I wake up each morning to start a new day but the pain of losing you never goes away. I go about the things i have to do and as the hours pass i think again of you.You were the most truly wonderful mum,a treasure that can never be replaced,you nutured me with your tender love and supported me in everyway.I want to call you and Just hear your voice then i remember that i have no choice for you're not there and my heart cries just to see you again to tell you goodbye. To say mum i love you and i always will and hope that much of you in me you've instilled. You're one in a million,i will never forget the precious times we shared together. Mum,our special bond was priceless you were my dearest friend,i never doubted your compassion right until the very end. Your love meant the world to me,i miss your warmth,so gentle, peaceful and kind heart.

The day you left i just didn't know that you were going where i couldn't go.

And now,all my memories of you are so dear, but gosh, how i miss you and wish you were here. Who now can hear me when i need to cry? Who will call me "Ulunwa" ,"My strength"? who will call me all those sweet names and encourage me ? it's so hard to tell you "Mum Goodbye". Some day i know all will be well And I'll see you again with stories to tell of how you were missed and how we have grown and how good it is to finally be home. You will live on forever in my heart and in my mind.

Until then memories of you I'll keep near and I'll pass them on to those who are dear.



Your Ulunwa

I could not find a way to write this admission, it’s too difficult to let you go Mummy, the words are too much and not enough to describe how much you meant to me and the pain , oh God, the pain is excruciating but I cannot question God Almighty who knows everything. I have to accept this.



Mummy, you made waves all over the country, always coming first in everything, you never let them beat you, I have tried to replicate your legacy, I’m still nowhere close. You were just INTELLIGENT. How can I forget all the sacrifices you made for me and my Sisters, you were too selfless, I remember the conversations about the future, the laughter, the secrets we shared, the worries and the plans you had for us, your children…Then the hymns we sang together, you were the best singer I ever knew, The heavens opened to your praises to God, we make good melodies together, You taught me how to be a true Christian and you were always expressive with your emotions and you taught me to do same.



My guardian Angel, who will call me “my boy” again? , you were my pillar of support, my cheerleader, you ensured I got the best of  Education, a platform to stand tall as a man and shoulder my responsibilities, in short, you gave me everything. I still carry on the pain & guilt that I did not spend time with you in your last days , you didn’t want me to go through the psychological trauma of knowing your condition, we were on it together physically, spiritually, emotionally before life activities took me away. Your daughters, my sisters have told me all about it countless number of times, I have seen the pictures and indeed the pain was too much for you. Oh! I wish I had the power to give you a brand-new body, how I wish……



I still remember the late nights, the struggles for your health, the hospital runs, I never got tired of them because seeing you alive was the greatest Joy in my life. Now my Joy is gone, how do I pick up myself from this grief, o mother…..the memories of your tears at home before we headed to the Airport and also at NAIA hunts me severely… if only I understood the message…



Mummy, I do not know how I will ever get over this but I will take comfort in the fact that you are in a better place where there is no pain, worries and pressures of this world. My Children, your grandchildren will get to know you and in details, I promise.



I really miss you so much Mummy’m and will do forever; I will continue to cherish the beautiful memories we shared; I will never be able to wear your shoes but I will ensure I carry on the exceptional legacies you’ve left behind. I Promise!



Sleep well my Heroine, until we meet to part no more.



                                               Your boy and only Son

                                                         Mobim

It has taken me 3 months and 3 weeks to muster the courage to pen down my last

words to you Prof.

I remember vividly that terrific Sunday morning 29 th November when you asked that I

take you to the hospital as you weren’t getting better from what seemed like malaria

and common cold. It was about 7am, we all woke up. I just brushed my teeth and we

drove to Garki Hospital Emergency. That seemingly simple hospital drive which had

become like a routine since your health dwindled translated to the most horrific 10

days of my existence.

Mum, I watched you struggle in pain, yet praising and worshipping believing that God

would do what only him can do; but He had other plans.

The sleepless nights, the traumas, the unending banter with the doctors and nurses

who we felt were taking things lightly are nothing compared to the pain I feel as a

result of your passing. I could give whatever in the world it takes to have you here

with me.

My life was meaningful because i had you because since your passing, I struggle to

find the essence. You gave me life mum. I remember the story you told me of my

birth; I also remember when in 2014 I had a very bad surgery, how you literally

abandoned your job and worked from my hospital bed. Do I recount your countless

sacrifices to see that we went to good schools.

Mum you bled for us yet despite all the challenges of an unstable and turbulent

marriage, you excelled exceedingly in your career, managed your home, raised us to

near perfection, maintained your godly virtues, and even got to the peak of your

academics. I look at you in awe of the strength you exumed even up till your last

moments. That is why each time you blessed me and said you believed in me I didn’t

understand how I can ever be like you. You excelled at every point in life-graduated

with a first class, was the best in NYSC camp, finished your masters with distinction

and even at your work place; you came tops at your nationwide promotional exams.

Nothing they say ever really prepares us for the death of our loved ones. NOTHING!

Despite seeing how things went bad, I was never prepared for your death because

we had plans mummy. I had plans for you.

My memory still have vivid pictures of how you spent those long, painful 10 days in

the hospital, yet amazingly you were still mindful of me, you never stopped worrying

about how I was faring. You didn’t want me to leave your sight as you were always

frantic anytime I wasn’t there beside you. I recall that Wednesday December 9 night.

I had barely left the hospital at midnight to catch some sleep and return in the

morning when Chioma junior called to say you were not responding. My world

literally paused. How we managed to get to the hospital in the thick of the night, only

science can explain the adrenaline rush.

We got there and met my worst fears.

To the world you were one person, but to me you were the world. You didn’t have

much, but we always felt like we had everything. You didn’t leave millions in your



bank account, but you left a legacy worth much more. You impacted lives

everywhere you went, doing good, being an undeniably kind hearted woman; friend,

sister, boss, colleague and mentor even unto death.

You taught me love, forgiveness, patience and endurance. You taught me how to

pray and led by example. You praised me whenever I did good (Ada m ji eme onu,

my lion!, Ada ukwu!) and pointed out my mistakes with that gentle voice. I think

about you every day even whenever your favorite songs come up during worship.

I was devastated when you feel ill. In a matter of days, the smile on your face

disappeared and was replaced by gloom. I couldn’t leave your side for one second.

I will never forget that fateful Thursday morning. The cruel hand of death had

snatched you away from us. We miss you every day. I thank God for you and cherish

the memories we made. I love you.

Mum, you were the truest, dearest, more than a mother to me. I called you a friend,

sister, teacher.

The love and patience you possessed. You touched my heart in so many ways, your

strength and smile even on dark days made me realize I had an angel beside me.

You heard God’s whisper, calling you home, you did not want to leave. I saw how

you fought with your illness. you loved us sooo much that you held on tight, until all

your strength was gone, and you could no longer hold on. Finally you gave your

hand to God and slipped away quietly after giving instructions on how you want to be

buried. You made it easy for us to plan your final honor.

I will forever love and adore you mom for everything you taught us in life. Your death

took away joy from our lives but we will hold on to the beautiful memories of times

spent with you.



Adieu Daa m Akudo



You live on! I promise!



Your Adaoma

Dear lovely and kind aunty, I am so sad you had a leave me,i loved you so much. Your demise came as a shock to me because you always did the right thing and i expected you to live long but I cannot question GOD.



Adieu mummy Akudo. Adieu big aunty i will always have you in my heart.





Your Niece

Chinweotito Ugo-chikezie

While I did not have the opportunity to have met you in person, I did get to “know” you through your children, especially through Ada, whom I still remain very close to. From my interaction it was very clear; you were a compendium of academic and career excellence, virtue, honour and Christ-centred spirituality. Proudly Igbo and confidently Nigerian. Hearing your kind words, communicated through your daughter, as I battled through my PhD, was strengthening. I was hoping to meet you in person; unfortunately, this will no longer be possible, in this part of our world. Thank you for being a wonderful mother, friend and counsellor to your children and the younger ones around you. They will carry your baton and, by God’s grace, shine the torch of virtues you preached and practiced, even brighter.

Rest in the Bosom of Our Lord, Jesus.



Dr. Okechukwu Okorie.

The 10th of december has two significant meanings to me now. It is my birthday and it is also a day I lost one of my most cherished aunties, Aunty Akudo. I can't explain the sadness I felt when I got the news around 2am on December 10 2020 that my beloved aunty is gone. My birthday had no meaning to me again.



Aunty Akudo is the kind of aunt everyone prays to have. She cares a lot, gives you a listening ear and always reaches out to know how one is faring. She is one aunty I chat with a lot and we discuss practically everything. She has practically the same nature with my dad in the sense that she is so humane and easily relatable with. I will miss her terribly. Aunty, you have defeated sickness and conquered death and I believe you are in a better place watching over your offsprings and all who you hold dear to you. Continue to rest in peace Aunty till we meet to part no more.



Osuji Udoka

Sometimes, some certain things cannot be imagined, not that it cannot happen but one may not give a

thought to it until it affects the person. In such a situation, one is left dumbfounded, confused,

disorganized and completely lacks the adjective to qualify what has befallen him.

Such was and still is my state of being since I got the news of your death just a day after visiting you in

hospital in Abuja and it has remained so till date. You managed to talk to me when last I saw you in

hospital and I believed that there could still be a miracle even when I glaringly saw that your condition

continued to deteriorate even while I was briefly with you.

Still perplexed and bewildered as to what has happened, I find it difficult to put the prefix “Late “to your

name but it has now downed on me that you are no more and my tears and wishes cannot bring you

back to life.

Shita (Sister) as we fondly call you sometimes, you were such a wonderful woman with a heart of gold.

While on sick bed, you were giving out huge sums of money to many whom you think perhaps, needs it

more. I began to imagine and wonder the kind of creature you were. You never ceased to encourage

your younger ones as they looked up to you as their role model while growing up. In all of these, you

were numero uno” in the pursuit of education as you bit all your contemporaries from Primary School

through Secondary and Tertiary Institutions. You will always be the best graduating Student and while

on NYSC, you were also the best Corper in old Kwara State at that time. You were always the Best!

Why is it that good things don’t last? Why is it that evil men seem to be living longer and seem to be

having a field day? Your types are rare and humanly speaking, should not die but who am I to question

God.

I will personally miss you until I also depart this world. You cannot be replaced by anybody as the

vacuum created by your demise cannot be filled. I will miss your humor, the ambience your presence

radiates, your smiles even when there seem to be confusion everywhere, your advice, your astuteness

and most importantly, your love for your siblings, Children and every creature that crossed your path. In

you, I will miss an intelligent, disciplined, honest, caring, loving and beautiful Sister. I can go on and on.

You are an unwritten book and this tribute cannot by any chance state whom you were, what you were

and how much we are going to miss you.

Good Night Ada Archdeacon, Adieu Shita, Goodbye Adanne m – Dr Chioma Akudo Onyenwe.



Wishing you a glorious trip to the great beyond.

Ahakaku (Black)

You were more than a sister-in-law to me, You were more of a sister and a friend, You were an encourager, You were a supporter, You had a word for everyone and every season, You were a believer; a strong believer, You believed in family, You believed in marriage, You believed in friendship, You believed in peace.



You lived out your name “AKU-UDO’’ - Peaceful wealth, Peaceful ornament, Peaceful jewel, You were indeed an angel of peace; a human angel, Your sense of submission as a wife was second to none, You were an epitome of the good wife talked about in Proverbs 31:10-end, Your labour of love God will reward, Your departure has left many heart-broken, but God, the Father of all comforts knows you deserve this rest, So, sleep on, great woman of faith and patience, till the resurrection morning.



Evang Chinemerem Ugochi Osuji



(Nwunye Dede Okey)

Writing this is an admission of your passing and I had been perfectly willing to play the ostrich and pretend it is not true.

Alas! It is. Words alone cannot begin to describe how incredible you were.

Daa Akudo, you were love and goodness personified. Given the horrors that we are faced with every day, you were one shining light that brightened ours lives. Our lives were so much richer and beautiful because you were in it.

You never allowed anybody bear his burden alone. You were always willing to lend a shoulder. And you did all these with joy and a laughter that could calm even the most frayed nerve. But the toils of this world took it toll.

And our Good Lord deemed it fit to call you home to a well-deserved rest. We cannot question God. So, we must accept this decision with the faith that we have that you are in a place where the burden and cares of this world cannot touch you anymore.

Sleep on auntie! Till we meet again!!



Osuji Uchechukwu

A QUINTESSENTIAL SISTER -…. A sister like no other……..

I have tried to write this tribute, but each time I wished it away. This is a difficult

test but I have to write it. By English language standards, we are called cousins,

but my relationship with you transcended beyond that word. You were my Adanne,

a shoulder I lean on, my adviser and discussant whenever the tide is high. We

bonded well. If I were to put down a detailed write up here it will be an epistle that

will span from the famous St Catherines Girls Secondary School Nkwerre to Alvan

Ikoku College of Education, University of Nigeria Nsukka and Lagos State

University, the DSS and finally African State University. These were the major

landmarks that moulded you. Your periods of service in secondary school teaching

were the years of service to humanity which you dutifully carried out.

Da, I thank God that on the 16 th of September 2020, on my way to Kaduna, I

stopped by in Abuja and spent that day with you. As well on my way back, I came

by again, met you in the dialysis unit, and spent the night of September 19, 2020

with you. Thanks to the #ENDSARS demonstrators that blocked the airport road

on the 19 th 0f September 2020. If I had missed that opportunity, it would have hurt

me forever. We discussed so much about your health, our kids and as usual our

kith and kin. We touched base. The excitement in you when Essy and I walked in

was so palpable. I can vividly recall the smiles that grew to laughter, gesticulations

and all that took place on these visits. Little did I know that such moment will

never come by again, that it was a one time LAST OPPORTUNITY only to be

savoured by memories. As usual you offered me everything that was available,

spoiling me as a baby sister irrespective of our age now. I never grew before you.

You were an academic guru. Despite the hardship in the country, your humble

beginnings, loss of mother at a tender age, vocation and marriage and its

responsibilities which could have acted as deterrents to pursuing your academic

excellence, you defied them and prevailed. You forged ahead and scored a Doctor

of Philosophy (Ph.D). Highly intellectual/cerebral! Determination was your

watchword. You accomplished much while here given the exigencies that

surrounded you. You had a very good head.

You had a large heart. You didn’t know how to say “NO” even though you were

not a millionaire. From the little you had, you sealed major cracks in people’s



lives! Your compassionate nature speaks volumes of you. Being a trained

counselor, you related to all irrespective of age difference at their level and scope.

You were every inch a lady.

We exchanged scriptural verses, our e-prayers and ideas that touch our lives at any

hour of the day, night, even in the wee hours of the day. You, as ada archdeacon

was full of these and always excelled. My chat with you is replete of these hymns

we love that we share being choristers. I sincerely see you singing and a partaker

of Rev21; 4.

Da, you really gave the illness a fight, but I don’t know what went wrong. I have

been dealing with the pains from the yawning gap of your exit. Great irreparable

loss! I am forever happy to be associated with you. May the good Lord we worship

forgive all your sins and grant your soul eternal rest. Amen. Goodnight and rest on

Da m. Till Resurrection morning. Adieu nwanyioma.



Lady Chinwe Abanobi.

Ada-nnem! This is the time to give Thanks to The Almighty Father, our God and

Creator, for your just ended earth life once again. It is pleasing to note that, based on

the quality of life you have lived; your sojourning was to a very large extent, a fulfilled

and purposeful one.

You lived your earth names Akudo (Wealth of Peace) and Chioma (Benevolence of

Fate). You were indeed an Epitome of Peace, Goodness, Kindness, Charity and

Love to all who crossed your path namely; your spouse, children, siblings, friends and

colleagues in all places you served humanity. You sowed so many good seeds, so

many to mention and remember, that we can only pray that your efforts to give peace

and happiness to many shall be rewarded in accordance to the Divine Ordnances of

Our Creator.

I specially pray for the ascent of your spirit-soul to the abode where the Light of God

The Father Reigns Supreme and Hold Sway. May you also awaken in joyful activities in

The Lord’s Luminous Kingdom. Amen.

Gaa ije gi nke oma!



Your Brother,

Chibuzo Nwabueze Chikezie Nwaoguala.

Akudo was a very brilliant, hardworking and humble girl. She was kind, peace loving and

above all very honest. Our dear unassuming friend was a good Christian of the Anglican

communion extraction. Her thirst for knowledge was unquenchable. She obtained the NCE,

B.Sc. Ed., M.Ed and PhD from various universities. Until her untimely death she was a staff

of Federal University, Otuoke. She was a guidance counsellor of repute who had great

passion for her job.

Our camaraderie with DR MRS AKUDO CHIOMA ANYANWU (nee ONYENWE)

started in January of 1971 at St Catharine’s Girls Secondary School Nkwerre. Providence

brought some of us together again through social media. We formed a WhatsApp group to

reminisce on our formative years. Akudo was very active in the group. She brightened up

our days with her intelligent and spiritual posts. She brought us so much happiness then all

of a sudden, she dropped the news of her health challenge. We prayed with her, we prayed

for her but alas the will of the Lord was done. On December 10, 2020, we received the

shocking news of the death of our dear friend Akudo. Ada Archdeacon is no more.

Having lost her mother early in life immediately after our Secondary School she became a

mother to her sister and brothers at a very early age. Little wonder then that her siblings

and children battled ceaselessly sparing no expense to save her but her maker wanted her

home. A mother par excellence, a rare gem, a disciplinarian, a dependable daughter, a

loving wife and a virtuous woman of Proverbs 31 standard has gone home.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to the Onyenwe’s and the Anyanwu’s  for this great

loss. She was a great pillar in both families. We urge her husband, children, sister and

brothers to take solace that she is resting in the bosom of our Lord where no sickness will

see her any more, where the pains and pangs of life no more can reach. Our prayer is that

God will give you the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.

Chinanu, Ndukuba and brothers take heart, Adaoma, Ulunma and brothers be comforted.

Farewell our cherished friend, we loved you but God loves you best.

Adieu, Adieu, Adieu, AKUDO



From St Catharine’s Class of '75

Prof Chinyere Osuji Madu

Barr Gloria Okorie Okonkwo

Mrs Elsie Abadom Ogo

Barr Stella Ekwunife Ezenwa

Mrs Eugenia Omaji Mgbo

Ugoeze Barr Lizzy Umeh Ajoku

Mrs Nkechi Azike Igogor

Mrs Nwaego Anyiam Ikechi

Dr Chizomam Ononiwu Usoh

Dr Ezinne Ikechi Nwadinobi

Prof Ngozi Nwigwe Ihediohanma

Mrs Uchenna Amadi Enyine

Mrs Adaure Emenike Chukwumerije

Mrs Adline Okoroma Chilaka