Esther Ebiere Gbenana Dirikebamor

Esther Gbenana was born in Lagos, to the families of the late Sir Fredrick Gbenana and the late Madam Selina Zaboh.

What they called her

• Eniekinimito her family
• Maaleto her children
• Aunty Gbeto her colleagues
• Nanato her grandchildren

A birthday message she recorded for her granddaughter

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Happy birthday to you, Stephanie. I wish you the best of the best. Okay.

I wish you God's protection. Amen. God's favour upon your life.

You shall be a great child. You shall be a blessing to your parents. You shall be successful in your academics. You shall excel.

You shall be a virtuous woman, a woman of substance when you grow up.

I wish you long life and prosperity. I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you. Happy birthday. Cheers.

She was from the Gbenana family of Adobu and Ebedebiri, and the Ogbotiti and Kenikeni families of Agoloma, in Delta and Bayelsa States respectively.

She attended Reagan Girls Memorial Secondary School, Yaba, then Lagos State Polytechnic for her National Diploma. Later she earned a Bachelor of Arts in English Language Education from the National Open University of Nigeria.

Soon after secondary school, she joined the former NITEL as a telephone operator, and rose to become a Senior Systems Analyst. When NITEL closed, she moved into education. She taught with the State Universal Basic Education Board, and was later posted by the State Ministry of Education to St. Jude's Girls Secondary School, Amarata, where she taught English Language and was an active member of the administrative office.

She lived an active Christian life. Until she passed, she was a member of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, Okaka branch, where she sang in the women's choir.