Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, and former Senate President, Senator David Mark, have expressed their sorrow at the passing of Senior Mother-in-Israel Josephine Anichukwu, the mother of the governor’s media aide, Mazi Uche Anichukwu. They celebrated her as a dedicated educator and an exceptional woman.
The Anichukwu family announced on Wednesday the funeral arrangements for their beloved matriarch, who passed away in Enugu on November 2, 2024, at the age of 81.
In an obituary released by Mazi Uche Anichukwu and Hon. Cajetan Anichukwu, on behalf of the Rabbi Gabriel Anichukwu and Anyianuka Orji families of Amigbo Nomeh, the funeral ceremonies will begin with a commendation service at her home in Obinagu, Amigbo Nomeh, Nkanu East LGA, Enugu State, on Friday, February 21, followed by an all-night wake at the same location.
The Christian funeral service and interment, conducted by the Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim and Seraphim, will also take place there on Saturday, February 22. A thanksgiving and outing service will be held on Sunday at the Church’s Provincial Headquarters located at 14 Ilukwe Street, Asata, Enugu.
Condolences have been streaming in for the Anichukwu family from compassionate Nigerians mourning this loss.
Governor Peter Mbah praised Mrs. Anichukwu’s exemplary qualities as a consummate teacher, devoted mother, supportive wife, and a leader within her community and church.
“As a consummate teacher, she instilled sound education and moral principles in countless individuals who passed through her tutelage, leaving behind a legacy of grateful beneficiaries,” he remarked.
“The late Senior Mother-in-Israel was a woman of remarkable industry, embodying discipline and resilience, her unwavering hope, faith, and courage allowing her family to overcome life’s challenges.”
“She will be fondly remembered for her integrity and wisdom, which earned her the trust to serve as Financial Secretary of a significant women’s association, where her tenure saw the establishment of the Nomeh Health Centre.”
“On behalf of my family, the Government, and the people of Enugu State, I offer my heartfelt condolences on the loss of this remarkable woman,” Mbah expressed.
Senator Mark also shared his sentiments, describing her as “an extraordinary woman, celebrated for her strength, kindness, and generosity.”
“Her remarkable legacy lives on through the values she instilled in you and your siblings, shaping you into responsible and compassionate individuals.”
“Although her passing leaves an irreplaceable void, I encourage you to perpetuate her memory by upholding the principles of honesty, integrity, and philanthropy that she embodied,” the former Senate President encouraged.
In a condolence message on behalf of the Enugu State chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), the Enugu ALGON Chairman, Hon. Sydney Okechukwu Edeh, urged the Anichukwu and Anyianuka families to take comfort in the enduring legacies their mother left behind, assuring them that these memories would keep her spirit alive forever.
“An anonymous saying reminds us that those we love never truly leave us; they walk beside us every day, unseen, unheard, but always near, still loved, still missed, and forever cherished,” he concluded.
