Pastor Mrs Esosa Osatohanmwen Owen-Ode was born on the 14^th of December, 1944 to Pa Geofrey Ona Okuonghae and  Comfort Abigail Evbuomwan. Her father was the Principal Health Superintendent for OAU, Ife and her mother was a trained midwife, an education  rarity for women of her time. She grew up in a big family surrounded by love next to her cousins who lived next door, their fathers were twin brothers, who built their houses next to each other. She was the second child of her father’s thirteen children and first girl, of which her mother gave birth to six of the children. Of the six children, Dr. Cosmos Okuonghae is the only surviving sibling.

She attained the highest level of education she desired; she obtained a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Benin (Uniben), a post graduate diploma in teaching (PGDTA) from OAU college in Ife. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree (B.A., Honors) in English from the University of Ibadan (UI), Dip. in Theology from Baptist College of Theology, (BACOT/AAU), Benin City. For her secondary school years, She got her higher secondary certificate (HSC) from Queen’s School, Ede. Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) was obtained from Baptist Girls High School Agbor and her First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC) was obtained from Government School Benin. She was also an athlete and won many medals in long jump both in secondary school and in college. In college, she represented her college at the inter-college  NUGA games, where she also won medals.

She started her secular career as a graduate teacher and taught at St. Maria Goretti Girls School and Baptist High School both in Benin City from 1968 to 1971.  She joined Edo State Civil Service in 1971 as an Inspector of Taxes. She rose through the ranks to become the Director/Administrator of the Board of Internal Revenue for her state.

She served for some time  as a Director under the Ministry of Health, and also served as the acting General Manager of Bendel Insurance.  She was later appointed as the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Finance. She retired as a Permanent Secretary in 2000. However, she was called back from retirement to serve as one of the commissioners at Edo State Civil Service commission from 2004 to 2013.

She had a deep passion for the things of God and was an avid Baptist.  She attended the Baptist College of Theology in Benin City, from where she obtained a Diploma in theology. She was a member of Central Baptist Church in Benin City for many years, where she served in various capacities before being called to serve at Rev. Emokpae Memorial Baptist Church, Etete, Benin City, thus becoming the first female minister in charge of a church of the Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC).

She travelled widely within and outside the country for meetings and holidays. Since 2000, she has not missed any meeting of the Baptist World Alliance held every five years in different continents. She served as part of the exco for the Bible Society of Nigeria, Edo State Chapter for many years. She was the continental treasurer of the Baptist Women’s Union of Africa. President, Edo State Conference Women’s Missionary Union (WMU), first and only female president of the Alumni Association of the Baptist College of Theology, Benin City. She has also been given the title of Justice of the Peace (JP) for many years.

She was a member of several boards and committees in the Baptist community, including the Edo Baptist Conference, Benin South Association, Obadiah Emokpae Baptist Association, National WMU Committees and Nigerian Baptist Convention Committees. She was also patron/adviser to organisations like the Lydia, Royal Ambassadors (RA) and Baptist Student Fellowship (BSF) groups, which are young adult ministries in the Baptist Church. She retired from active ministry at age 70 in 2014 and continued her work behind the scenes supporting the ministry and the body of Christ as a patron and advisor and acting in other capacities.

In recognition of her commitment to the development and growth in the work of God, she was awarded several honorary awards including:

• Appreciation Award; for her services as Associational Secretary from 2001 to 2004, given by the Benin Baptist Association of Edo Baptist Conference. (2004).
• Excellence Award; for her work in the WMU, given by the WMU of Edo Baptist Conference (2004).
• Appreciation Award; for her pioneering efforts toward the re-establishment of Baptist High School after it was handed over by the Edo State Government to the Nigerian Baptist Conference, given by Baptist High School (March 2007).
• Honorary Award; in recognition of her contributions to the alumni, given by the University of Ibadan Alumni Association (Edo State Chapter), (Dec 2010).
• Merit Award; for her exemplary leadership of the WMU, Edo State, Baptist Conference and her contribution to the work of God in general, given by the executive committee, Edo State Baptist Conference (Feb. 2011).
• Merit Award; in recognition of her role as founding mother and parental contribution to the development of the college, given by Baptist College of Theology, Benin City (June 2013).

• Honorary Award; for her immense contribution to the work of Baptist Student Fellowship (BSF) in Edo State, given by BSF, Benin Area (June 2014)
• Certificate of Proficiency; certifying her as a chaplain member, given by Baptist College of Theology, Chaplain Corps Fellowship, (April 2016).

• Recognition Award; in recognition of her outstanding performance, contributions and support for the growth, development and sustenance of Edo State Baptist Conference as Chairman Personnel Commission from 2010 to 2013, given by Edo State Baptist Conference (BSBC) (Oct. 2018).
• Honorary Award; in recognition of her role as pioneer advisor, given by Obadiah Emokpae Baptist Association, Edo Baptist Conference (Oct. 2019).

• Distinction Award; for her remarkable, generous commitment and labour in the first century of the existence of the organisation, given by Baptist WMU of Nigeria, auxiliary to the Nigerian Baptist convention (April 2019).
• Honorary Award; for her contributions and service towards the youth ministry of the association, given by the Obadiah Emokpae Baptist Youth Association (Oct. 2019).
• Appreciation Award; in recognition and appreciation of her loyalty and dedicated service to Women’s Wing, Christian Council of Nigeria, (WOW/CCN), Edo state Chapter as Auditor for 12yrs,  given by WOW/CNN (Feb. 2020).   
• Excellence Award; in recognition of her excellent performance through her counsel, financial contributions, mobilisation of youths and support for the growth of Edo State Baptist Youth Conference, given by Edo State Baptist Youth Conference (Mar. 2022).
• The distinguished Bible Award of Senior Advocate of the Gospel in Nigeria; in recognition of her contribution to the bible cause, given by the Bible Society of Nigeria (July 2022).
• Special Recognition Award; in recognition of her profound contribution towards the growth and development of the Baptist work in Edo State and the body of Christ in general, given by Edo Baptist Conference of the NBC (May 2023).
• Special Honour Award; for her outstanding performance in Women’s Missionary Society (WMS) activities, given by the WMS of Uyiosa Baptist Association (June 2024).

She is survived by six biological children and nine grandchildren, two brothers and two sisters, cousins, other extended family members and many sons and daughters who call her mom. She will be sorely missed by those she leaves behind.