British Nigerian Academy( BNA),a Coeducational private Secondary school in Abuja on Saturday morning ,organised a memorial service in honour of Co- founder and Director,Mrs Nnenna Milicent Ukachuku, who passed away on Thursday, November 19, 2020 .
The event which held at the School’s Auditorium located in the serene Prince and Princess Estate ,had in attendance, friends, family, parents,teachers and students.
Speaking earlier, the Principal of the BNA, Mrs Antonia Joseph described Nnenna as a movement of quality and professionalism which is evidenced in the quality of staff she employed.
Joseph said the late director was a woman of almost impeccable character noting however that her choice of the words was informed by the reality that no one is perfect.
Contributing to the testament in memory of Mrs Ukachuku, a Media Director and friend of the deceased,Mrs Boma Nwuke said Nnenna lived a life worthy of emulation describing her as a Frontline educationist, Entrepreneur, Woman of Justice, and worthy ally.
Nwuke said through the late director’s instrumentality, graduates of the school have become worthy ambassadors of the school and the country globally while the school had enjoyed the patronage of external professional examination bodies and currently running post secondary school programmes such as the International Baccalaureate ( IB Program) and the University Foundation program.
While praying against untimely deaths, Nwuke prayed for divine guidance and shield for the family.
In her message, Ambassador Maureen Tamuno said Nnenna was one who radiated ambiance around those who met with her saying she exuded confidence, simplicity and friendship anytime they met.
Tamuno ,Ambassador of Jamaica,Haiti and Dominican Republic ,assured the school of support from educational programmes under her jurisdiction .
Also speaking,a friend of Nnenna and former parent of the school,Mrs Julie Onoja eulogised the late director describing her as a hardworking personality and good friend whose vacuum was difficult to fill.
First son of the late Director, Nicholas Ukachuku Junior, described his mother as a great woman whose footprints on the sands of time cannot be erased.
Nicholas who stepped in to his mother’s shoes as Director, said the past one year had been most challenging owing to the death of his mother but thanked God for seeing the family through.
He said the best way to immortalise his late Mother was to continue with her legacies of nurturing fulfilment of ideas, training , developing and producing generations of future leaders .
Performing the religious charge at the programme, Pastor D.O Damian drew a test from the genealogy of Adam in Genesis and how generations in that era lived.
According to him, the result in life is not a testament to longevity but productivity as events in the circumstances of Enoch in the Bible revealed adding that Nnenna though had a short journey on earth,she lived a productive life.
In his vote of thanks, spouse of the late Director and Chairman of the school, Prince Nicholas Ukachuku Senior, thanked all those who identified with them in their period of grief and memorial even as he noted that though his wife was his life,he realized in her death how so important she was.
Ukachuku who submitted the demise of his wife to the lord in a Hymn” My God My Father while I stray took solace in meeting on the resurrection morning .
He used the occasion to announce the birth of a tertiary institution from the stable of the BNA, named British Nigerian University.
Prince Ukachuku who gave credit to his late wife as the brain behind the coming institution in the Federal Capital Territory FCT Abuja, said that the project had gone through inspection,verification and accreditation to kick start the process of admission of students in 2022 pending the certification of the institution by relevant authorities.
He said so far,18 courses have been accredited by the National University Commission, NUC includiing Faculties of Law, Medical Science, Computer Science, and Pharmacy.
Other highlights of the program was testimonies by teachers and performance by the school band and students of the school.
Nnenna was a Barrister of Law ( LLB ( Hons) and holds the Masters of Law in International law LL.M, among others.
She is survived by her husband, Nicholas Ukachuku Senior,five sons, Nicholas, Junior,Henry,Phil, David and Matthew along with her parents and siblings.
