By Fidel Ozugha
Tributes flowed recently at the Service of Songs organised in the Bucknor area of Lagos by the Moses Akaigwe family in honour of the late Madam Ezinne Theresa Anekwe, who was their mother, grandmother and mother-in-law. Ezinne Theresa Anekwe died during an illness on Sunday, November 10, 2024, at the ripe age of 86 years.
Speaking at the Service of Songs held on Thursday, December 12, 2024, the General Overseer of Christian Life Gospel Assembly, Oke-Afa, Lagos, Apostle Samuel Nwaire, and Engr. Joe Igbokwe, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), extolled the excellent virtues of the deceased
Describing the late Anekwe as a devoted woman of God, Engr. Igbokwe advised the bereaved family not to mourn, but celebrate the good life she lived, emphasizing that 86 is a great number.
The party stalwart advised all Ndigbo in APC members to continue to build bridges across the country, so that they could make more friends.
General Overseer of Christian Life Gospel Assembly, Apostle San Nwaire officiating the service
Also speaking at the Service of Songs, Apostle Nwaire, who was accompanied by his wife, Pastor (Mrs) Cecilia Nwaire, Pastor Sunday Itor, both of Christian Life, described late Anekwe as a good woman who lived for others.
Nwaire, a Commissioner for Power in Imo State, led a delegation of church members from the Christian Life Gospel Assembly to the occasion, including Pastor Abel, Pastor (Mrs) Stella Ugboaja; Elder (Mrs) Nwana, and Pastor (Mrs) Chimeziri Cletus.
Eulogising Madam Anekwe, the chief host of the event and her son-in-law, Mr Moses Akaigwe, said the occasion was a solemn way of paying tribute to late Anekwe and to also celebrate the Godly life she lived while on earth.
Akaigwe, an experienced journalist who described her mother-in-law as a great woman said “I went to Enugu to seek her daughter’s hand in marriage and have a mother in-law, but I ended up having a mother instead. I went to her to marry her daughter and become her son-in-law, but ended up as her son. Everything about her is an embodiment of the virtuous women described in the Bible (in Proverbs 31)
Sitting r-l are a chieftain of All Progressives Congress(APC), Engr. Joe Igbokwe; Barr Oby Onu; Amb. (Mrs) Stella Nkoli Akaigwe (daughter), Moses Akaigwe (son in-law); and Chukwuemeka Akaigwe (grandson).
Akaigwe also expressed joy that late Anekwe’s noble lifestyle has rubbed of on his marriage, being that his wife, Amb Stella Nkoli Akaigwe, took to her mother’s strong characters which have helped to stabilize their marriage for decades.
He, therefore, stated that her marriage has kept going on smoothly without any interference, due to a foundation the late woman had laid by training her daughter very well.
One of the highlights of the event was the sermon delivered by Pastor Chima Wisdom, who emphasized on the need for everyone to live a good life.
Miss Ijeoma Akaigwe (granddaughter) reading her tribute to her late grandma while others, from r-l, Engr. Joe Igbokwe (chieftain of APC), Chief Chris Ekwilo (Anyaa), Barr Oby Onu, Amb. (Mrs) Stella Nkoli Akaigwe (daughter) and Moses Akaigwe (son in-law)
Pastor Chima advised the audience to always do something good they can be remembered for, when one departs the world.
Affirming that late Anekwe lived a good life, Pastor Chima advised, saying “What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole of this life and lose his soul. We are all passengers in this life. So my advice is that, when you live, let there be something you can be remembered for.”
The first bible reading taken from Job 19: 23-27 was by Master Chidera Akaigwe while the second reading from Thessalonians 4:13-18 was read by Chioma Akaigwe. Chidubem Akaigwe’s bible reading was from Revelation 22:1-6.
One of late Ma Theresa Anekwe’s “favourite” granddaughters, Miss Ijeoma Akaigwe, rendered a moving tribute to her late grandmother. saying she embraced God’s love with open arms from her earliest days.
Her faith was not just a part of her life, according to Ijeoma, but was the foundation upon which she built everything else.
Outpouring of prayers as the General Overseer of Christian Life Gospel Assembly, Oke-Afa, Lagos, Sam Nwaire prays for the Akaigwes ahead of the funeral that will be held January at Eziowelle community, Anambra State.
Part of Ijeoma Akaigwe’s tribute to her grandma read, “Our late grandmother was our spiritual guide. She taught us to pray, to seek God’s wisdom in all things, and to trust in His love.
“Today, as we say goodbye to her, we take comfort in knowing that she is now in the arms of her Savior. As it says in 2 Timothy 4:7-8, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness.”
Tributes also came from Chief Chris Ekwilo, a chieftain of Ndi Igbo in APC; the Women’s Leader, Barr. Oby Onu; an Igbo leader in Oshodi-Isolo Local Govt. Area, Chief (Mrs.) Kate Emereuwa, and Mrs. Ebony Iloabuchi.
Mrs. Ada Iwuoha, the widow of the late Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) National President, Bonny Iwuoha, testified that late Madam Anekwe prayed for her at a time she had been married for years without a child, assuring her that she she would soon have children.
Shedding tears of joy, Mrs Iwuoha presented her four children – three boys and a girl – as evidence that God later answered Madam Anekwe’s prayers for her.
The Service of Songs was well attended by friends and well wishers, including APC Party faithfuls, community leaders and guests from both Abagana and other communities in Anambra State, including the Chairman of Abagana Welfare Union (AWU), Lagos branch, Barr. Peter Ozobialu, and Chief Emmanuel Asiegbu.
The Life Savers Ambassadors International of the United Nations (Lagos branch) also came in their numbers to offer their condolences and pray for the deceased’s daughter, Amb. Stella Akaigwe, who is their Commissioner in the state.
Before the service ended, Apostle Nwaire prayed for the Akaigwes for a successful funeral.
Late Madam Anekwe will be buried on January 24, 2025, in her husband’s compound at Okpaliko village, Eziowelle in Anambra State.
