ForeverMissed
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His Life

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN!

October 16, 2016

OKECHUKWU CLARENCE ENYINNA (March 18, 1975 – October 12, 2016) Lecturer, Institute of Humanities, Pan Atlantic University, Lagos.

Okechukwu Clarence Enyinna was born on March 18, 1975. He was the first of six children born to Mr and Mrs Thaddeus Enyinna of Ezinihitte Local Government Area of Mbaise in Imo State. His primary school education took place at Fountain Primary School, Surulere, Lagos. He then went to Kings College, Lagos for his secondary school studies. He attended the University of Ibadan where, in 1998, he obtained an honours degree in Electrical Engineering. He later obtained a Masters degree in Business Administration from the Lagos Business School in 2009. 

After graduating from the University, he worked at Socketworks Nigeria Limited, an information and computer technology company, rising to the post of Manager of Computer Software Engineering Services. He later worked as ICT Manager for Lagos Business School before being appointed to the post of Lecturer in Ethics at the Pan-Atlantic University. At the time of his death, he was working on his PhD which was being directed by Dr. Mele of IESE in Barcelona, Spain. His plan at the beginning of 2016 was to defend it at the end of the year and he got very close to doing so.

He liked to play football and table tennis. Okey (as he was fondly called) started taking part in activities in the Boys’ Club in Helmbridge (a corporate undertaking of Opus Dei) since his primary school days. He decided to become a numerary member of Opus Dei on 21st August 1990 while he was a student of Kings College. He therefore lived 26 years of fidelity to his vocation. 

In 1998, he was diagnosed with a degenerative illness which gradually progressed over the years. Last year a cancer was also discovered. He had to spend the last few months of his life in the hospital where he continued sanctifying the situation he was in. He received the Anointing of the Sick on more than one occasion and had the comfort of the daily reception of the Holy Eucharist. He also carried out the various norms of piety every day.

On the day he died, he received a letter from the Prelate of Opus Dei, Bishop Javier Echevarria. After having it read twice to him, he and the others with him started the Rosary and our Lord called him some minutes afterwards. It was the evening of Tuesday, 11th of October 2016.

Despite his physical limitations Okey was always faithful to his duties. He was punctual to all tasks and tried to fulfill them as best as possible. He did not want to be the object of preferential treatment but instead put himself out to be of service to others. Okechukwu neither complained about anything nor about anybody. His demeanor and attitude was of serene ordinariness and matter-of-fact. He was so normal that it was difficult to know what extraordinary efforts he was making. He was loyal to his friends and was ever concerned about their physical and spiritual well-being. He prayed for them daily and was in constant touch with them using all available means of communication as well as visiting them. He was a good friend. His sense of responsibility was exemplary. It was enough to assign a task to him to assume it would be done, no matter how much effort it took or how long. When the work of others depended on his contributions Okechukwu was the strongest link in that "chain". Even a few days before he died, he was insistent on following a well-defined timetable in order to make good use of his time. He was a very good and diligent professional. He understood the sanctification of professional work and that pleasing God and praying to him through his work were most important. Hence he undertook his MBA and later his PhD studies even at times when, from the outside, others were wont to wonder the purpose of all his efforts. It was a common sight to see Okechukwu studying academic journal articles on his laptop (he read hundreds of these), serenely spending hours after hours without seeming to get tired. An image of the Blessed Virgin at the corner of his screen was a reminder to him that God was the centre of his efforts. While still in the hospital, he still set out time dedicated to studying.

If one were to describe Okechukwu with some adjectives they would be: normal, simple, hardworking, humble, ordinary, faithful son of God, faithful friend, uncomplaining, responsible, and trustworthy. He was indeed a role model and trail blazer both at home and at work for his siblings and colleagues.