Eunice Mgbobia Anugoh: Exit of a Woman of Substance.
4 min read
On January 3, 2025, precisely on a Friday, a highly remarkable event took place in Amaeze Amurie Omanze of Isu LGA in Imo State in the Southeastern part of Nigeria. High profile woman, mother to all, top community leader of women’s groups and a devout Christian mother of Roman Catholic faith, Nneoma Nwere Ugo Eunice Mgbobia Anugoh (nee Nnamuka Ezeala) was laid to rest with the Lord. Umuaka Times, which was the official newspaper of the burial ceremony prepared early enough because the reporters from the news media had envisaged how big the occasion would be. From a press statement the first son of the deceased, High Chief (Barr) Eddyson Anugoh, a high profile legal pundit based in Australia issued a couple of months ago to Umuaka Times, it was disclosed in the press statement that before arriving her husband’s compound in Amaeze Amurie, her remains will first be conveyed to the palace of HRM Eze Barr Justin Uzoma Ezeala of Obinwanne Umuaka Autonomous Community for the royal father to pay his last respect to his big aunty.
Around 9:10 am, the ambulance and other vehicles conveying the remains of the late Mrs Nneoma Nwere Ugo Eunice Anugoh arrived at the Chukwujiekwu Palace in Obinwanne. Already, HRM Eze Justin Uzoma Ezeala and members of his cabinet, including members of Obinwanne Council of Chiefs were already waiting for the arrival of their big sister. After they had arrived, the driver of the ambulance alighted from the driver’s seat and went straight to the back of the vehicle and opened the boot of the ambulance vehicle.
The royal father was then given a bottle of water to pour libation and offer his last prayers. That he did immediately and without delay as he went round the vehicle while pouring the libation prayerfully. At the end of the highly spiritual ritual, the motorcade took off again to the Nnamuka Ezeala’s family compound for another round of prayers. On arrival, 21 gun salute rented the air as a historic welcome to the “ada ukwu” who was “visiting” for the last time.
An elderly man from the family also took a bottle of cold water and did exactly what the royal father had just done at the palace. At the end of his prayers, the elderly man said, “Good bye my sister. Go in peace”.
The journey home took another shape as it began again to Amurie Omanze. In less than 10 minutes of driving, everybody was at the compound of High Chief Eddyson Anugoh (Ugwumba). Some of those who were already waiting for the arrival of their mother, aunty, sister, wife, mother and grandmother could not bear the pain of death that accompanied the arrival, they broke down in tears.
A couple of minutes later, the master of the ceremony announced that people should control their emotions and conduct themselves very well because soon, they would be given the opportunity to see her body for the last time as she would lie in state. The undertakers did not waste time to arrange the corpse in state.
The first people who were called to pay their last respect were the children of the deceased and members of the Chief Anugoh family. Others went in that chronology until it was the time for friends and well-wishers who went in last and the chapter came to an end.
Time for requiem Mass at the St Theresa’s Catholic Parish Amurie was fast approaching, the MC announced that people should proceed to the church for the requiem Mass. The bishop of Orlu Diocese, Bishop Augustine Ukwuoma, who arrived at approximately 10 am received the remains of late Mrs Nneoma Nwere Ugo and conducted the Mass, irrespective of his engagement in about 8 parishes to visit on the same day in the diocese, indicating how respected Nneoma Nwere Ugo was.
During the gospel, the priest extolled the virtues of the late Nneoma Nwere Ugo and prayed to God to receive her soul in his paradise. Around 11priests were in attendance, including Orlu Anglican Bishop’s representative (Archdeaconry Emeh JP) and six other Anglican ministers. Many traditional rulers, commissioners, business leaders and high profile personalities were in attendance.
When the Mass finally came to an end, the motorcade went straight to Ugwumba’s palatial home where the interment took place, thereby signaling the end of an era for a woman who came, saw and conquered her challenges and environment.
Next was the celebration of her life, which took place at the Amurie Omanze community primary school field as thousands of people were in attendance. A lavish celebration/entertainment was flying up and down, with many cultural dancers and life bands.
The late matriarch, Lolo Nneoma Nwere Ugo Eunice Mgbobia Anugoh was called by her creator at the age of 92. Throughout the time of her burial ceremonies on January 3, 2025, Umuaka Times reliably gathered from those who knew her very well that the Nneoma Nwere Ugo lived an eventful life worthy of emulation.
Rest on Nneoma Nwere Ugo Eunice Mgbobia Anugoh.
