The Senior Special Assistant, Media, to the Governor of Delta State, Sir Fidelis Egugbo, has thanked all those who stood by his family before, during and after the burial of his mother, Deaconess Mary Egugbo, for their support and encouragement.
Deaconess Egugbo died on Wednesday, September 13, 2023, shortly after her 70th birthday. Her remains were interred on Saturday, December 30, 2023 at a carnival-like burial ceremony at her residence in Ugiliamai, Onicha-Ukwuani, Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State.
In response to the outpouring of goodwill , Egugbo, in a statement he issued on Saturday on behalf of the children of the deceased, described the support he got from people across the world as overwhelming.
He said, “to the glory of God Almighty, today made it exactly seven days that the remains of our mother, Deaconess Mary Egugbo was laid to rest at her compound in Ugiliamai, Onicha-Ukwuani in Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State.
“We thank all of you out there for your support since the day she passed on, by your personal visits, phone calls, text messages, financial assistance and prayers.
“We appreciate you all and acknowledge that only God who sees the hearts of men, can truly, adequately reward you for your care for us in our time of understandable grief.
“Your ceaseless support, especially your turnout at the burial ceremony, was massive and we thank you for joining us to celebrate the life and times of our dear mother.
“To my Boss, the Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, who engaged me two months before the death of my mother, we say, thank you; to the number two citizen of Delta State, Sir Monday Onyeme, FCA, whose personal presence electrified the venue of the burial ceremony, we say, God bless you
“The same note of our appreciation goes to the immediate past Governor of Delta State, Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, CON, his predecessor in office, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, CON, Rear Admiral Mike Onah, OON, mni, Chief Godwill Obielum, Hon. Charles Emetulu, Prince Johnson Erijo, Barr. Sam Osasa, Ambassador Godson Echegile, Prof. Fidelis Oditah, QC, Dr. Chuks Ochonogor, Rev Fr. John Konyeke, Chief Isaac Onyesom, Mr Maxwell Awuse, Chief Kris Osisike, Chief Festus Ochonogor, Mr Byron Unini, Hon. Sunny Tatabuzogwu, Ogbuagu George Okpala, Engr. Dan Ossai, Dr. Kenneth Olise, Sir Christopher Osakwe, Dr. Michael Osuoza, Hon. Charles Aniagwu, Dr. Eugene Okolocha, Dr. Charles Olisa, Dr. Nelson Ejakpovi, Dr. Uche Uraih, Dr. Kemi Emina, Olorogun Festus Ahon, Prince Mike Oputa, Olorogun Fred Majemite, Ogbuefi Lucky Okuji, Hon. Colina Anazia, Ogbuiji Ifeanyi Obi, Ogbuiji Aneke Ifemeni, Comrade Sunny Ogefere, Comrade Sola Adebayo, Mr Samuel Ijeh, Dr. Henry Ojefia, Mr Dennis Medi, Mr Chijioke Ebenighe, Hon. Afamefune Enemokwu, Hon. Godday Mgbabego, Barr. Emmanuel Egri-Okwaji, and Engr. Emmanuel Omede.
“Also, we appreciate the support of Engr. Mishack Okonye, Chief Dennis Okoh, Comrade Monday Uwagwu, Chief Fidelis Okolafor, Pastor Anthony Onyia, Mr Theo Bayoko, Mr. Harold Ojji, Hon. Nelson Egware, Hon. Tony Enuma, Mr Solomon Okenne, Mr Ambrose Obi, Mr Ajieh Leo, Comrade Alexander Osadebe, Sir Sylvester Okoh, the Egugbos, Umu-Ossai family, Ugiliamai Youths, members of the Exclusive Committee of Friends, EXCOF, the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, Delta Online Publishers Forum, DOPF, Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, Church Warden Association, Catholic Church of the Ascension, Asaba, Knights of St. John International, Grace of God Mission International, The Redeemed Christian Church of God, members of staff of The Pointer Newspapers, staff of Government House, Asaba, Staff of Isoko North Local Government, Staff of Delta State University/Dennis Osadebe University and all others not specifically mentioned here.
“We appreciate you all and pray that God Almighty meets each and everyone of you at your points of need, thank you.
About Deaconess Mary Egugbo:
“As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you.” Isaiah 66:13
The family of Mr. Anieh Uteh and Mrs Agnes Osogbue Anieh Uteh (nee Oseji) of Umu Oluka Akpe Sub-family of the extended Okinya Family of Ugiliamai, Onicha Ukwuani clan in Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State on August 10, 1953, was blessed with a baby girl.
As believers in our Lord, Jesus Christ, they named her, Mary. She was the first child of her parents and by her birth, her parents were blessed with two sons, Sunday and Paul, who was also known as Gbeza.
With parents who desired good education for their children, at a time when most parents were skeptical about sending their children to school, in 1962, Mary’s parents enrolled her at St. Augustine’s Catholic School (now Asamala Primary School), Ugiliamai. That dream of her parents to train her to the zenith in education was, however, truncated by the Nigerian Civil War which broke out in 1967.
With the war, nobody was going to school and her parents decided to make her learn a trade: an entrepreneurship education to prepare her for life. So, she began to learn Tailoring, popularly called Fashion and Design at Madam Margaret Ubokor Tailoring Workshop at Ugiliamai.
Young Mary had blossomed to a very beautiful and lovely lady, always wearing her natural beauty devoid of make ups with enchanting smile. It was her qualities of humility, laced with industry and beauty that attracted a man who has been described by several persons as a charming socialite in the community, Mr Michael Egugbo. Mama got married to her heartthrob, Mr Michael Egugbo, who was popularly known as Show Boy, and that marriage was blessed with four surviving children, Pastor (Mrs) Kate Aduhor, Comrade Fidelis Egugbo, Mr Anslem Egugbo and Mrs Chinenye Otuya.
As a dutiful, respectful wife who believed in the wellbeing of her husband, when her husband decided to move his business from Ugiliamai to Kwale, then, the headquarter of Ndokwa Local Government Area which comprises the present day, Ndokwa West, Ndokwa East and Ukwuani Local Government Areas of Delta State, our mother, relocated with him to Kwale and they settled at the compound of Chief Joseph Uzor Dike, who recently passed on at the age of 93, as the eldest person, the Okpala-Uku and Iyasele Onowu of Onuaboh in Ndokwa East local Government Area of Delta State.
It was from Chief Dike’s Compound that they moved to that of Chief Ukpe, all within the Iyiatu area of Kwale before they built their house.
Fate, however, took Mama to Ugiliamai, where she proved that truly, it is only God that knows the past, the present and the future. She threw herself into the worship of God and was very active in the Grace of God Mission International, joining members of the church to travel to Onitsha, and other places for religious activities and she was ordained as a Deaconess.
Mama lived her life to the fullest. In 2001, she moved from Ugiliamai to Ogwashi-Uku where she had a provision store but with her mother, Mrs Agnes Osogbue Anie Uteh (nee Oseji) aging, as the only daughter, Mama moved back to Ugiliamai to cater for her. With the death of her mother, Mama shuttled from one of her children’s residence to the other, so, she was either in Ozoro, Port Harcourt, Ogwashi-Uku or Asaba.
Those who knew her can attest to the fact that she lived a good life and on her last day, Wednesday, September 13, 2023, few weeks after her 70th birthday, Mama was surrounded by her children and grand-children and obviously beaming with smile, she bade the world goodbye and slept in the Lord.
May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
