From 1967 to '70, Nigeria fought a war - the Nigeria-Biafra war.

In the long sweep of human history, there are moments that define not only the fate of nations but also the lives of individuals, moments that mark a turning point from which there is no return. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a name that resonates with the strength and resilience of a woman who has witnessed both the horrors of war and the promises of peace, reflects on such a moment in her childhood. "From 1967 to '70, Nigeria fought a war—the Nigeria-Biafra war. And in the middle of that war, I was 14 years old. We spent much of our time with my mother cooking. For the army—my father joined the army as a brigadier—the Biafran army. We were on the Biafran side." These words, spoken with the wisdom of someone who lived through the conflict, speak not only to the tragedy of war but to the resilience of the human spirit when faced with the unimaginable.

The Nigeria-Biafra War, a brutal and devastating conflict that lasted from 1967 to 1970, was one of the darkest chapters in African history. It was a war fueled by ethnic tensions, political strife, and cultural differences, but it also became a fight for survival. The Biafran region, led by Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu, declared its secession from Nigeria, seeking to form the independent Republic of Biafra, largely driven by the Igbo ethnic group's desire for self-determination. But in the heart of that war, it was not just the politicians and generals who fought—it was the people, families torn apart, lives disrupted, and the innocence of children forever altered. For Okonjo-Iweala, the war was not just a distant political event—it was a reality that shaped her childhood, one that she would carry with her for the rest of her life.

In those years, as a young girl, she found herself in the midst of a war that demanded both sacrifice and resilience. Much of her time was spent with her mother, cooking for the soldiers, a simple yet profound act of sustenance amid the chaos. In this, we see the ancient wisdom of Noble Mothers throughout history—women who, though not on the battlefield, carried the weight of war in ways that are often unseen. The nurturing and sustaining of life, even in the darkest of times, is an act of defiance against the forces of destruction. Like the women of Sparta, who were the silent strength behind the warriors, or the mothers of ancient Rome, who birthed the future soldiers and statesmen, Okonjo-Iweala’s mother represented the heart of the Biafran resistance, ensuring that life would continue even as the world around them threatened to collapse.

Her father, a brigadier in the Biafran army, stood on the front lines of the war, embodying the sacrifice of those who are called upon to defend their homeland, their families, and their identity. In ancient times, warriors fought not only for land or power but for the survival of their people. The great heroes of myth—Achilles, Hector, and King Leonidas—fought not for the glory of battle alone, but for the preservation of the lives and culture they held dear. Likewise, Okonjo-Iweala’s father took up arms, not for personal gain, but to defend the dreams of his people, knowing the cost of that commitment would be steep. It is in such moments of sacrifice that the true character of a nation is tested—when each individual’s contribution becomes vital to the survival of the whole.

In the face of war’s devastation, however, it is not just the soldiers who are scarred, but also the children, who inherit the trauma of violence and loss. Okonjo-Iweala, a young girl in the throes of war, had her childhood stolen from her, her world forever altered by the death, hunger, and fear surrounding her. This is the tragic reality of war: the innocence of the young is often lost amidst the bloodshed and suffering. History tells us countless stories of young ones who grew up in the shadows of war—the orphans of ancient Rome left behind after the fall of Carthage, the children of the French Revolution who witnessed their families torn apart by the guillotine, or the children of the World War II generation, who carried the weight of their parent’s suffering for the rest of their lives.

Yet, in the darkness of those years, Okonjo-Iweala’s experience also teaches us a lesson of resilience. Even amidst the horror of war, life finds a way to endure. The act of cooking for soldiers was a quiet rebellion against the forces of destruction—a reminder that hope can still be nurtured even when everything around us falls apart. In the ancient world, the keeping of family traditions and the teaching of young ones were acts of profound strength, for they ensured that the lessons of the past would be carried into the future. In Okonjo-Iweala’s life, we see the resilience of her family, their willingness to persist, even as the world seemed to be collapsing under the weight of violence.

From Okonjo-Iweala’s words, we understand that the legacy of war is not only measured in the body count but in the souls it scarred and the lives it interrupted. Yet, as we have seen throughout history, it is the spirit of those who survive, the courage to endure and hope, that allows us to rebuild after the war's end. The lesson we must carry forward is clear: in times of conflict, we must always hold fast to our humanity, to our ability to nurture life and hope even when the world seems dark. For it is in the darkest times that the light of resilience shines brightest, and it is through the strength of community, family, and unwavering resolve that we can overcome even the greatest challenges that history may throw our way.