CHIJIOKE OKOYE'S LEGACY SHALL LIVE ETERNALLY THROUGH HIS WORKS
Okenwa R. Nwosu, M.D.
Umuibe,
Arc. Chijioke Okoye of Ihuofor Village, Obiuno-Igboukwu, Anambra state must have been interred earlier today as scheduled. His death was announced earlier through the DMGS Old Boys online forums, Dengramites_World, but I must have missed the information possibly due to inadvertent disabling of my subscription to this group. Our thanks go to Barr. MCK Ubah (Akajiugo) for informing the rest of us about this tragic loss, only a few days ago, via the IDU USA Forum.
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ate Arc. Chijioke Okoye designed the SICA House at the Igboukwu Museum |
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Arc. Chijioke supervising the renovation project at the “Space”, Akama - Ngo |
Chijioke departed this world rather prematurely. But he accomplished much more than many who have had the chance to live much longer. He shall be remembered as one of the most accomplished architects that our part of the world has produced till date. He attended my Alma Mater, DMGS, Onitsha, in immediate aftermath of the Civil War and graduated in the Class of 1974. His professional career culminated in building his architectural firm, Camp Partnership Associates, Enugu, from scratch and in growing this business into one of the most successful design groups to reckon with in the area. As one would expect, his firm made its mark and fortune in designing private business and residential buildings situated in contiguous states of the former Eastern Nigeria. But what shall definitely immortalize his legacy are the institutional, historical and ornamental buildings designed by his firm in recent years. Prof. Chinua Achebe’s Mausoleum at Ogidi and the Shaw House at the Igboukwu Museum, both in Anambra state, stand out as ornamental edifices which shall long outlive their creators in a fashion that is applicable to sundry historical buildings ever constructed elsewhere worldwide. Chijioke’s creative spirit shall be immortalized through his outstanding life’s works.
Chijioke quickly succumbed to one of the most deadly tumors of the digestive system known to man. Even in developed economies with functional sophisticated healthcare delivery system, the tumor to which Chijioke succumbed is still deadly. He obtained a palliative surgical treatment in Nigeria last year which offered him a brief relief and some precious extra weeks and months to tidy up things before the final curtain fell. It is noteworthy to mention here that, even while on his sick bed, Arch Chijioke was still able to undertake one more redesign of the SICA House which culminated in the final mockup model being constructed at the museum site as we speak. All his architectural firm’s design services for the SICA House were given free of charge to Ndi Igboukwu. Despite the pain and anguish he faced in his last months, a frail Chijioke could still eked out some cheerful smiles when he unexpectedly showed up at the formal launch of SICA and foundation-laying ceremony of the SICA House, which he designed, on January 2nd, 2015. He found solace in knowing that his handiwork shall stand eternally in his hometown to remind future generations about his creative genius long after his is no more.
His life moves us to reflect on our own mortality. No one knows what exactly await one in terms of future debility that comes with aging or when our respective final hour shall be. What Chijioke’s life has taught us is to look for the proverbial black goat while the sun still shines. He sure did just that. That’s how come he was able to create and construct the Achebe Mausoleum whose photos are displayed below and of course, the SICA House which is already earmarked to serve as the premier tourist destination as well as a multipurpose Cultural Center for Anambra State and the totality of ground zero in years and decades to come.
Arch Chijioke Okoye was serving his second tenure as the Secretary General of DMGS Old Boys’ Association Worldwide (DOBA worldwide) before his premature death. He was re-elected only early last year. It is obvious that his meritorious service to our Alma Mater and his fellow alumni shall be missed greatly.
I join the rest of Ndi Igboukwu and the DMGS alumni to wish Chijioke’s inspired and generous soul a perfect, peaceful and eternal rest in the Lord.
Whatever he leaves behind uncompleted are now for us the living to fulfill ……..
Okenwa.
From: Okenwa R. Nwosu, M.D. [mailto:okenw...@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, May 14, 2015 8:31 PM
To: idu...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [IDU USA] IN MEMORY OF ARCH CHIJIOKE OKOYE :( FROM OUR ARCHIVES) MAUSOLEUM OF PROF CHINUA ACHEBE
Azubuike,
Missing images from previous post are now displayed. Archival images need to be downloaded first for it to display in a repost from you AOL mail application.
Okenwa.
From: idu...@googlegroups.com [mailto:idu...@googlegroups.com]
Sent: Wednesday, May 13, 2015 5:50 PM
To: idu...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [IDU USA] IN MEMORY OF ARCH CHIJIOKE OKOYE :( FROM OUR ARCHIVES) MAUSOLEUM OF PROF CHINUA ACHEBE
This is from the Archives of IDU USA. There is a cycle and a circle to life.
Azubuike L. Ezeife, MD
From: Okenwa R. Nwosu, M.D. [mailto:okenw...@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, May 14, 2015 7:47 PM
To: Dr. Okenwa Nwosu
Subject: Fwd: [dengramites_world] MAUSOLEUM OF PROF CHINUA ACHEBE
Chijioke,
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Front Entrance to Chinua Achebe’s Mausoleum, Ogidi |
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Chinua Achebe’s sarcophagus is entombed as shown above |
Looking at the above photos, the design is unique and the construction was tastefully finished. For this structure to have been designed and constructed in three short weeks is phenomenal. I joint the rest in congratulating you for this outstanding feat.
It is indeed a befitting resting place for the literary sage and political thinker of our era.
Lux Fiat!
Okenwa.
From: dengrami...@yahoogroups.com [mailto:dengrami...@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of eze okonkwo
Sent: Wednesday, June 12, 2013 7:02 AM
To: dengrami...@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [dengramites_world] MAUSOLEUM OF PROF CHINUA ACHEBE
A wonderful work of art.
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