Life and times of Nneoma Grace Nwanyinnaya Oparah as she transverse her journey on earth

Life and times of Nneoma Grace Nwanyinnaya Oparah as she transverse her journey on earth

The Holy Book rightly encapsulated in Ecclesiastes 3:1 that “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.” There are good and bad times and seasons. Life is replete with multi-faceted challenges; man, while on earth, is inundated with certain life activities beyond his or her control. One of such activities is death.

April 19, 2024 is a day to be reckoned with in the life of the Oparah family of Umueme Obike, in Ngor-Okpala as it marked the glorious sendoff to eternity of a Mother –in –Israel. Though the gathering was for the dead, the atmosphere exhumed warmth, grace and a solemn disposition which indeed portrayed the personality of a woman of grace, gentility and meekness who left this world on November 1, 2023.

Late Nneoma Grace Nwanyinnaya Oparah

As early as nine in the morning the crowd that gathered was overwhelming: men and women colourfully dressed, with tantalising background music, all waited for the arrival on stage of the remains and burial ceremony of Nneoma Grace Nwanyinnaya Oparah (Mrs) nee Ulor.

At her arrival at the Community Primary School field, Umueme Obile in Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State, after lying in state and being gracefully honoured at her home place Eziala Nguru, also in Ngor-Okpala Local Government, the body of mama Grace was received by the crème de la crème; men and women from all walks of life who came to pay her their last respect.

Excos and members of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ Imo state Council and NUJ South East Zone.

‘Mama ye’ as she was fondly called by her immediate community and beyond was loved by all but envied by a few who could not understand the grace and mercy of God upon her life and her children whom she, with her husband Mr Jonas Oparah of blessed memory, laboured to bring up and train, all as graduates.

Children

3rd from Right: Daughter of the deceased, Deaconess Chidi Opara, a Deputy Director with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja with guests

At the funeral service, the officiating Minister, Pastor Bassey Udoh, the President, Eastern Nigeria Union Conference of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, eulogised the sterling qualities of mama Grace, describing her as a woman of peace and honour, who was devoted to God and respected by all who came across her during her lifetime.

According to Udoh, mama Grace contributed immensely to the growth of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Umueme Obike and impacted greatly on the members.

He pointed out that death is an inevitable path for every mortal, emphasising that death comes when it will unannounced and leaves an impression of loss, pain, grief and sorrow. He prayed to the good Lord to console the Oparah family at their period of grief.

He also enjoyed the children to imbibe the good legacies their mother left behind as a devoted Christian as well as take solace that their late mother Ezinne Grace Oparah is sleeping in the lord.

In her biography read by one of the sons of the deceased, Dr Benedict Oparah, a Medical Director at Bethel Hospital, Ankpa, Kogi State described their mother as a quintessential woman endowed with grace and fear of God as well as a generous share of cognitive and emotional intelligence reminiscent in her interactions with people and general navigations in life.

He said mama Grace was a dutiful and dedicated teacher who transferred her intelligence and good morals to her students in the various places she taught including Holy Rosary School, Ogbor Nguru, Holy Rosary School Okpala, all in Imo State, Mellamby Municipal School, Asata Enugu and later at Community Primary School , Umueme Obike.

“Mama, as a devoted Christian, and out of her love for God and His children, was instrumental in the establishment of the Assemblies of God Church in Umueme Obike when the founding members of the local Assembly were stranded,” he said.

As a dedicated Church member, mama received an award of Excellence on Nov. 16, 2008 in recognition of and appreciation of her contributions to the church progress. Her home community, Eziala Nguru also honoured her with the title of “Ada Di Oha Nma 1, on Dec. 27, 2011, as a daughter who made them proud.

Also on August, 25, 2012, the Aladinma Ndom Umueme Obike Women Association, her fellow women group, honoured her with the Award of “NneomaNwereugwu” in recognition of her dynamic support and selfless service to humanity and the association in general. They also later bestowed her with the title, “Nne Di Oha Nma.”

“Mama Grace was a good disciplinarian and inculcated in her children the act of discipline, good virtues and God fearing attributes that made them what they are today,” her biography read.

Also speaking at the burial ceremony which attracted dignitaries across Imo State and beyond, Her Excellency Nneoma Nkechi Rochas Okorocha wife of the former governor of Imo State Sen. Rochas Okorocha conveyed her heartfelt condolences to the Oparah family.

Her Excellency Nneoma Nkechi Rochas Okorocha

She said that the first son of the deceased Elder Tony Oparah, who was a long standing Chief Protocol Officer in Imo State Government, embodied the remarkable qualities of his late mother, Ezinne Grace Oparah.

She recalled with nostalgia that elder Oparah was an invaluable member of her team in their eight years administration which speaks volumes of the extraordinary woman her mother must have been.

The former first lady of Imo State who was accompanied to the burial ceremony by Prof. Adaobi Obasi, former vice-chancellor Imo State University (IMSU), Dr (Mrs) Uche Ejiogu, former Hon. Member representing Ihitte Uboma and other eminent citizens said that they were at the funeral ceremony to celebrate the life of a worthy woman; a woman of virtue.

According to them, no words can fully alleviate the pain of losing a mother but hoped that the Oparah family and Ngor Okpala community will find comfort in the fond memories they shared with their mother while alive.

Nneoma Nkechi Okorocha prayed that the soul of Nneoma Grace rest in eternal peace.

Also speaking, Dr (Mrs) Josephine Uju, former Senior Lecturer in the Department of Political Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, (UNN) also from Umueme Obike community, described mama Grace as a beautiful and elegant woman of high integrity with a very large heart to accommodate all who came close to her family.

“Your family house in the Railway Quarters, Enugu was a rendezvous for all from Obike town and beyond. Your welcoming smiles gave your visitors confidence to stay on and even come again. You didn’t have it all but you were out to give all that you had.

“You were the first educated woman to be married into Umueme village and you behaved like one by all standards.

“Your patience and commitment to your family made it possible for you and your husband to produce many children of superior character and learning,” she said of mama Grace.

According to Uju, “Mama Ye” sacrificed everything to ensure peace and development in her family.

“You remained an exemplary woman. You were like Caesar’s wife; you were not only above board, you were seen to be above board.

“Above all, you were at peace with your God hence he called you home to his bosom on the First day of November which is ‘All Saints Dayʼ” she noted and urged all, especially the children to emulate the sterling qualities exhibited by their mother during her lifetime.

Mama Grace is survived by two siblings, many admirers and 11 children including Elder Anthony Oparah, former Chief Protocol Officer to the Imo State Government and Deaconess Chidi Opara, a Deputy Director with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja. May her soul continue to rest in peace. Amen.