The life of a peace Loving and truthful man
Super Chief Emmanuel Agbugbaeruneke Okafor (Agbugbaeruneke 1 umulogho kingdom obowo IMO state)
When someone close to us pass away, we are often left with a question that can be overwhelming to face ; What Now? How do we live with the memory’s of the person? How do we share his memory? How do we preserve it? Those questions and more has been going through our mind for the past months now. The definition of a Hero depends on the person being described, and the person describing. Your description of a hero may not be our description. The hero’s definition my siblings and I know is chief Emmanuel A. Okafor, who all through his life was defined as a God-fearing man,a truth speaker, a peace maker, the person that brings order to disorder, and that person that moulded us into the men and weman we are today.
we call him mpa not just because we were brought into this world by him, but also because he is someone to look up to, someone to follow, someone to emulate, someone to be proud of and someone to brag about, someone to lean from ,someone to hold and someone to cry with, someone to listen to, someone to talk to and someone to try and impress and sometimes someone to rebel against. Unfortunately we don’t have that anymore.
First, I want to thank everyone here for coming to witness our efforts to commit the remains of our father super Chief Emmanuel A. Okafor to Mother Earth. It means a lot to us. May I also thank my siblings for caring for our father and being that children he true deserve. God bless you all. Thank you.
The man, Nnanyi Emma
Super Chief Emmanuel A. Okafor was born on December 12th 1932 to the family of late Pa kafor Emeka Anthony and Mrs ogbedinya Elizabeth kafor of Umuokpa umulogho obowo L.G.A of imo state Nigeria. He was the second child out of five children of which death took his two brothers away few years back and living him with two Sisters. Lady Serah Ibekwe and Lady Susan Emenogu.
Chief Emmanuel Okafor started earlier in life like other kids of his generation.
Educational Pursuits saw him through the corridors of some reputable institutions of Higher Learning, as he started his Early Educational life at St Peter primary school now Umulogho Central School, he did his technical college education from the famous Ahiara technical college and the prestigious Stella Maris College Onitsha Nigeria. Where he learnt carpentry and furniture making. At the completion of his training, he moved to Aba to look for greener pastures and begin his forniture making, the job he did with passion.
Chief Emmanuel Okafor's career life was remarkable, given that he remained in his area of specialization, which was Art desigs and carpentry, his passion for art and design led him into setting up his cottage business in aba', A.E Okafor and co, a business his was managing until he joined the Nigerian Joinery in 1961 to 1963.
He worked with Aba textile Mills LTD from (1965 to 1974), Fougerolle Enugu-Umuahia express project from (1977 to 1979), Jebba Dam Fougerolle from (1979 to 1982), Ajuokuta steel complex from (1982 to 1983), Refinery project P.H from (1984 to 1985), Ajuokuta steel complex Fougerolle from (1986 to 1987), Dumez-JLET Itabe mining project from (1987 to 1989), Ajuokuta steel complex from (1989 to 1990), Spibat company portharcourt petrochemical complex, from (1991 to 1994). His career saw him traveled many parts of Nigeria from itabe in benue state to ajokuta in kogi state, port harcourt in River state, and to Lagos Nigeria and finally returned home in 1997 and told those who came to welcomed him that our home town is the last "Bus stop".
Marriage to my mother his only wife.
In 1978 my father met and fall in love with our mother late Lolo Antonia Akuckukwu Okafor and both got married the same year, the marriage was blessed with seven children of who six are alive today with 10 grandchildren. After our mother's untimely and unfortunate death in the year 1993, my father remained single till the day he died on the 9th day of September 2022. My father made the ultimate sacrifice when his mates were remarrying and getting married to a second and third wife, he consistently maintained Single life till today. He kept sacrificing the better and sweetest part of his life for his children no wonder today all his children are all graduates, my father was a Family man an astute indeed.
Political life; Chief Emmanuel Okafor has his own share of political life and he Joined in making political histories in Nigeria, he was a chairman of different political parties from the word to the local government and the State level. He was once a state officer of the then NPP he was also a local government chairman of the then APP, SDP before they climax of it all with PDP of today.
Chief Emmanuel Okafor was a soldier who fought in the battlefield as a combatant during the Nigerian and biafra civil war. Chief Emmanuel Okafor fought in different battlefield while defending Biafra land a cost he believed in till death.
As a community leader Papa was one time chairman of Umulogho development Association Lagos branch, Secretary Umulogho town Union and the longest serving chairman of Emena Okorohuo kindred Umulogho Obowo.
Christian life, my father was a devoted Christian of the catholic faith, a true lover of the blessed Virgin Mary, a follower of blessed Fr. Tansi. He was in the forefront of the catholic evangelism in Umulogho and Obowo. A life member of the CMO of St. Peter parish umulogho. Oh yes, he was a true child of God.
My father was recognized with a chieftaincy title as the Agbugbaeruneke 1 of Umulogho by HRH Eze Patrick Ngozi Uwalaka Nlogh 2 of Umulogho kingdom.
Last days. “Men should not be afraid of death, rather men should long for death and see death as necessary end because death is end itself” though the last enemy according to bible writers. How I wish the occasion is not this. My father was very strong and practiced his faith to the fullness till his last day, on the 9th of September 2022 he answered the glorious call to be with his maker in heaven. my father came, he saw and he has conquered this life. I am a living witness to the virtues of which my father was generously praised.
My father is Survived by.
Rev. Uchechi Francis Okafor........Son
Barr. Ogechi P. Okafor................Daughter
Mr. Nkemjika Alexzander Okafor ..Son
Mrs. Akunna Grace Iheanacho ....Daughter
Mr. Ezechukwu Victor Okafor......Son
Engr. Ugochukwu Vitus Okafor .....Son
Son in-law
Mr. Chinedu Eyeribe
Mr. Chukwuemeka Patrick Iheanacho
Daughter in-law
Lady Christiana Ulunma Okafor
10 grandchildren
Sisters
Lady Sarah Ibekwa
Lady Suzan Emenogu