FAITH, LOVE AND TALENT:

A SHORT BIOGRAPHY OF DAME CHIEF (MRS) FAITH NDABAKU ONWUCHEKWA

Dame Chief (Mrs.) Faith Ndabaku Onwuchekwa was born in Obazu Mbieri, Mbaitolu Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria on May 22, 1936 to the family of late Mr. Benson and Mrs. Janet Iheme. Her marriage to late Engineer Jeremiah Onwuchekwa was blessed with four children namely Mrs Uloma Ikejiani (Nashville, TN), Engr. Ogbonna Onwuchekwa (London, UK), Dr. Ngozi Igbinosa(Bakersfield, CA), and Mrs. Chinyere Muda-Sanusi (Lagos Nigeria). She was crowned with eight beautiful grandchildren. Mommy was lovingly called FN by family members, colleagues and friends.

FN started her early education at the renowned Banham Memorial Primary School, Port- Harcourt, Rivers State. She subsequently proceeded to Eljerley Boarding School in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria for her secondary school education. FN’s distinguished training and career in nursing started at Iyienu General Hospital, Ogidi, AnambraState, Nigeria before proceeding to the United Kingdom for advanced training in Midwifery.  Her love of God, kindness, strong dedication to her profession, her limitless love for her patients, strangers and friends alike, her perseverance in difficult situations, and her strong belief in empowering the next generation earned her names such as Faith Tabernacle and Adaure. The names given to her by her parents, Faith and Ndabaku, were visionary and spoke volumes, and she lived up to every meaning and value of her names.

Dame Chief (Mrs.) Faith Onwuchekwa was a hard worker with superb work ethics. She was very focused, and had a unique sense of direction. FN had very strict principles, and lived a disciplined life. She was a true and unmistakable disciplinarian dishing out discipline with utmost love. Her work was her ministry. She strived for perfection, and gave her very best to every assignment and every project she was involved in. Dame Chief (Mrs.) Faith Onwuchekwa was a team leader who prepared her colleagues, both junior and senior, for higher responsibilities. She willingly offered a lot of advice and moral support to coworkers, friends and family members. Her advice and input in every situation was always treasured by all. She was a genuine friend to so many, and was very trustworthy. She impacted so many people and a lot of lives.

A trained nurse and midwife, she worked at various hospitals including Watford Maternity Hospital, Watford, England, Mercy Street Children's Hospital in Lagos, and Park Lane Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria. She was always willing to serve in any capacity in her chosen profession. She represented Imo State, Nigeria at the World Conference of Nurses in Los Angeles, CA in 1976.

FN’s professional career peaked at Abia State Hospital Management Board where she served as Chief Nursing Officer retiring with distinction in 1997.

FN was very active in her community as an organizer, advocate and nurse educator. In recognition of her rare talent and spirit for community development, she was honored with the Chieftaincy Title of Odi Uko na Mba by the late Eze Stephen Nwosu of Ozaa Autonomous Community in Ukwa West Local Government Area, AbiaState in 1996.

Dame Chief (Mrs.) Faith Onwuchekwa was a recipient of other numerous awards. In 2001, she was awarded the Adaugo Honors Award by the Government of Abia State, Nigeria on the 10th year anniversary of the creation of Abia State in recognition of her meritorious contributions to the growth of the State.

She was very active in the Anglican Church. She was invested with The Knight of Saint Christopher in 1997 by the late Bishop of Ukwa Diocese, the Rt. Rev. Dr. UjuObinya. She was a member of the Mothers' Union and Mothers' Guild. She served on the Committee for the Inauguration of Ukwa Diocese in 1995. She was also a Synod Delegate to the Ukwa Diocese for many years.

In 2011, she was awarded “The Mother of Faith Award” by the Mothers’ Union of St Michael’s Cathedral, Aba, Nigeria in recognition of her selfless service to God and humanity. In 2014, the Anglican Diocese of Ukwa honored her with the Diocesan Merit Award and the title ‘Nneoma’ in recognition of her immense contributions to the service of God, His Church and humanity. In 2017, the Aba Ecclesiastical Province of the Church of God, Anglican Communion, honored her with the title of “Esteem Mother'' in recognition of her love and contributions to the development and growth of the Church of God.

A true talent, jewel, and bundle of love, FN will be dearly missed.

We thank God for the life and works of Dame Chief (Mrs.) Faith Ndabaku Onwuchekwa. To God alone be all the glory.

May the gentle soul of Dame Chief (Mrs.) Faith NdabakuOnwuchekwa rest in perfect peace, Amen!