists to deliver a lecture on “Visualizing Global Advancement In Ophthalmology Via Integrated Eye Care.”
She is the author of the “Care of the Eye,” a book widely used by both students and lecturers in the universities.
Dr. Mrs Omon-Irabor, soft-spoken with motherly carriage, has won several awards within and outside the country.
She is married to a dogged human right fighter, CDS Omon-Irabor Esq and blessed with five children – three boys and two girls, some of whom are already graduates of various fields.
