Princess Ishan Akenzua Imonodez

Princess Ishan Akenzua was born to King Akenzua the 2nd, one of the 12 High Kings of the Kingdom of Benin and King of the Edo people, and  her mother Ovbuade Akenzua in Uzebba Edo State Nigeria on June 25, 1918.

At age 19 her father King Akenzua passed and she was elevated and coordinated as Queen Regent of the Edo people, Kingdom of Benin. 

During her regency term the English government encouraged her to take an English name and she chose Janet. Two-and-a-half years later her brother Solomon Ibare Akenzua became of age and ascended to the throne and became the current ruler, King Solomon Akenzua Edo State Nigeria Kingdom of Benin. 

At age  23 she married  Samson Imonodez and followed him to Lagos were he was the Minister of Energy and their they started several businesses and their family. They had seven children and 29 half-children as Samson had four-plus secondary wives as was the custom of the age. She raised all 36 children lovingly as her own.

During the years, she traveled several times to Jerusalem for Holy Week and other countries.

In 1991 her husband passed and she moved to Abuja Nigeria Naval Headquarters and Victoria Island Naval Headquarters were her daughter Princess Eniola Imonodez (Pich) was a high ranking commander and Intelligence commander in the Nigerian Navy. She was given her own quarters and service persons.  After several years with her daughter she moved back to her father’s palace in Uzebba Edo State until her own modest 30 bedroom palace was constructed. 

She was a champion of children’s education, giving to the poor and handicapped and gifted over 50-plus of her personally owned homes to family and others in need and many other philanthropy achievements such as giving land and her plantation crops to the less fortunate year after year.

In 2012 she met her new American son, Kyle Pich (Kyle is a former resident of Rushford, graduate of Rushford High School, and Winona State University) and upon his arrival to Nigeria arranged for her king  brother to coronate him as high chief (one of 13 direct consultants to the king) having already been made an Edo prince simply by marriage to her daughter in 2009.  A few years later she would move to the USA to stay with her daughter and new son-in-law for two years before returning home to Nigeria.

On November 17, 2024, she passed away with her daughter Eniola at her side and son-in-law on video call at their home in Lagos State, Nigeria.

She was dearly loved and revered by all her people and upon her death in June 2025 there was a six day Celebration to honor the former queen. The celebration included in attendance 101 princes and princesses and 70-plus chiefs and high chiefs of the Kingdom of Benin  to honor her passing; along with 600-plus tribal persons.  The celebration included several tribal rituals, music, food and gifts for all hosted by her king brother and daughter Princess Eniola Imonodez Pich.

A 72 gun salute was given, signifying when each child, grandchild or great-great-grandchild came to honor her burial.

She was survived by 11 brothers, a dozen-plus sisters, four biological children and hundreds of grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

She will be dearly missed.