By Boma Nwuke
On November 24, 1979, at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital,a pretty baby girl was born to Chief Felix,educated businesman and Lolo Juliana Ojiako,an educationist of the noble Ojiako family of Umu- Udechiukwu kindred, Umudiala Ezinifite of Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Nnenna meaning Father’s mother was, second child and first daughter in a family of 6. From infancy, Nnenna left no one in doubt that she was a special child.,Her exhibition of uncommon leadership skills clearly distinguished her from her peers.. With the family’s Catholic faith background combined with good parental upbringing, Nnenna was fortified to make her mark in the world.
,Nnenna attended the famous Auntie Margaret International School, Calabar in 1982.and graduated in 1989 with the First School Leaving Certificate.In 1990, she attended the Federal Government Girls College,Ikot Abasi where she spent her first year in college before her parents decided her transfer in 1992 to the Federal Government
Girls College Calabar, where she completed her secondary school in 1995 obtaining the West African Examination Certificate.
One year after,she got married to businesman realtor, and politician,Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu of Osumenyi, Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Their wedding on the 19th of October,1996,at the All Saints Anglican Church, Abuja ,was officiated by Archbishops Peter Akinola and Emmanuel Chukwuma.
At 17, on January 11,1997, Prince and Nnenna’s first child, Nicholas, was born . Nicholas was named after his father hence his pet name junior.
On the 9th of February,1998,Henry, their second son arrived ,
Two years later, on the 1st of May,2000,Philip the third in the family was born.
David, the number 4 in line was born on the 12th of June,2006,7 years after Phil.And on October 29,2016, Mathew, the youngest and the baby of the house was born.
Nnenna was a lawyer and Educationist. This she combined with her duties as a wife and mother.
Her passion for learning and her husband’s commitment to his promise of giving her unfettered access to learning gave her the much needed fillip to proceed to study Computer Science at the University of Abuja in 1997. Between 1998- 2000,, She began her law programme at the same University and thereafter, left the shores of Nigeria for the United Kingdom in pursuit of further education. At that time, Nnenna was already a mother of three children.Her maternal responsibilities notwithstanding, Nnenna studied law at the University of Buckingham and graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Law (LLB).Hons with distinction in 2003.
Not satisfied with the feat with that level of Education, Nnenna immediately proceeded to the Center for Energy Petroleum,Mineral Law and Policy?CEPMLP) of the University of Dundee in Scotland, where she was confered with a Masters of Laws (LLM) in Petroleum Law and Policy..She returned to Nigeria to attend the mandatory one year programme at the Nigerian Law School between 2004-2005. She was called to Bar after graduation.
Desirous of acquiring more knowledge, Nnenna in 2008, enrolled in the College of Law in London and Wales and obtained a Diploma in International Arbitration Law.
Nnenna attended the University of Notingham in the United Kingdom between 2009- 2011 and graduated with a Post Graduate Certificate in Education. She also attended the Lagos Business School -Pan African University and obtained a certificate in Entrepreneurial Management.
Nnenna’s strong believe in the fact that knowledge is inexhaustible especially when it involves management and leadership ,increased her desire for further learning at the renowned Havard Business School in 2018 and obtained a Certificate in School Management Leadership.
At the same time ,she was studying for an MBA programme at the University of Notingham and a PHD at the University College London.
Nnenna’s passion for qualitative teaching and learning,made her to co- establish one of the leading centres of Education in the Federal Capital Territory FCT Abuja, The British Nigerian Academy ,her brain child ,is a co-educational boarding secondary school set within 10 hectares of Land with State of the Art facilities
in a caring community that nurtures individuals towards becoming responsible citizens of a global society .
Acronymcally and popularly called BNA, the school offers its students an internationally based curriculum which is holistic, rigorous and stimulating. Nnenna as the Director of the BNA, engineered the foundation and commencement of the University Foundation and the International Baccalaureate (IB) programmes .
At the BNA, students are prepared for success in higher education to be active participants in a dynamic world. Standards are never compromised in knowledge impartment and skills acquisition that enabled students make exceptional grades in West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE,) National Examination Council( NECO),JAMB and International examinations including SAT, TOEFL, IELTS and,IGCSE
To be abreast of the dynamics of Education and management and further created a niche for the BNA, ,Nnenna enrolled in various courses in Education and obtained certificates.
Nnenna also ventured into other aspects of the corporate world of Finance Management and Business She had her first experience of work in 1997 at the First Bank of Nigeria ,Abuja as staff and thereafter, started her first business-the Prince and Princess Pharmacy Ltd. In 2004, she joined her family business, Senecou Group of Companies Ltd Abuja,as company secretary and later became the vice -chairman/Executive Director of the group.
Aside her unparalleled progress in business, Nnenna also interfaced with professional and religious bodies of which she was a member
They include
-International Bar Association
-Nigerian Bar Association
-Association of School and College Leaders.
- Principals’Centre Harvard Graduate School of Education.
-Abuja Schools Association
-International Federation of Women Lawyers &
-Leadership matters
Inspite of her busy schedule, she found time to read newspapers, magazines and appraised contents that hinge on life and the Nigerian nation. She also loved adventure.
On the 19th of November2020, Nnenna was travelling to Ilaje town in Ondo State enroute Benin City, the Edo State capital to attend a burial ceremony by road. Along the Benin-Ore-Okitipupa axis of the journey, tragedy struck when a trailer truck coming in the opposite direction skidded off its lane, and collided with their vehicle which sadly led to the death of Nnenna and three other occupants of the vehicle.
Her Funeral programme begins on Monday14th December,2020 at 4pm with a service of songs at the Ball Room, plot 269, Muhammadu Buhari way, Central Business District,FCT, Abuja.Her remains will be interred on the 19th of December 2020 at her home town, Osumenyi in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Nnenna was a sweet mother to her children and other children not biologically related to her. She was a disciplinarian and diligent enforcer of morals and order in children. She hated bully and disrespect..Even her children were not spared. Her background which underscores her strong character in training of her children is the result of their humble disposition and success stories in their fields of endeavor .
Nnenna was a sweet sister to her siblings and had her hands full with protecting their welfare, honour and dignity.
She was the rallying point of her friends both big and small, cutting across ethnic and religious divides, which is the reason many described her as” an Angel and Shining light whose demise have left a vacuum difficult to fill”
Nnenna had a good working relationship with her employees.The principal of BNA,Dawn Savage said she was exceptional boss, friend and an inspiration in a tribute laden with emotion.It reads”
Barr. Mrs Nnenna Millicent Ukachukwu
My friend, my mentor, My inspiration and my co-conspirator and of course my employer.”
“When I first met Nnena in the UK, she came to my office with her son at my previous place of work in the UK. Straight away, Nnenna knew we were going to work together, I was very happy that we had met and was happy to be invited to share the UFP programme with BNA.”
Almost as soon as I had arrived at the school, Nnenna treated me like an old friend and was telling me all of her ideas.”
“Nnenna was passionate about BNA and had an infectious way about her, that seemed to stimulate my own ideas and passions. The third time I met Nnenna. She was in hospital having a few things checked due to her pregnancy with Matthew. It was here that somehow she managed to get me to join BNA as a Principal, this was to be a temporary post whilst Nnenna was in the UK giving birth to Matthew, or so I thought “…
Nnenna, was not at all convinced that I was staying for a short while and her infectious, inspiration got me hooked. We would talk our ideas through for hours, before we embarked on making them happen. Both of us would ring each other out of the blue with new innovations and plans, we had a vision for BNA and beyond.
Nnenna was more than my boss though, she and I were confidants, true friends and shared so much. Nnenna had the ability to bring out the best in people around her and would grow lasting creations from small conversations.
Nnenna’s legacy will live on, I and I am sure many others will agree with me and make sure it does.
“Nnenna was without a doubt the best friend anyone could have, she had the ability to make things happen and was always a pleasure to be around, even when obstacles were in her way, Nnenna found a way to have fun and remove them.”
“A true friend and confidant that will never be replaced. I am missing her so much and I know that will never go away, but I will always strive to make her proud.
RIP me dear friend Nnenna, you never knew the powers you had, but you always knew there was more to do”……
Nnenna was a philanthropist and took her generosity to the camps of the Internally Displaced People.She not only donated generously to them to ease their situation but also encouraged the formation of charity club in her school for the poor.
She was a sports enthusiast. To her,sports should be a part of the school tradition as well as everyday life. Under her supervision, the school’s Inter-Housr sports meet was always a delight for the students, parents and visitors ,as well asstudents look forward to the sports meet every year for participation and winning laurels.
She will be fondly remembered for her loyalty to friendship, attention to detail, love for excellence, meticulous record keeping unrivaled sense of style and sense of humor. Above all, Nnenna was a prayer warrior and loved God.
Indeed, Nnenna lived a life worthy of emulation.
Her mother,Mrs Ojiako said,” Nnenna knew her God and had a strong relationship with Him.”
“Therefore,as far as I am concerned,I don’t think I have any regret about her life.”
“All I know is that God brought her through my womb and I don’t know the expiry date.I believe that everything has expiry date including the food we eat and the clothes we wear, Everything on earth has expiry date.We have the manufacturing date and the expiry date,It could be her own date has expired,I don’t know except God.God knows the best for her.”
“I believe that God has taken her and will keep her in the best place where she wishes herself to be and not here,a sinful world.”
To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven.
A time to be born and a time to die.A time to plant and a time to pluck what is planted.- Ecclesiastes 3:1-2
Nnenna as a mortal had been born ,raised and made indelible footprints on the sands of time.
She will be sorely missed by all who crossed her path but her friendship, legacies and care live in our hearts and minds.
Nnenna May you rest in the Lord
Naa n’udo,, jee nke oma
Rest In Peace and keep smiling 😇
May her soul Rest In Peace 🕊
May her soul rest in perfect peace🕊
May her soul rest in perfect peace
Her life was really worthy of emulating, Nnenna May Your Soul Rest In Peace, Amen
Nnenna came as a rude shock, I can’t wrap my mind around it. Her life was really worthy of emulating. Till we meet at the Lord’s Feet, Nnenna May Your Soul Rest In Peace, Amen.
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