TRIBUTE TO MY BELOVED COUSIN – NKECHI

The Scripture reminds us of the brevity of life, describing our life as a vapor, its span as a hand breadth, its strength as fragile, and its expectancy as three scores and ten years. Like a lightening jolt, this stark reality hit us mercilessly with regards to my beloved cousin Joy Nkechi Chidobem. We are still in shock, having spoken to her shortly before her demise.

When she developed this strange cough some months ago, none of us saw it as a life threatening ailment. Her children abroad insisted on a thorough medical checkup, the results of which gave us grave concerns. We stormed heaven with our prayers for healing, asking God to heal her promptly and spare her life. Chain prayers were offered for her, but it appears God wanted her home, having served Him and mankind very well.

Nkechi was as bold as a lion, but also as humble as a dove. She was honest, straightforward, given to service, and religiously devotional. She was indeed our family’s “nnukwu Ada” who played that role very soldierly. She also had an outreach ministry, feeding poor and indigent folks. We praise God that she remained faithful to our Lord Jesus Christ till the end.

We now pray our Heavenly Father to comfort all her loved ones, especially Ezinne, her 97 years old mother, the children, who are now without father and mother, and us all her siblings. May God grant all the comfort, grace, and fortitude to bear the painful loss, in Jesus’s name. AMEN

The Very Rev’d Prof. Chinedu Nebo, CON, NPOM, FNSE, FNMS, FMSN, FNIPE, FNATE, FNAEng, FNIMMM.

Former Nigeria’s Minister of Power,
Former Vice Chancellor of UNN and FUOYE,
Currently, Vice Chancellor, University on the Niger