…As family donated two storey Guest House to church

By Innocent Anaba

A music lover and dancer, a Jerusalem Pilgrimage, an astute business woman and an Anglican Lay Reader, Lady Ezinne Ibe nee Chime popularly known as Black Indigo, Apunanwu has gone home.

She died at age 90, and survived by children with a business tycoon and Executive Vice-Chairman of Baywood Group, Emperor Chris Ibe as first son.

The Emperor is the founder of a support group known across Enugu State as SAFE-Save Awgu Forum Enugu State.

The burial ceremony of Lady Ibe at the Cathedral Church of Saint Mark’s, Isu-Awaa, Agwu, Enugu State, was attended by five Anglican Bishops including the pioneer Archbishop of Enugu Ecclesiastical  Province who also was the pioneer Bishop of Oji River Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Amos Madu, the Bishop of Afikpo Diocese, Rt Rev.Paul Udege, the Bishop of Eha-Amufu Diocese, Rt. Rev Daniel Oliha, the pioneer Bishop of Awgu/Aninri Diocese Rev.Dr Afam Ugwu.

The Bishop of Oji River Diocese, Rev. Dr. Ikechukwu Egbuonu and that of Nike Diocese, Rev. Dr. Onyeka Onyia were both represented. Over 30 Anglican priests attended the burial ceremony.

Delivering the funeral sermon, the Anglican Bishop of the Diocese of Awgu/Aninri, Church of Anglican Communion, Rt. Rev. Dr. Benson, reminded Christians that every human being will one day die and will ultimately be remembered by their good deeds on earth.

Bishop Chukwunweike urged the congregation not to take life for granted, stressing that life itself is sustained only by the mercy of God.

He noted that no human being has control over how long they live, but everyone has control over how they live.

Quoting Numbers 23:10, the bishop read in full: “Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!” He explained that the scripture teaches believers to focus on living righteously so that their end will be pleasing before God.

The bishop further cited Hebrews 9:27, saying: “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” He stressed that death is unavoidable and that judgment follows immediately after, making it important for every person to live a life acceptable to God.

Bishop Chukwunweike warned against seeking blessings outside God’s will, noting that any blessing not from God could place a person on the wrong path. Using the story of Jacob, he explained that Jacob became more blessed only after he stopped running ahead of God and submitted to divine timing.

He cautioned that one careless action could ruin a person’s life and reputation forever.

Citing Judas Iscariot, whose name means praise, he said Judas is remembered negatively because he betrayed Jesus Christ.

“When you lie where the late Mrs Eunice Ibe lies today, what will heaven say about you?” the bishop asked, urging everyone to live rightly every day.

The life and times of Lady Ezinne Ibe was a life of fulfilment and accomplishments. Like a warrior, she came, she saw and she conquered.

She was born in the year of the Lord 1935 to  the polygamous family of the late Chimengwu of Isu-Awaa community in the present Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State. She got married to Late Chief Benson Maduabuchukwu Ibe (Chinenyeze 1 of Isi-Awaa) from Umunevo n’Umuevee of Enugu Isu-Awaa Agwu Enugu State.

Through dint of hard work and utmost faith in God, Lady  Nwabugwu worked hard extraordinarily from the cradles to rise from grass to grace

She passed on to the great beyond at a ripe age of 90 (1935-2025) but her death was described as a glorious transition to eternity based on  her Christian virtues and service to humanity.

Her lifetime was very unique and the legacies she left behind are thrilling.