Obasanjo Hails Success Akagburuonye as Product of Good Home, Describes Late Mother as a Living Saint
From Everest Ezihe, Aboh Mbaise
Former Nigerian President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has described Barr. Success Obioma Akagburuonye as a product of a good home, while extolling his late mother, Ezinne Monica Nwafor Akagburuonye, popularly known as Nwanyi Okwukwe, as a living saint.
Obasanjo made the remarks at the weekend during the Assemblies of God Church funeral service held in honour of Mama Akagburuonye, who died at the age of 105. The funeral ceremony took place at the beautifully decorated open field of Central School, Ogbor Uvuru, in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State.
The former Nigerian leader and his Sierra Leonean counterpart, His Excellency Ernest Bai Koroma, were distinguished guests of honour at the event.
Amid thunderous chants of “Baba! Baba!! Baba ooooo!!!” from the audience, Obasanjo expressed gratitude to God for granting the deceased 105 years of examplary life, accompanied by good health and divine grace.
”On an occasion like this, we have nothing to say other than to thank God. Thank God for every one of you who is here, because God has done it for us.
”First, I want to appreciate God for keeping Mama for a century and five years. 105! Not only that, some people have longevity, but they don’t have the Grace of God that goes with it in terms of wisdom and good health.
”Mama had longevity and has the grace of God to go with it. Before I came to know Mama, I knew the fruit or the product of Mama in Obioma Success Akagburuonye.
”I found in him a special sort of human being, especially in his attributes, his character, his values, his generosity, his intelligence and humility. And I wondered, what sort of man is this? Where did he get all these good behavioural characteristics from?
”As I said last night during the night of tributes, an apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree. When I came to know Mama, I was not surprised that Obioma Success is a product of a good home,” he stated.
Obasanjo further acknowledged the deceased’s remarkable legacies, particularly the children and grandchildren she left behind as well as life of dedication in the service of God and humanity.
”Not only did God give Mama the Grace of longevity and good health, He also gave her 9 wonderful fruits of the womb. Last night, we had her 52 grandchildren physically present, and they are all following in the footsteps of Mama. We thank God for that,” he said.
The former President also expressed appreciation to his Sierra Leonean counterpart for accepting his invitation to attend the funeral at short notice.
”When I decided to come here, and it was a duty, I didn’t want to come alone. It was at short notice, and I invited my brother. He said, if a General calls; it’s an order and it has to be obeyed. And here he is.
”We are here together to honour a once-living saint, to honour her children, especially Barr. Success Obioma, to honour the good people of Mbaise and Imo State, and to honour God. May God honour all of us in Jesus name. Amen!” he prayed.
Earlier in his sermon, the General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God Church, Rev. Abel Amadi, in his sermon drawing inference from the biblical books of 1st Corinthians chapter 15 vs 19, 2nd Corinthians Chapter 5 vs 1 and John 3 vs 16, he admonished Christians to remain committed to serving God, irrespective of their positions or achievements in life.He testified that Mama Monica Nwafor Akagburuonye, popularly known as Mama Success, lived a life dedicated to knowing and serving God conscientiously.
”Mama was a woman of indomitable faith in Jesus Christ, and firmly believed in heavenly eternity”.
He observed that Mama Success as she was well known and addressed was equally, “a revered evangelist with absolute commitment in eternity and eternal life, thereof, as a man of God am convinced that the deceased have gone to enjoy eternal life”.
Amadi passionately advised the people to always live a life of eternity consciousness in all their endeavors noting that eternity began when life ends.
He lamented that many Christians unfortunately including preachers of the gospel are not wary of eternity consciousness.
The cleric recalled that eternity is of two parts, heavenly eternity for all those that believed in the Lord Jesus Christ and did His wills, while the other eternity is that of the hell fire which he also said is not the will of God that any one yet alive should go to hell, “but unfortunately some have chosen to enjoy the eternity of hell fire simply because they are rejecting Jesus Christ the son of God in their lives, there will be no mercy when a sinner is dead”.
Amadi further pointed out that eternity is time without end whether in heaven or hell insisting that eternity is a reality and the choice is for humanity, informing that, “the words of God are truth and life, despite deception by many who calls themselves men of God”.
He re-emphasized that God’s words are anchored in truth and spirit, insisting that heaven and hell are real while advocating that man is the architect of his or her own destiny, even as he reiterated that God’s judgement is certain.
”That is the message, that is the word I am dropping for you. Remember, she is waiting to see you in heaven. She will be glad at the end of the day when we shall all be there and Mama sees you and me among the saints.
”That will make her happier, knowing that the life she lived and the examples she left behind were not in vain but consolidated upon,” he said.
Rev. Amadi prayed for the family, asking God to grant them the grace to sustain and follow the godly footsteps of their mother and grandmother.
He also prayed for ever lasting peace, unity and understanding among the family members, stressing that her death should not become a source of conflict or disunity.
Adding his voice, Rev. Blessing Uzodimma Akagburuonye Amuchie, the first son of the deceased, disclosed that their mother taught them the importance of sharing, brotherly love, unity of purpose and unwavering trust and confidence in God.
The retired Assemblies of God priest, who spoke on behalf of the family, expressed appreciation to all those who attended the funeral service and contributed in various ways towards the successful of the one week burial ceremonies.
He described his mother as a committed Christian who served God in truth and spirit, recalling her dedication to early-morning evangelism in the community, even at an advanced age.
The chief mourner also expressed profound gratitude to his younger brother, Barr. Success Obioma Akagburuonye, whom he identified as the fifth son of the family. He said God had used him to wipe away their tears and lift the family from the humiliation of poverty to a position of prosperity and grace.
Meanwhile, guests and observers described the burial ceremony as an unprecedented historical statement; saying Barr. Success Obioma Akagburuonye, founder and National Coordinator of Hope Rising for Imolites Foundation, has made a statement through demonstration of remarkable organisational capacity, influence and extensive national and global networks.
One of the major highlights of the funeral ceremonies, apart from the interment of the deceased in a golden casket conveyed on a specially imported golden cart, was the commissioning of a newly constructed, well-equipped and furnished community-based private hospital at Ogbor Uvuru.
The hospital, funded by the Hope Rising for Imolites Foundation, was named Nwafor Amuchie Memorial Hospital in honour of the deceased.
According to the hospital’s commemorative inscription, the facility was unveiled on Friday, November 6, 2026, by His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodimma, CON, Governor of Imo State.
The inscription also acknowledged the presence of His Excellency Ernest Bai Koroma, former President of the Republic of Sierra Leone; Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR, former President of Nigeria (1999–2007); His Excellency Ralph Gonsalves, former Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines; and Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, CON, Honourable Minister of Health.
The inscription concluded with the words: “To God Be the Glory.”
It is pertinent to State that the establishment of the memorial hospital added a lasting humanitarian dimension to the funeral celebration, ensuring that the memory of Mama Nwafor Amuchie Akagburuonye would be associated not only with her Christian legacy and family values but also with healthcare delivery and community development.
”Mama was a woman of indomitable faith in Jesus Christ, and firmly believed in heavenly eternity”.
He observed that Mama Success as she was well known and addressed was a revered evangelist with absolute commitment in eternity and eternal life, thereof, as a man of God am convinced that the deceased have gone to enjoy eternal life.
Amadi passionately advised the people to always live a life of eternity consciousness in all their endeavors noting that eternity began when life ends.
He lamented that many Christians unfortunately including preachers of the gospel are not wary of eternity consciousness.
The cleric recalled that eternity is of two parts, heavenly eternity for all those that believed in the Lord Jesus Christ and did His wills, while the other eternity is that of the hell fire which he also said is not the will of God that any one yet alive should go to hell but unfortunately some have chosen to enjoy the eternity of hell fire simply because they are rejecting Jesus Christ the son of God in their lives, there will be no mercy when a sinner is dead.
Amadi pointed out that eternity is time without end whether in heaven or hell insisting that eternity is a reality and the choice is for humanity informing that the words of God are truth and life, despite deception by many who calls themselves men of God.
He noted that God’s words are anchored in truth and spirit, insisting that heaven and hell are real while advocating that man is the architect of his or her own destiny, reiterated that God’s judgement is certain.
