These past few days I often find myself exclaiming a bit aloud at the passing of this great, honourable, kind man. It is hard to accept your transition but you certainly touched many lives in a very positive manner. I personally remember how you helped me in numerous ways - Texaco work experience, holidays, advice, my Dad's burial arrangements etc. We definitely miss you a lot but I am sure you are completely at rest. Great salute to a distinguished general!

My memories of Adaora’s Dad are of a unique gentleman who had a very loving relationship with his family, and notably, with his grandchildren, with whom he clearly enjoyed a close and jovial relationship despite the age divide. He would always welcome my family and Adaora/ Johnny’s other friends warmly whenever he (and Mum) visited them in London. There were no airs and graces around him notwithstanding his phenomenal professional achievements .... he was always ever so down to earth and jolly. He loved the outdoors, and enjoyed a good barbecue, and it is indeed an honour my family and I hold dear, to have had the privilege of hosting the last barbecue he attended here in the UK. Dad ran an awesome race and has now gone home to rest. May his soul rest in eternal peace

May your soul rest in perfect peace.Amen, sir, Daddy Nwizu.

Dear Daddy Nwizu,
I write to let you know the huge vacuum that your untimely passing has left. We know life does come to an end, but the abruptness of your death was not only inexplicably heartbreaking but was also an ultimate catastrophe. What about us Daddy? Did you think about our welfare? What about Mama? You’ve left her all alone! After all those loving years. Daddy why did you do this to us? It’s not fair at all!!
I remember you as a kind, wise, soft spoken welcoming and loving dad. Each time I came to teach your grand daughter, you would always call,“Chiemelie, your teacher is here “, and when the parents were not there, you would intently listen to the feedback I gave about progress made and advised “Chiemelie, listen to your teacher”.I still vividly remember our discussions regarding how Ibos were welcomed to Zambia during the Biafran troubles. I also remember how we talked about our KIA cars and how reliable they were. We compared my Sportage and your KIA Sorento and marvelled at how Koreans had advanced so quickly while we were still struggling in our countries, yet we had similar starting points.
Daddy,I was anxiously awaiting for a next encounter so I could draw more from your wisdom, and now you’re gone! Why daddy why?  This will take an enormously long time to come to terms with.
We are only consoled in the knowledge that you lived a purposeful, selfless and God fearing life, therefore you’re with the Lord.
For us, consolation comes from Romans 8:28 which reads...
“And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Good bye Daddy. I will eternally miss you. May your soul rest in peace. Until we meet again..God bless your soul...

I've known Daddy for a while now and truth be told, I can only find good words to describe such a man of good repute. Though I never met him personally, he has been quite influential in the life of my very dear friend, Nnenna. He had a very altruistic and accommodating nature so much so that one could easily mistake Daddy for Nne's biological father, indeed she did time to time again refer to him as daddy. The world has lost one good person but all we can do is to celebrate the puous life he led and reflect on the golden words, there is a reson for everything, Daddy you will be dearly missed. Adieu

Daddy,

It’s really sad to see you leave us but the light smile(this still resonates with me vividly) always on your face whenever you come in to visit us in the office or whenever we see you at a family gathering validates you indeed lived a fulfilled life, one that is rare to many. The character and reputation of your children exemplifies a great father you were.

We will certainly miss you!! RIPP daddy!!

I am heartbroken.

My dearest daddy – Enoch Ifeanyichukwu Nwizu – Nwakaibeya!

I had always dreaded the day that I’d have to write a tribute to you. I knew it would be a very difficult thing to do and had prayed and believed that it would not be for many more years to come.

Nwakaibeya you were truly a cut above the rest; set apart from your contemporaries. You were a peacemaker, gentle, warm, kind and compassionate man. The void you have left will be very hard to fill.

I learnt so much from you. You taught me to be hardworking, honest, patient (I’m still working on that), sacrifice, love, commitment and to be fair. You sacrificed so much for your immediate family, extended family and friends. You were a great sounding board, an incredible listener and was always available to guide us.

You played a pivotal role in all our lives, dedicating so much of your time to ensure your grandchildren excelled in their studies. You patiently tutored them and helped them with their revision in preparation for their exams. I recall when Johnny and I made the decision to send Nnenna to secondary school in Lagos. We could only make that decision because we knew you were there to take care of her. You never missed a visiting day, you attended all the parents teachers meetings and made sure she lacked nothing in school.

I recall the many BBQs we had in our garden which you enjoyed and insisted BBQs were not complete without chips and chicken nuggets.
In your later years, you lovingly cared for mummy after she had her two knee replacement surgeries.

You had the ability to develop and maintain deep relationships at all levels. Our friends became your friends and often visited our home to spend time with you even when we were not there. My children adored you and constantly teased you. They teased your choice of clothing, choice of TV programs and your ability to sleep with the remote control beside you but then always waking up whenever they picked it up to change the channel.

Oh my dear father, how I’ll miss you. Your departure is so painful and timing so unexpected. I love you beyond words and miss you so so much. I long to hear your voice again as you fondly said “Ada kedu” with so much tenderness whenever I called you. I’ll forever treasure the time we spent and the memories we created. I could not have wished for a better dad.

You loved God with all your heart and worshiped Him till the very end. The only consolation in your passing is that you are with the Almighty. Heaven has gained an angel.

Sleep well daddy as we pray that the God of comfort will give us succour and help us learn how to live with this pain.

Your loving daughter
Adaora

My memory of Ikenna's dad is that of a generous and caring man. His house was open to my sisters and I when we moved to Festac. May his soul rest in peace

A unique man

He was the loveliest man one could meet. I never saw him raise his voice. He was a very kind man that I met in my formative years, influencing without bullying. Explaining without overwhelming. I still remember the rasp of his voice through the years. A small word here and there. A word of encouragement. He and his wife were like one and two. There was so much to learn from him, from them. And they didn't have to even talk much. Would leave me thinking for days. He was such a wonderful man. When I remember him, I can contemplate that he could only have been created by God.

How can I say goodbye, Dad?

If I could, I’d ask you why you had to go, and knowing you like I do, you’d smile that simple, enigmatic smile of yours and say, “Johnny, it was time. You need to let go”.
It is hard to imagine you not being here. It is so hard. You made me the luckiest man on earth when you not only welcomed me into your family, but treated me like your son in all ways, bar none. You never were a father-in-law, you were my father in all ways than I could imagine. You counselled me, laughed with me, celebrated me and loved me in a way that befuddles me to this day. My father, my buddy, my confessor, the voice of my conscience.
Dad, you were special and completely irreplaceable. Neither time nor prowess, can fill the shoes you left behind. These tears will fall forever.
Perhaps that is why I feel so broken, a sense of loss that cannot be replaced by tears. How do you capture the joys of thirty years in a few lines of tribute? I could never do you justice. You are in my heart and it weighs so heavily. Even as my beard turns grey with age, I cannot stop the tears from flowing. I know you had to go. Nwakaibeya. My Lion. Not for you the mortal frailness of the impaired life, no. Nor would you accept the caging of limbs slowed down by age. You were a lion, king of the pack, born to roam free and live life on your terms. And go, you had to, because it was time. Trouble is, I still was not, nay, I am not, ready to say goodbye.
You were an enigma dad. Stoic, proper, irredeemably traditional. For you there was a proper place and a proper protocol for everything life had to offer. But then, you had more compassion, affection and kindness than anybody else I have ever known since my own mother. How was that? You never tired of supporting, comforting, seeking peace, even as age ran headlong towards you, and quietened that incredible physical strength of yours! Nwakaibeya! Who do we turn to now?
I will miss hearing the excitement in your voice when I call. I will miss our arguments across the generations. I will miss hugging you and watching your pathetic attempts at taking your medication. I will miss your reviews of my writings, your WhatsApp messages on current affairs, and I will miss our visits to the pub, just you and I, for lagers you generically termed ‘draught beer’. I will miss you dad, even in knowing you are now free and in glorious happiness in heaven. I will miss you.
Rest in eternal peace dear dad, until we meet again. May the Angels hold you in their wings and welcome you home. And please continue to watch over us.
And thank you for being my father. I will always love you.
John Mozie

A Tribute by Theo Oji:

Nwakaibeya Engr. Enoch Nwizu and I have been very close friends for 62 continuous years until his very sad demise.
We met in 1958 at the engineering course at the then Nigerian College of Arts Science and Technology, now Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. Being classmates, Shell Oil Company Scholarship holders and keen lawn tennis players, was how it all started. After four years and graduating in our courses, he in mechanical engineering and I electrical, we found ourselves living close to each other at Surulere in our early working careers. There the friendship graduated to a higher scale. We socialised and played our lawn tennis regularly. Thereafter he and I went overseas for further training, he to USA and I to Sweden.

Upon return to Nigeria a few years later and progressing in our careers, he in TEXACO and I in CHEVRON, we again saw ourselves living close to each other, this time in Victoria Island. Both of us now married with children, the friendship went up steps higher, including our families. We remained very close till we both retired from service and both found favour in a new sport, golf. We have since been playing the game every week for the past 25 years. He was a founding member of our VETERANS GOLFERS GROUP at the Ikoyi Club and was instrumental in my joining the group. We also had many golfing outings in London over the years. We also had some common health issues and experiences which we shared. He and his wife Vicky visited me and my wife Mary after my surgery in London. Similarly we visited him in London after his own surgery.

So, we have shared both joyful times and painful times together over the 62 years of our friendship. Now it has pleased our Creator to call him home and take him from us. We thank God for the glorious time He gave him on earth and pray for the happy repose of his soul and for abundant Divine consolation for Vicky and the children, grandchildren and the entire Nwizu family.

Nwakaibeya, farewell, farewell, farewell.

Your very close friend, Theo Oji.

My irreplaceable Uncle:

The news of your death dealt a devastating blow to me and made me shudder at the fickleness of life. It is so saaad that our peacemaker is no more. Nwakaibeya, our great uncle was a very benevolent man, compassionate and practical. A man that meant so many things to different people, he was a voice of reason in every situation, he was our rallying point all year round.
Nwakaibeya, the vacuum you have left maybe too difficult to fill. I know for sure that we cannot take a fight to God's doorstep, but can only pray that God receives your beautiful soul in his bosom and give auntie Ezim, Adaora and Jonny, Ngozi and Emeka, Ikenna and Nwando, Nnamdi and Nnenna , your grandchildren and all the Nwizu's the strength to bear this great loss.
For me you will always be in Festac, goodnight dearest Uncle Ifeanyi.

Ada Amaku - (Nee Nwizu)

Rest in the bosom of your maker dad. I believe he is smiling with the angels and hanging out with my dad who left exactly a month today. Take heart Nnamdi, I pray the holy spirit comforts you all

My dearest Uncle Ifeanyi,
Nwakaibeya bee Nwizu,
Nwakaibeya bee Ezeana Onyejiaka,
Nwakaibeya na Nnewi,
Papa Adora ( Johnny), Ngozi( Emeka), Ikenna ( Nwando) na Nnamdi( Nnenna),
Di Aunt Ezim,

You have left a void in our family. You were our buoyant uncle, our Peacemaker whose laughter would always reverberate from your Terrace in Nnewi. I could here your laughter from my room( at least 2 blocks down from our house) . I remember how kind you were to me anytime I spent time with my cousins in Festac. You kept family gatherings in Lagos regular. You kept and encouraged closeness.

I can't believe you are gone but I know you are in the arms of Jesus.
Blessed is my peaceful Uncle Ifeanyi for you are a child of God and you are back with him. I know you are playing Golf in Heaven . Please say hello to all our departed.

Jee Nkeoma my uncle Ifeany!
Nwakaibeya!!!

O munwa na Ifunanya mgbenile,
Oo Nii AA ( Ona Ndu( nee Nwizu)

Dad,

Not sure where to start. I prayed, hoped and even cried and begged God to see you through like the other recent medical scares. Alas, it all turned to despair. People tell me that you lived to a ripe old age of 84 and some say that God knows best. The truth is that I was not prepared for this. I can only try and keep the fond memories alive, such as You at my house drinking red wine and sitting on the “white seat” and coming to spend time with my family. Your grandchildren always looked forward to coming to spend time with you in Festac, knowing that you would spoil them. 
You have always been my role model. I learnt so much from you dad and I find myself increasingly responding to things the way you would. Like I said during my tribute for your 80th birthday party, “As you grow older, going from a boy to a man, you start to really appreciate your parents. You start to appreciate the things your father did and said”. I remember listing several things then I have learnt from you, like focusing on my studies, being God fearing, punctuality, prudence and having a good name. You were always that voice in the Nwizu elders, calling for peace.
Daddy, you were always willing to lend an ear and give candid, objective, sound advice and I found his counsel invaluable as I grew older. You were always willing to sacrifice your comfort for your children, even when we had grown up. I remember so many conversations we had, with me insisting that you focus on taking care of yourself and mum, rather than on what you would leave behind for us, you children.
My siblings have always said that I behave a lot like you and that makes me so proud and happy. For me, if I can be half the man you were, I would have achieved a great deal in life (I know your prayer for your kids were to surpass your achievements).  
Thank you, Dad, for being that calm and loving influence in my life. I could not have asked for a better father and would not have exchanged you with any other father on earth.
My only comfort is that I know you are in a better place, as no one deserves it more than you.

Till we meet again dad. Send our love to Jesus

Love

Nnamdi

Uncle, I will keep the fond memory of you. You will be remembered for the influence of your good values and lives touched by your beautiful soul.
Adieu.