DG Imo Orientation Agency loses mother @ 84
The Director General Imo State Orientation Agency , High Chief Dr. Ethelbert Okere has lost his mother, Mrs Cecilia Onyemaechi Okere at the age of 84 years.
Announcing the death in a statement from his base in Finland, the younger brother to the Director General of Imo State Orientation Agency and Convener and Coordinator Imo Diaspora Support for Governor Hope Uzodinma, Chief Nnanna Okere said that their late mother was a teacher and community activist who worked for the improvement of lives in her community especially women and a devote Catholic.
He said that in recognition of her contribution to the church, in 2004 “Mama was honoured as EZINNE by St. Thomas Catholic Church Umuowa. Having served the church as President Catholic Women’s Organisation (CWO) for her eight years. In 2014, we her surviving children in appreciation and grateful to God that our mother was among the favoured ones who had exceeded the biblical promised age of three score and ten honoured and celebrated her as an Octogenarian (Orinandu ceremony).”
According to the statement, late Nneoma Cecilia Okere helped in no small measure to shore up the sons and daughters of the extended family and beyond to acquire western education and good etiquette no matter how minimal.
“From far and near, parents sent their teenage daughters to live with Mama in order to learn home management technique. Mama taught them sewing, baking and soap making, good manners, and home management technique. Interestingly, many of the young girls who passed through mama’s tutelage are today happily married and successfully in their various careers.
“Madam Nyie Nnanyi -Ukwu Cele as she was widely referred to in Umuowa was a woman whose good upbringing and exemplary wifehood and motherhood are still resounding in Umuowa today and will continue to re-echo in years to come. By every assessment Mama Cecilia was a woman blessed by her maker. She had undoubtedly reaped the fruits of her labour,” the post added.
The late Ezinne Okere is survived by High Chief Dr. Ethelbert Okere, DG, Imo State Orientation Agency; Dr. Lady Chinyere Ujunwa Okere former Deputy Director Programme, Imo Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) Owerri, Sir Cornelius Okere, Assistant State Auditor Imo PDP; Professor Cleophas Okere, former Microsoft Corporation Programmer; Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Egejuru Deputy Director at Federal Medical Center (FMC) Owerri, Engr. Augustine Okere, former governorship aspirant APGA 2019; Ochiagha Nnanna Okere, Convener and Coordinator Imo Diaspora Support for Governor Hope Uzodinma.
The statement also added that the family would announce burial arrangements at the appropriate time.
