On that day, I saw a blinding light and calmly made for a seat to collect myself.
But by the time I just recovered, my cell phone rang and Nina at the other end said your daughter just had an accident and she was at the intensive care unit. I said to her don't worry she will be alright. About ten minutes later the phone rang again and she said crying " Ijeoma is dead." Lost for words I replied "So let it be." and I switch off. 

We thank and give glory to Almighty God for giving us the strenght throughout the period. Indeed the LORD is great and may his name be praised for ever for his gift to our family now and for evermore.  A-men    

 Cant forget your memory...still so vivid love...sleep well IJ....u were a true friend

thoughts of never seeing you again sends cold down my spine. there were things  i never told you, now i can't say them no more. i'm realy sorry but i know 1 day i would still say them all, when we meet over there beyound time. i love you and forever will.

"Sorry I never told you

all I wanted to say

And now it's too late to hold you

'Cause you've flown away

So far away

Never had I imagined

Living without your smile

Feeling and knowing you hear me

It keeps me alive

And I know you're shining down on me from heaven

Like so many friends we've lost along the way

And I know eventually we'll be together

One sweet day

Eventually I'll see you in heaven...

Darling, I never showed you

Assumed you'd always be there

I took your presence for granted

But I always cared

And I miss the love we shared

And I know you're shining down on me from heaven

Like so many friends we've lost along the way

And I know eventually we'll be together

One sweet day

Eventually I'll see you in heaven

Although the sun will never shine the same

I'll always look to a brighter day…Sorry I never told you

 All I wanted to say..."

                                          Mariah Carey n Boyz II Men

I miss u gul...so very much.wish u were here as alwayz.dont get too lonely over there.will soon be with ya...just a matter of time...miss u Hi Jay mi

Every moment with u was filled with fun. You were and still are a great cook. I remember fighting with u for the remote control to change channels in my own home. You had the body advantage so I'd give up. I remember visiting you in camp last year and you coming to see me at work a few weeks later which was the very last time I saw you. It all feels like yesterday. I admired and still admire your guts and your willingness to fight for others. What more could one want in a girl? It really feels sad to know you're no longer here. All I have of you are memories, memories I'll always treasure: your smile, laughter, attitude, your love for taking pictures as is evident here, and everything else. I wish for so many things, but right now, I wish you'd call and just say something, no matter how trivial it might sound. I miss you very much. May GOD rest your beautiful soul.

Amen.

Always been so close from back in our days in warri..remember how we shared so many things together..even when i transferred to fgc ph..when they were no gsm u still wrote me 3letters all the way..we reconnected in Futo again and evry moment i had to share with u was golden..even when u told about ur convocation a day b4, I remember i was in lagos, I made sure to be there cause I know u will do the same for me...remember ur coconut mosquito repellant theory and how i always teased u...remember calling u 2days b4 this and we speaking 4 nearly 4hrs on skype..sharing aspirations and u telling me your plans after service, Ur plans to get a new phone and ur wonderful boyfriend...miss u Ij....i always pray God gives ur family the fortitude to bear the loss, especially ur dad and mum..havent called ur mum since cause I really dont know if i wont break down and cry... You are one in a million..a rare gem and true friend...Miss u greatly Ij..As we always reconnect and see every time I know i will see you in Heaven when my time here is done...Rest in Peace Ij

"Dear Ijeoma,

Its only been a few weeks and I still haven't come to terms with you leaving us. You gave so much of yourself to everyone and you still had so much to give. You were loving, caring, understanding, funny, witty, and patient. I only pray"

Adaugo Amajuoyi (Cousin)

Trying hard not to ask WHY?
Your courage could have kept you going.
Your big heart could have kept beating.
Couldn't you have waited just a little longer?
Could the attraction to Araham's bossom have been so irresistible?
Did you really mean to leave family and friends in grief?
Were you done healing moods with your unique laugh pattern?
Seriously, are you going to remain silent?

Now I know for sure, it could only have been divinely ordained.
Otherwise how can one explain the impact little IJ made on people several times her age? I thought it was just me , but it seems everyone else has same stories to tell about you - charming, enchanting, ambitious, peaceful, stylish, articulate, intelligent, purposeful, endearing, homely, warm-spirited, kind-hearted, resilient, knowledge-craving, amiable, organized, caring, enterprising, affable, humble, etc. Girl, ain't you simply out of this world? Literarily, it is now obvious.

Glad your life was filled with testimonies.
Glad you are in the safe hands of the Almighty.
Glad God will provide solace to those who love you.
Glad God will grant your gentle soul a sweet repose.

Hmmmmmmmmh! As you paddle your way through the great beyond, what else can I but say - 'Ije Oma' (safe journey).


Dr Nnaemeka U. Nwakanma

IJEOMA,

THIS IS DADDY CALLING.

I WANT TO ASSURE YOU THAT WE HAVE GOT THE MESSAGE AND THE LOVE YOU SPREAD DURING YOUR SHORT STAY WITH US. AS YOU SAID - "A CANDLE LOSES NOTHING WHEN IT LIGHTS ANOTHER CANDLE."

WE SHALL TRY TO TOUCH MANY LIFES IN OUR LIFETIME.

 When I got the call on the night of 22nd, I knew it had to be a lie. people don't just die like that!!!...we see the signs some how. Ijeoma, judging by the signs I saw the day before, when we had lunch, gossiped, joked, laughed and did "crayfish waka" together, You had many many many many more years to live. We made plans for the next day, we made plans for the following week. We even made plans for following months.

This lie, that you are dead, I wish would just end right now. I have a lot of hopes. I have prayed a lot of prayers. I have asked God to see and hear all these things we say about you, search our hearts and see our hurts, and just return you back to earth. 

Ijeoma, you were awesome in everyway. We shared so much in barely one year of us knowing each other. My first ever bikini came from you. We had our code names for people and events. We shared ice creams and cinnamon rolls, food either of us brought from home and stories about personal lives. Ijeoma, I watch all the videos we made together at obudu...Me being so scared on the swinging bridge. Crying and swearing that that was the biggest mistake of my life. And you, the brave one..walking backwards, without holding the railings, made a video of me...oh that crackling laugh Ijeoma, I hear it everyday as I watch this video..you laughed so hard that people said, your laughter was shaking the bridge. Then you said: "tolu, this is a leverage I have- You ever mess up, and this video goes on youtube"......Remember the one with the million soldier ants in our cloths and through the pains from their stings, we could still make a video and even laugh about it?

You were gentle and you had a look of "oya I am ready to laugh"...gosh!!!...it is really sad that you are gone.

BUT, I pray:

that God would help us accept His will in this.

I pray that your parents, ..God bless them.

God make them come out of this stronger than ever. 

That God make your father, always remember that you were his shinning jewel and with this thought, go on in Life strong, knowing that God lent you to him and you blessed his life so much and now, God has taken you back.

Your mom, Ijeoma, may she cradle your memories, not with tears and hurt but with gratefulness to God almighty and joy in her heart. She knew you right from the womb. Ever before any of us did. May the Holyspirit, minister comfort to her very soul.

May your siblings be blessed with so much favour from God to excel and shine in all they do, that thier lives, will reflect you and all you would have ever achieved which my friend I am positively sure would have been greatness!

Ijeoma, once again, with a heaviness in my heart, i wish this story of you being dead could be reversed but, It is well!!!!.

God bless the Ofonagoro's

My beloved Ijay,

"Beautiful, I always told you, you were one in six billion, a Super Hero chick, fun loving, caring, considerate in such -THE BEST THING THAT HAPPENED TO ME..."

MY 5TH ELEMENT. Having YOU near made me glow, Sleep beautiful.

I LOVE YOU.

Ikechukwu Okorafor

Marty Ofonagoro (your beloved brother)

I remember when myself (Katia),IJ, Jenni, Yetunde and Esema used to ride our bikes round the complex then and everybody wanted to ride with us....I remember how we learned to cook )))) ohhh my that is a funny story...i remember how we all used to go buy ice cream even though we were not meant to have any... i remember how we used to go swimming after school almost everyday.... i remember how we all separated first it was Jenni went to live in London., then it was yeti for school in another state then Esema the same thing then me moved to Benin....she was left behind..but she was the one that held the group in contact all these years ...

I  used to go visit them at their house in Warri it was so much fun...Ugo always fighting with either Martins or Kelechi then running to IJ for answers or the other way round IJ shouting at her...Its a sight to see u will laugh till your cheeks start at ache...(IJ THE PEACE MAKER)...i don't have brothers or a younger sister they are my second family i was always welcome...Ij was my best friend and a sister to me..... we fought a whole lot half or the time we did i don't even remember why!! 

i remember so many things that cannot be written down you were a big part of my childhood Ij but i didn't have enough of you in my present and am sorry for that...

.....@@$#%$%** You were meant to be my chief brides maid at my wedding or u at mine,you were meant to be  my kid's godmother HA BA Ij you do me this one ohhhh.... so who is it gonna be now no one can replace you ohhhh.....

You still and always will have a place in my heart Ij.....i miss you already sis..

REST IN PEACE in the bosom of the lord IJEOMA till we meet again soon!!!)))

Katia Obariase

“Perhaps they are not stars, but rather openings in heaven where the love of our lost ones pours through and shines down upon us to let us know they are happy.”

May you rest in peace my dear cousin Ijeoma Gladys Ofonagoro.

Obi Ihekweazu (Cousin)

There's an open gate at the end of the road through which each must go alone, and there, in a light we cannot see, Our Father, claims His own...

Beyond the gate our loved one finds happiness and rest, and there is comfort in the thought that a loving God knows best.

We love you Ije, but God loves you most.

Love always,

Aunty Stephy Ofonagoro and family

Moment by moment, I'll remember you. You'll never be too far away because  I will keep you in my heart, each and every day. Goodnight and sleep well, godmother to my son: David and cousin to my beloved wife: Yvonne Ndyamaka Ofonagoro-Okafor.

Rest in peace sweet angel..

Martin E Okafor

Mama’s voice echo again in my ears
‘This one that bears my name she is great’
Aijay, you are great
Your beams of love, and fondness
Transcends boundaries mere mortal could not aim to reach

You reached the least in our mists
You knew their names, silent needs and their cell numbers
You cared where most blindly assumed unnecessary hence ignored
Your love unreserved flowed out to all
Your smiles told tales of unfathomable affection

The unflinching gaze of your sweet stare
Pour calmness on flared emotions
You spoke with eyes
You spoke with actions
You spoke with deeds
At times when the nuts in our fairy heads loosen
At times when our hearts ruled our heads
At times when the nothingness in us formed our words
You only spoke to champion the beacon of peace to us

To your cousins, nieces, nephew
To the belligerent adults
To the procrastinating ones amongst us

Behold brethren
Learn from this rare gift
A Visitor from God to us
That has now gone back
Learn that time is never ours
Learn that we are here for a purpose