Erhunse, A Memoir By Bose Ogbeifun-oviasu Ready For Launch

by MIKE OSAROGIAGBON

Written as a first-person account, the memoir takes readers through the experiences that shaped her, from her early years in Benin City and education at St. Maria Goretti Girls’ Grammar School to engineering studies at the then Bendel State University, Ekpoma, now Ambrose Alli University, and the University of Detroit Mercy in Michigan, United States. Yet, the story is not simply about academic qualifications or professional accomplishments, it is about the struggles behind them. It tells of a mother who sold her jewelry to keep her daughter in school, a marriage tested by delayed childbirth and an immigrant woman who confronted the daunting demands of building a business far from home.

A life shaped by prayer, tested by adversity and ultimately transformed into service is set to unfold before the public as Erhunse, a compelling memoir by Engineer (Mrs.) Bose Ogbeifun-Oviasu makes its debut.

Erhunse launch takes place on the sideline of the 33^rd Edo National Association Worldwide (ENAW) convention, at the Lone Star Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency DFW International Airport Dallas, Texas on September 5, 2026.

But behind the intriguing title lies a deeper question. What happens when a childhood prayer becomes the foundation of an extraordinary life?

Erhunse, meaning “answered prayers,” is both Oviasu’s middle name and the central metaphor of the book.

Written as a first-person account, the memoir takes readers through the experiences that shaped her, from her early years in Benin City and education at St. Maria Goretti Girls’ Grammar School to engineering studies at the then Bendel State University, Ekpoma, now Ambrose Alli University, and the University of Detroit Mercy in Michigan, United States.

Yet, the story is not simply about academic qualifications or professional accomplishments, it is about the struggles behind them.

It tells of a mother who sold her jewelry to keep her daughter in school, a marriage tested by delayed childbirth and an immigrant woman who confronted the daunting demands of building a business far from home.

As the African proverb says, “However long the night, the dawn will break.” For Oviasu, the journey to dawn was paved with sacrifice, perseverance and faith.

In America, she ventured into entrepreneurship, building and operating licensed specialized Adult Foster Care Homes in Michigan, creating employment while caring for vulnerable members of society.

But success abroad did not break her connection with home. Her journey also brings readers back to Nigeria, where her experience in business exposes the opportunities, frustrations and systemic challenges confronting entrepreneurs.

The memoir tackles uncomfortable subjects, security, federal roads, infrastructure, integrity and the contrasting realities of doing business in Nigeria and America.

For the author, these are not merely economic issues. They can determine whether businesses survive, whether people prosper and whether communities realize their potential.

But perhaps the most revealing chapter is the transition from personal success to public service.

Through the Edo National Association Worldwide, ENAW, Oviasu’s commitment to community development found expression in medical missions and other humanitarian interventions, culminating in initiatives such as the establishment of a dialysis center in Edo State.

 

The book’s foreword by Charles Osamede Ogbeifun captures its central progression, prayer becomes courage, education becomes competence, competence becomes service, and service becomes legacy.

That progression may ultimately be the real story of Erhunse.

As another African proverb puts it, “A person is a person because of other people.” In Oviasu’s story, achievement acquires meaning when it becomes an avenue to lift others.

The life story traces a remarkable passage, from classrooms to boardrooms, from Nigeria to America and, ultimately, back into the service of humanity.

The forthcoming launch is therefore expected to be more than a literary event. It will open a window into a life shaped by faith, family, education, enterprise and community service.

For young women pursuing careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, Erhunse carries a message of perseverance and possibility.

For entrepreneurs, it offers lessons in integrity, resilience and responsible enterprise.

For Nigerians in the diaspora, it delivers another powerful message, success abroad can find deeper meaning when it reaches back home.

And as the launch date draws closer, the anticipation is not merely about discovering what Engr. Bose Oviasu achieved. It is about discovering what it cost, what sustained her and what she chose to do with the success she found.

Perhaps the answer has been there all along, in the name Erhunse: answered prayers.