It was a day filled with laughter, nostalgia, and gratitude as Amaechi Michael Okobi, Chief Communications Officer at Access Holdings, celebrated his mother’s 80th birthday — a milestone that inspired a moving reflection on family, heritage, and the passage of time.
Sharing the celebration in a heartfelt LinkedIn post, Okobi painted a vivid picture of a day steeped in joy, tradition, and deep familial bonds. “Maman turned 80 today and what a beautiful day it was. Chukwu dalu!” he wrote, expressing gratitude for the occasion and the generations that gathered to honor the matriarch.
The day, as he recounted, was filled with laughter, rich Nigerian dishes, and of course, an abundance of cake — “because birthdays are for cake,” he quipped. But milestone birthdays, he added playfully, deserve a little something extra — in this case, cake and ice cream drizzled with Baileys, a combination he described as “divine.”
Amid the lightheartedness, Okobi’s story took a nostalgic turn, capturing a universal truth about family and belonging. Unable to find seats in the main parlor — a space “claimed” by the elder aunties in their lace and authority — he and his siblings found themselves sitting on the stairs, just as they did in their teenage years, quietly observing and occasionally being summoned to fetch more cake or champagne.
That simple scene, he wrote, became a profound reminder of how time moves yet certain traditions remain beautifully constant. “Here we were, all in our fifties and then some, still their ‘children,’” he reflected. “The years have added gray hairs and wrinkles, and a little wisdom, but not much else has changed. And honestly, I’m thankful for it.”
Okobi’s words resonated with many, not just for their humor and warmth, but for their authenticity — a testament to how family dynamics, rooted in love and respect, endure through generations. “There’s something incredibly comforting about knowing that no matter how grown you get,” he concluded, “there will always be a space (even if it’s on the stairs) where you’re still somebody’s child.”
The post, which tagged close family members and friends including Adaobi Oniwinde, Z. Wura Abiola, Njideka Esomeju, Chikwendu Odigwe, and Kenny Odogwu, served as both a personal reflection and a celebration of enduring values: love, laughter, humility, and gratitude.
In his closing words, Okobi offered thanks to God for his mother’s 80 remarkable years, for the blessings of family, and for the timeless joy found in shared memories.
“Thank you, God for Mamman’s 80 years. Thank you for this walk down Memory Lane and the reminder that family, laughter, respect and love never go out of style.”
