The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!

Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player

That struts and frets his hour upon the stage

And then is heard no more: it is a tale

Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,

Signifying nothing

_THE above quote from the popular Shakespearian play, Macbeth, clearly illustrates the brevity and vanity of life. Indeed, uwa bu paw-paw, oda n’ala, otipia meaning, life is paw-paw, if it falls on the ground, it breaks into pieces. No wonder the Bible says, “Lord, teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” Death dealt a cruel blow on the family of Late Gilbert Uzoma Njoku-Elegonye on April 17 when our eldest brother and mentor, Mr. Godfrey Emeka Njoku, without saying a word, bade this world of humans, farewell.

He took me when I was still a kid and ensured I had good education from the primary school to the university. I lived with him at that tender age, first at St Francis Primary School, Amatta, and later at Nwabosi (also in Amatta Ikeduru) before he was transferred to St Paul’s Odumara Orodo where I lived with him and passed my First School Leaving Certificate. He sent me to St Mary’s Juniour Seminary Umuowa, Orlu, before proceeding to further his own education at the Alvan Ikoku College of Education, AICE, Owerri.

The late Godfrey Emeka Njoku popularly called Emeka or “De Ultimate” by his friends and admirers, was the first child of Late Gilbert Uzoma Njoku-Elegonye and Agnes Uchenwa Njoku, (Nee Obasi-Oparanwogu) of Umueziogwu, Umuofa Uzoagba in the Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State. Born on 17th December, 1946, he had his primary education at St Joseph’s Primary School Uzoagba. Although he passed the Standard Six School Leaving Certificate in flying colours, he could not proceed to Holy Ghost College Owerri which he got admission into, because his parents could not pay the school fees. His brilliance however earned him a job as a pupil-teacher in the same St Joseph’s Primary School. He was so tender that after school, he would pull off his clothes to join his peers who were still in primary school, to play football. The stipend he earned as a teacher, was used to assist in the educational upbringing of his siblings.

Emeka later got admission to St Joseph’s Teacher Training College, Umuaturu Etche in the present Rivers State. He returned to his teaching job after the training programme and taught at LA Abo/Umueme in Uzoagba. A self- made man, Emeka combined his teaching job with  private tutorials which enabled him to pass the General Certificate in Education, GCE and Teachers’ Grade Two certificates.

An educationist par excellence, his teaching career took him to St Francis Primary School, Amatta and Odumara Community School, Orodo in the Mbaitoli LGA. In 1974, Mr. Emeka G. Njoku got admission to study Physical and Health Education/Igbo at the Alvan Ikoku College of Education, AICE, Owerri. He later enrolled at the University of Jos where he got his Bachelors Degree in English/Education in 1985 through private tutorials. He taught at Government Teachers’ Training College, Keffi in Nasarawa State for the mandatory National Youth Service Corps, NYSC Programme.

On his return to Imo State after the NYSC, he was posted to Teacher Training College, Ehime Mbano. After many years of grooming teachers in that College, he was transferred to Teacher Training College at Umudi in the then Nkwerre/Isu LGA. He was the pioneer Principal of Comprehensive Secondary School, Owerre-Ebeiri in Orlu L.G.A. from where he was posted to Umuhu-Okabia and Amanachi Secondary Schools in Orlu Local Government Area and finally to Emekuku Girls Secondary School where he retired as a Principal Class 1.

Social and religious life

‘Eede Goddy’ as his siblings called him, was at one time, the Chairman of Ikeduru Progressive Union, Orlu branch. He was also the Vice Chairman of Ikeduru Welfare Association (IWA) and later its patron. He also served as the President, Uzoagba Family meeting, Orlu branch before he returned to the village after his retirement from the teaching service.

An ardent Catholic, Emeka was until his death, the Chairman of Christ the King Church, CKC Umueziogwu, Chairman Zone 5 Laity Council, Vice Chairman, Uzoagba Parish Council and Secretary, Parish Organising Committee (Social Life).

A go-getter and expert in conflict resolution, Emeka was always there to settle nagging problems that had defied solutions. His community which he served in various capacities, will surely miss his wise counsels on knotty issues that seemed to have defied solutions.

Emeka got married to his heart throb, Miss Monica (Monique) Nwosu of Akabo Ikeduru in 1981.The marriage is blessed with six children, five of who are already university graduates.

His philosophy of life is captured in this quote from his archives. “If I were to try to read, much less to answer to all the attacks made on me, a shop might as well be closed for any other business. I do the very best I know now, the very best I can. I mean to keep doing so until the end. If the end brings me out right, then what is said against me won’t matter. If the end brings me out wrong, then ten angels swearing I was right; would make no difference”. (Emeka G. Njoku).

Jude Njoku is a staff of Vanguard Media Limited