“And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labour, for, their works will follow them”—Revelations 14: 13.

The late Effiok Okon Archibong was born in Douala, Cameroon on 18 December 1965 to Mr. Okon Archibong of blessed memory and Madam Kokoh Okon, who currently lives in Nigeria. He was the third of seven children, made up of three boys and four girls.

Mr. Archibong was a native of Ikot Ayan Itam, in Itu local government area of Akwa Ibom State in Nigeria. Thus, he was a Nigerian who grew up in Cameroon where he studied in his early life.

Effiok was highly enterprising and started working at an early age in Cameroon. He also attended the Aviation school in Ethiopia and he worked with companies such as Ethiopian Airlines before moving to Finland in 1990.

In Finland, the late Archibong studied in a number of vocational institutions and acquired diplomas in various disciplines.

He was a bold and imaginative person, an activist, astute politician, a philanthropist, a public servant and a community organizer.

The late Archibong was a selfless leader, director, mentor and a great motivator who worked tirelessly for the progress and unity of the African immigrant community and other communities in Finland. He was indeed a prominent personality and a pillar in the African migrant community and other communities in Finland.

He was a member of several migrants’ associations and also supported a lot of other organizations or groups, bringing positive changes to the lives of migrants living in Finland. Examples of such groups he got involved in were the Nigerian Association, the Cameroonian Association, the Somalian Association, the Ibo Union, the Yoruba Union, the Akwa-Cross community, the Thai community, the Indian community, etc.

Mr. Archibong created several other organization solely and with other people, coming up with great projects that benefited a lot of migrants and refugees that came to Finland earlier in the 1990s, and even beyond.

In 2014, he established the Jehom Driving School Oy in Helsinki, becoming arguably the first African migrant to do so in Finland. He spoke many languages, and he gave driving lessons in Finnish, English, French, etc.

In his later years, Mr. Archibong became a devout Christian. He was the leader of the Kingship International Ministry in Finland and the coordinator of the ministry’s activities in the whole of Scandinavia.

He was very jovial and loving. Mr. Archibong will be remembered for being a good friend to many people in the African migrant community and other communities in Finland.

He was a deeply loved brother, father, husband, mentor and friend to many people, a selfless giver who supported many people and events both in cash and in kind.

The late Effiok Archibong was called home to rest on 27 October 2017. His last words before he gave up the spirit were: “Never stop doing good; continue doing good.”

He is survived by a wife (Josephine), four children (Sidikatu, Namonso, Edimma, Epote), grandchildren, his mother, brother, sister, cousins, nephews, nieces, and many wonderful friends.

May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace!