A recording of the memorial service held in honor of Juanita on Aug 25, 2012 via teleconference with attendants from the US, Canada, the UK and Nigeria
https://www.freeconferencing.com/playback_ow.html?cid=conferences/-17-65-672-17-65-671018-17-65-67-17-65-67-17-65-67-17-65-678817-17-65-671127429-17-65-67.mp3&e=1388466000000&cn=94-43-28-63
The remains of Ms Juanita During, the Nigerian Head of Policy, Advocacy and Partnership at the African Centre for Water and Sanitation (CREPA) in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, were yesterday committed to mother earth at the Ikoyi Cemetery amid tears , wailing and tributes .
The body was lowered into the tomb 1 section 1 vault 50 at the Ikoyi Cemetery at about 3.46pm. Before then, the body was conveyed in a dark coloured luxury Escalade car marked Ebony to the Methodist Church Trinity located at Tinubu Square where a funeral service was held for her.
The officiating Pastor, Rev Ayo Adepoju, having read the epistle from the book of Romans 8: 29-39 prayed God to heal the wounds inflicted by the death on the family, friends and associates.
Adepoju was supported by Reverend Frida Iroegbu in the funeral service that had in attendance Mrs. Zainab Nda-Isaiah ,Captain Akinola Merriman Johnson, Miss Ler Jonathan–Ichaver, Mrs. Iyatun Adode, Mrs. Chris Erim, among other associates who flew in from different parts of the country and beyond to pay their last respect to the late During widely acknowledged to be a ‘Shining star’ in her life time.
The Cleric, in his sermon stated that death was inevitable for all humans, and added that life was a passing phase.
He said,” Even if anyone lives on earth for 969 years like Methuselah, we will cross over one day. If after we cross over and there is no hope of Christ in us, how are we going to meet with our God?” he queried.
Paying her tribute to Juanita, Ier Jonathan Ichiave said, “Juanita was an amazing woman. She had a big heart; she was generous and had a big laugh. She would laugh with you and you will cry together when you are laughing. She was so full of joy and merriment. She was an intellectual woman.
“Nigeria has lost a great patriot who will stand up in the world and defend the country. She went all around the world and told them how fantastic Nigeria and Nigerians are and when given the right leadership will be the best in the world.
Speaking on behalf of the family, a visibly devastated Christopher During, her elder brother simply said” She is a shining star to us, Nigeria and to the world. That is all I have to say”.
During was head of governance at WaterAid in Nigeria before she was posted to CREPA Ouagadougou. Before then, she was at UNICEF for seven years.
http://leadership.ng/nga/articles/33163/2012/08/23/tears_tributes_juanita_during_buried_lagos.html
This interview illustrates Juanita's passion and efforts to speak up for the poor and oppressed.
Millennium development goals - http://gu.com/p/2jqjx/em
http://audio.theguardian.tv/audio/kip/world/series/guardian-focus-podcast/1285258638321/6683/gdn.foc.ps.100923.focus.mp3
