By Maxim Uzoatu
Miracle marks the phenomenon at age 75 for the lady who is the loving mother of a Reverend Sister and Reverend Father.
They hardly make mothers these days like the ever personable Mrs. Agatha Nkechinyere Ezeakunne (Nne Okwukwe) who celebrated her 75th birthday on Thursday, January 2, 2025 at her late husband Nze Simeon Ezeakunnes expansive compound in Umuojum village, Amanasa, Umuchu, Aguata LGA, Anambra State.
A sterling lady of faith, Mrs. Ezeakunne deserves all celebration led by His Lordship, Most Rev Paulinus C. Ezeokafor, Catholic Bishop of Awka.
According to Bishop Ezeokafor, Your life is filled with testimonies of courage, resilience and deep faith in God. Amazingly, you have carefully engraved these virtues in all your children, among whom are Rev. Fr. Cyprian and Sr. Mary Frances. Your children with other people close to you bear witness to your kindness and simplicity of life.
In the testimony of Peter Ebere Cardinal Okpaleke, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ekwulobia, “As we thank God on your behalf, I congratulate your children who are organizing the celebration. It shows a commitment to the challenge that Bishop Paulinus Ezeokafor threw at Ndi Igbo to celebrate people not at death but while they are alive and can participate in the celebration. I can imagine how happy you are that you are being celebrated and I know that the joy from the event will boost your immunity and contribute to your overall health physical, spiritual and emotional.”
Agatha Ezeakunne was born in Aba, in present-day Abia State, on February 5, 1949 to the family of Matthew and Martha Onuigbo, both deceased, of Umubogu village, Amanasa, Umuchu.
She was the fifth out of the 12 children of her illustrious parents, with 7 of her siblings still alive while five have passed away.
The daughter of pioneer staunch Catholic parents, she earnt the daily recitation of the Rosary and the daily attendance to Masses and visitation of the Blessed Sacrament from them.
She had her primary school education at Our Lady of Fatima Primary School (now Ogbarimgba Primary School) in her native Umuchu and at Holy Rosary Primary School, Ngwa Road, Aba from 1956 to 1962 and from 1963 to 1964 respectively.
She earned her First School Leaving Certificate from Holy Rosary Primary School, Aba in 1964.
The eruption of the Nigeria-Biafra war in 1967 made the young Agatha to return with her parents and brothers and sisters from Aba to her hometown of Umuchu.
It was in the course of the war that she got married to Simeon Anyaleke Ezeakunne, now late, on July 26, 1969 at St. Matthews Catholic Church, Umuchu.
The marriage is blessed with 8 accomplished children.
She started out life as per auxiliary teaching at Nwahia Primary School, Ezinifite from 1976 to 1980 before attending the celebrated Loretto Teacher Training College, Adazi from 1981 to 1985 to qualify as a Grade II Teacher in flying colours.
Mrs. Ezeakunne undertook her National Certificate of Education (NCE) at Anambra State College of Education, Nsugbe from 1988 to 1992.
As an astutely qualified teacher, she taught in six schools before retiring meritoriously on February 5, 2009.
She sums up her religious life thusly: I went to Morning Mass everyday till my knees could no longer allow me. I am a member of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal of Nigeria (CCRN), Association of Mary Queen of All Hearts and Purgatorian Society. I am a chorister in my parish.
Mrs. Ezeakunne can be described as a jack of all trades and a master of all.
There has been no dull moment in her life as she learnt to be industrious from her esteemed parents.
In her words: “My husband and I were teachers. I combined my teaching profession with petty trading. I sewed my clothes and those of my children. I love music and I play some musical instruments like keyboard, recorder and so on. My other hobbies are farming, sewing, singing, playing musical instruments, praying and reading.”
The first born of the family, Ifeanyi Ezeakunne, showers his praises on his mother thusly: “Youve been so wonderful and amazing all these years in influencing peoples lives positively.”
The Reverend Sister in the family, Rev. Sr. Mary Frances glows: “You are the best mother ever known.”
For the Reverend Father, Fr. Chidi, the words issue forth: “You are an irreplaceable treasure in our family, Mama.”
There is no end to toasting to the health of Mrs. Agatha Nkechinyere Ezeakunne (Nne Okwukwe) at 75, an ennobling miracle writ large.
