On December 27, 2012, Mrs. Patience Ukachi Nwakanma went to be with the Lord. She was 59 years old at the time of her death.

Subsequent upon her Marriage, She gave birth 2 years later to a son. As a wife She was humble, submissive, loving, caring and a protector, as a Mother, She was a disciplinarian, a Scientist, a Mathematician, an Economist, a political Scientist, a linguist in fact there was hardly any assignment in an knowledge area that She could not provide a solution. She was a pillar, we naturally went to Mum for anything we needed and there was never a time she said “go and ask your father” or “I don’t have” instead you would hear encouraging words like; ”don’t worry we will give you this or that”. She never had any excuses, by whatever means possible she supported her Husband in providing for the Family, the kids never went hungry even in the most dare situations. She was always there to solve all problems. As a Daughter-In-Law, She was a Daughter indeed, she was accepted by the Family and also accepted the Family as hers and took responsibilities of some things traditionally left for biological children. As a Sister, she was a protector, a sustainer and confidant. As a Mother-In-Law, She was very loving and understanding, always willing to give rather than collect. As a Grand-mother, She was love personified, always looking for opportunities to shower her Grand-children with Love, gifts and all manner of wonderful things.

She is Survived by the following:

Dr. Prince C. Nwakanma                    -               Husband,

John C. Nwakanma                              -               Son

Chukwuka N. Nwakanma                  -               Son

Onyinyechi C. Nkoro                          -               Daughter

 Ikechukwu C. Nwakanma                 -               Son

Dr. Chioma Nwakanma                      -               Daughter-In-Law

Raymond Nkoro                                  -               Son-In-Law

Chibuchi John Nwakanma                 -               Grandson

Daniel Nkoro                                       -               Grandson

Michael Chukwuebube Nwakanma -               Grandson

David Nkoro                                        -               Grandson

An Aged Mother, Brothers and Sisters, and Relations too numerous to mention.

On July 27, 1977, Mrs. Patience Ukachi Nwakanma (Nee Echefu) got married to then Mr Prince C. Nwakanma at Assemblies of God, Ohabiam. Subsequently, they proceeded as a couple to Kaduna where they spent one year for their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). After their service year in 1978, they came to Rivers State where she got at the request of her Husband she applied for and was appointed as a Biology Teacher by the Rivers State Government even though she had wanted to practice in the Laboratory.

As a teacher, she excelled in her chosen profession, exhibiting discipline, confidence and high Christian Standard in the discharge of her duties. She started her career with the Government Boys Secondary School, Borokiri. In 1986, she graduated from the University of Port Harcourt where she did a Post graduate Diploma Course in Education (PGDE); she graduated the best student in her Class. It was her discipline and high Christian Standard that earned her to love and respect of Colleagues and Students alike. Amazingly, due to her personality it was sometimes difficult differentiating between her students and her biological Children as Her show of love was to all. She was later transferred to Baptist High School, from where she proceeded to Government Secondary School, Emohua. She was then transferred to Holy Rosary Girls Secondary School in 1997. Before leaving Holy Rosary Secondary School, She served as the Head of Science Department from 1999 to 2001. In 2001, She was transferred to Government Girls Secondary School, Rumuokuta, where She was the Head of Science Department and the Head of Biology, a position She held until her demise. While in Government Girls Secondary School, She was also the President Christian Staff Fellowship, Head of Disciplinary Committee.

She was supposed to be retired by the End of March after 34 years of Service.

Mrs. Patience Ukachi Nwakanma while in secondary school joined the Scripture Union and accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and personal Savior. In fact she converted her parents to accept Jesus Christ as savior. As a Christian, She worshipped at Assemblies of God. Upon arrival in Rivers State, She joined Assemblies of God, Silver Valley in 1978, the Church in which she served till her death. While in the Church she served in various capacities including Matron/Life Matron “Young Singles Department”, Founding Board Member, “Excel Education Centre”, a school owned by the Church, Deaconess and President of the Women’s Ministry of the Assemblies of God, Silver Valley, a position she held from 2002 until her death. She was also a Sunday School Teacher. As a Christian her life was a life of Service to GOD and humanity. Her life evangelized Christ everyday in the way she interacted with people; she was selfless, disciplined and very loving. She was always willing to give away what she had to bring a soul to Christ or help a needy person. Her life can be summed up as a life lived for others because even in the midst of her own hardships and lack she could always be relied on to provide for the needs of others.

Deaconess Patience Ukachi Nwakanma was born Miss Patience Ukachi Echefu on 29th March 1953 to the family of late Deacon Clement Nnawuihe Echefu (a school Teacher/Head Master) and Deaconess Edna Egondu Echefu (a Seamstress) at No.35 School Road, Aba. She was born the second child and the second daughter although, the first died shortly before her birth. (She was popularly known and called Patie). Patie excelled as a Christian, Daughter, Wife, Daughter-In-Law, Teacher, Church leader, Mother, Mother-In-Law, and Grand-mother. She was the most perfect life’s definition of perfection in all she did.

Deaconess Patience Ukachi Nwakanma was born Miss Patience Ukachi Echefu on 29th March 1953 to the family of late Deacon Clement Nnawuihe Echefu (a school Teacher/Head Master) and Deaconess Edna Egondu Echefu (a Seamstress) at No.35 School Road, Aba. She was born the second child and the second daughter although, the first died shortly before her birth. (She was popularly known and called Patie).

At her early age she demonstrated uncanny traits of excellence and brilliance.  Just before her sixth year she enrolled into Township School Aba, to begin her Primary School Education in January 1959. In Township School, she excelled in all the classes till she left in 1964 with an excellent first School Leaving Certificate.

In 1965, she enrolled into the prestigious St. Catherine’s Secondary School Nkwerre where she had her secondary education. She was in Class 3 when the war broke out in 1967 and the Schools in the area generally referred to as Biafra stopped until 1970. Thereafter she resumed in Class 4 and took her West African School Certificate Examination in 1971.  In 1971 she became one of the few females that enrolled into St. Augustine’s Grammar School, Nkwerre for her Advance level course.

However that year she took entrance examination into the Universities and gained admission to Study Biochemistry into University of Ife, Ile-Ife 1972 and graduated eventually in Microbiology in 1977. She was the first female graduate in her community.

As an individual at her early age, her father instilled into her a sense of discipline for he was indeed a disciplinarian and she imbibed same until her death. In between holidays she assisted her mother in taking care of her younger siblings in spite of their rascality and stubbornness. She would rather remain hungry to see that her siblings are satisfied. She was love and humility personified.

While in secondary school, she joined the Scripture Union and accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and personal Saviour. In fact she converted her parents to accept Jesus Christ as savior. Her faith sustained her at the all male St Augustine’s Grammar School, Nkwerre, at a time when safety of female students in such environment was frightful. Her comportment and discipline kept and protected her without losing her faith.

During the war, her mother was caught up by the Federal troops at Atani near Onitsha, and failed to return more that two weeks after her expected date of return but Patie demonstrated her dexterity as a mother. Her father was teaching at Umunwanwa in present day Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State with two of her siblings while she had responsibility of taking care of four siblings including a less than three year old younger sister.

She demonstrated strength and exercised (what today with better knowledge) spiritual authority, by gathering her siblings to pray for the safe return of their mother. Whenever war relief materials were distributed she ensured that the family got its share. She was dogged and a never quit person.

By her life many were led to Jesus Christ. Her life was witnessing everyday for Christ when it was not fashionable to profess born again more so the Scripture Union (S.U) type. She married in 1977 the same year of her graduation.      

Contents

 “I shall pass through this life but once. Any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness I can show, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it. For I shall never pass this way again.

– Etienne de Grellet

"Your life is your message to the world. Make it inspiring."

– Lorrin Lee