Family Tribute to Lolo Mrs. Grace Ugwodiye Okoh.
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The Significance of the Life and Times of Lolo Mrs. Grace Ugwodiye Okoh.
Today , 27th August 2024, we are assembled here not to merely mourn or to bury the dead. We are indeed here to celebrate the iconic and legendary life of late Lolo Mrs Grace Ugwodiye Okoh who was indeed an unnoticed and unsung saint that lived amongst us. Her Life History: Lolo Mrs. Grace Ugwodiye Okoh was born as the first child to the family of Late Mr. Iteigwe Ndionuka of Umudioribe of Umuokere in Amiyi Akah in Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria in 1938.
Her delivery into the family brought glaring fortune that synchronized with her beauty, glamour and elegance. This rare beauty made her father to resist all attempts and pressures made by other members of the family for her to join or attend school with other pupils of her time.
According to the story, her father vowed that he can’t send her to school and ever hear that she was flogged or beaten by a teacher.
This love of her father hindered the late Lolo Grace Ugwodiye Okoh from attending school even for a day.
Another story held that her inability to attend school was because of the fact that as the first child in the family, she sacrificed her opportunity of going to school to enable her support her parents for training of her siblings at school. Going by this account, her love of siblings made her to stay back at home and worked tediously for their educational advancement.
Marriage and Family Building: As a lady full of beauty, her hand was given out in marriage to the late Chief Sylvester Mmadu Okoh who was popularly known as Eze Ka Eze (King that is superior to King) and Eze – Abaghashia meaning ( King that get wealthier and keep spreading them).
The marriage ceremony of the couple was highly monumental. During the Church Wedding that took place at St Gregory Catholic Church, Amaigbo, the celebrants were conveyed home by procession that was backed with famous musical band group of those days.
Shortly, late Chief Sylvester Okoh took a chieftaincy title and Mrs. Grace became her Lolo.
Her Spiritual and Religious Life. Late Grace Ugwodiye Okoh was born and brought up in a Roman Catholic family. She was highly devoted to activities of the church. On her spiritual life, let me borrow from one of the olden Igbo native (Egwu Ekpiri) lyrics from Okonkwo Asaa (a.k.a. Igba 77) that said. There are three most beautiful women on earth. He mentioned that the first was Mrs Victoria Gowon (Wife of then Head of State) Second was Mrs Agnes Okpabi Asika (Wife of the Governor of then East Central State) and last being Mrs Chinyere Okonkwo Asaa who was indeed his wife.
In our case here, we want to bring to all persons here and beyond that there are three holiest women that had ever been to this earth. The first was named Miriam (a name that was twisted to Mary by revisers of her account). She was from Bethlehem and was the mother of Yahoshea Meshiyach whom translators changed to Jesus Christ.
The second holiest woman is named Amram from Oloibiri in Ogbia tribe in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. She is the mother to Prophet Yahmarabhi whom the Bible editors corrupted his office as the mortal Comforter and replaced it as Acts of Holy Ghost.
The third holiest woman is Lolo Mrs Grace Ugwodiye Okoh from Ibele and indeed the mother of Meshiyach Yahzitere Okoh.
For analysis, let’s specify them as following: (1) Miriam is an Aramaic name that means Gracious. Amram is Aramaic name that means Gracious.
Grace is an English name that means Gracious itself.
(2) Miriam is from Bethlehem. Amram is from Oloibiri. Grace is from Ibele.
The onomatopoeic sounds of Bethlehem, Oloibiri and Ibele are properly interwoven.
As available on records, Bethlehem is known for Olive Oil, Oloibiri is known with Crude Oil and Ibele is noted for Palm Oil (Ibele Oraoga).
(3) Miriam is the mother of Yahoshea Meshiyach. Amram is the Mother of Yahmarabhi Meshiyach. Grace is the mother of Meshiyach Yahzitere. The meanings of these names; Yahzitere, Yahmarabhi and Yahoshea are often permuted in the Bible as follows; “That Yahweh so love the world that He, Yahweh Sent His Begotten Son Yahoshea “whom the translators changed to Jesus. By simply explanation, Yahzitere means Yahweh Sent in Igbo language. Yahmarabhi means Yahweh’s Begotten in Ogbia language. Then, Yahoshea means Yahweh’s Salvation in Aramaic Hebrew language.
(4). The family surnames of all of the women had same meaning. The surname of Mirriam of Bethlehem is Heli that means “Exclamation “. The family surname of Amram of Oloibiri is “Ovoh” that means Exclamation in Ogbia language. The family surname of Grace of Ibele is Okoh that means “Exclamation” in Igbo language.
(5). The accounts of lives of Miriam and her son Yahoshea were written down in the book named New Testament of the Bible. The accounts of the lives of Amram and her son Yahmarabhi were recorded down in the book called Holy Originally Inspired Scriptures. (HOIS).
The account of the lives of Grace and her son Yahzitere were written down in the book called; The Works of Disciples of Prophet Yahmarabhi.
(7). Yahoshea of Bethlehem was adopted as the King of Yahuda (Judea). Yahmarabhi of Oloibiri was a Chief in Ogbia . Yahzitere of Ibele is a Chief in Igbo.
(8). Yahoshea took the spiritual title of Meshiyach meaning Anointed One. Prophet Yahmarabhi took the title Meshiyach meaning Anointed One. Yahzitere was ordained by Prophet Yahmarabhi as Ezer (Assistant) Meshiyach. (Anointed One).
(9). Yahoshea was named Emmanuyah meaning Yahweh is here. Yahmarabhi was named Yahaphani meaning Yahweh’s Presence. Yahzitere was named Yaese meaning Yahweh is here by Prophet Yahmarabhi.
(10) Yahoshea, Yahmarabhi and Yahzitere commenced their various ministerial assignments at ages of thirty respectively.
(11) Yahoshea’s physical ministry tarried for three and half years. That was exact duration that his earliest Apostles stayed with him. Yahzitere on his own learned under Prophet Yahmarabhi for the duration of three and half years.
(12) After Yahoshea’s impalement, his junior brother named Yames (James) became factional Leader of the ministry. Through Yames, a schism called “Ebonites”. was established. The Ebonite means “Poorly Volunteers The Ebonites lingered from 1st to 7th century when the group joined.
Mohamed to form Islam. So Miriam was mother of Volunteers (Ebonites). Prophet Yahmarabhi formed Rivers Improvement Society which served as a voluntary and humanitarian group. So, Amram was mother of Volunteers. Yahzitere formed the International Organisation of United Volunteers. Likewise, Grace was mother of Volunteers.
(13) Yahoshea the son of Miriam claimed to be the Savior. Yahmarabhi the son of Amram claimed to be the Commoner Yahzitere the son of Grace claimed to be Disciple.
(14). Yahoshea is the source or root of Yahosheanism. Yahmarabhi is the waker of Yahosheanism. Yahzitere is the promoter of Yahosheanism.
Truly, the characters of Miriam, Amram and Grace are interwoven in a lingered spiritual family tree. With this analysis, true metaphysicians and mystics can easily understand that these issues are not mere speculations or coincidences but clear unveiled mysteries for this age and generations to come. Truly, these are foods for thought for adepts. The sons of Miriam, Amram and Grace have something mystically in common.
Her Social Life and Development. After marriage with late Chief Sylvester Okoh, Lolo Grace joined him in his humanitarian or charitable lifestyle that earned him the title of Eze – Abaghashia.
The couple experienced enormous wealth through their palm oil production and merchandise. With their gains, they championed charitable activities in Ibele and her surrounding communities that were second to none. In pre-civil war days, Chief and Lolo Okoh supported many families to carry- out their challenges. The couple provided funds that assisted many people to travel to countries like Cameron, Equatorial Guinea (Panya) Ghana and cities like Lagos, Benin, Rivers, Ohaji etc. During the Nigerian civil war, the economic life of Igbos dwindled. There was hardship everywhere occasioned by economic blockade of the Federal Government policy.
This imbroglio affected every person of Old Eastern Nigerian region. Many refugees from Rivers State ran down to Orlu axis for safety. At that point, Ibele community hosted many refugees especially at Amaukwuorji. Late Chief and Lolo Okoh became the greatest supporter of the refugees. Many of the refugees gathered at his compound and were catered by the couple.
After the war, Chief and Lolo Okoh became the foremost philanthropists that helped many people to find their bearings. The couple fed many people on daily basis, provided transportation for many of the youths that travelled to the city for greener pastures. Many people were trained in various crafts and were helped to start their businesses.
Truly, philanthropic efforts of Chief and Lolo Okoh could not be equated with any other in Umuaka and beyond.
The generosity of this couple had no bounds. When the late Chief Sylvester joined his ancestors through ghastly vehicle accident, his kinsmen locked up his inner room. After his burial, they decided to open the room and take stock of the amount he left. To the surprise of all, they search everywhere in the house and found no Penny. The kinsmen concluded that he lived according to his Chieftaincy title as Eze – Abaghashia. He spread all of his wealth to the extent that he didn’t save anything for his future.
This is chronicle of a family that is entirely generous.
Our Pains, Our Gains as a family: As children of this couple , we didn’t inherit any penny from them . Our father left us without any saved amount of money but a legacy and memories of a cheerful giver. All people that he supported ran away with the goodies as he didn’t require or received collaterals as security for their transactions. Surprisedly, people that gave him money to save for them showed their faces and demanded their monies; and we paid all of them back.
We cannot end this message without mentioning the late Chief Onyewueke Onwubuariri who stood out to return the money he received from our father for purpose of oil production. As our father didn’t receive the goods before his death, this Chief came to us, broke the news of their failed transaction and refunded the money.
As written, our parents left for us memories of golden and emulative goodwill and philanthropic life that we have schemed or systemized into objectives of a Non-Governmental Organization called International Organisation of United Volunteers.
As the Chief Mourner, I was thrilled by the communal voluntary activities that I saw my parents performed as a kid. When I received an Award of Ambassador of Peace and United Nation Volunteers Roster Number from International Association of World Peace Advocates, I pondered on how to apply the status into action.
My mind went back to the memories of my parents voluntary activities. I concluded to form an NGO in honor and light of the legacy created by our parents on selfless services.
Behold, the plan succeeded. The surprising is that the particular day I showed my Certificates of Honor to my kinsmen; Lolo Grace Okoh was filled of uncontrollable joy. She cooked and bought drinks to entertain the participants. In fact, that was the day that International Organization of United Volunteers was instituted.
As we are here today, the International Organization of United Volunteers has spread across 50 nations and carrying on selfless and voluntary services. The group is one of the fastest trending online indigenous voluntary Organizations globally. The group boasts of having one of the broadest table or outfit where all manner of volunteers worldwide display their activities. For having close to three hundred thousand members in her major Facebook group, the group is now identified as home or family of volunteers worldwide.
The objectives and operations of the group are copycat or reproductions of what we beheld Late Chief and Lolo Okoh performed. People are grouped as members in various locations and units to engage themselves into selfless activities that will benefit them and others around them.
As we saw this couple served dishes to refugees and downtrodden, so IOUN Volunteers are dishing out palliatives to people in various communities of many nations.
In conclusion, the body that we are interring here and now was used by an unknown saint that lived amongst us. We hereby turban Lolo Mrs. Grace Okoh as a saint that she is and successfully fulfilled all required conditions and righteousness of a sainthood. Although, we will miss her physical presence around us, but her legacy or monument shall continue to speak volume of devotions to divinity and charitable to humanity. Every life has a purpose.
These are assignments she came to accomplish here on earth and had successfully done so. When, our mother passed to glory, we informed our people in Ibele Worldwide Forum and appealed for support.
Without surprise, our present day generous giver in the person of Chief Akuagbarananwu I of Ibele Community responded with a wholesome package . This gesture proved him as doing what Chief Aba – Aghashia and his Lolo were doing in those days. Truly, the young man has distinguished himself as a worthy philanthropist and continuity to acts of humanitarianism as done by late Chief Okoh.
As we can see, the Chieftaincy titles of both philanthropists are having same meaning. For clarity, Aba – Aghashia means One who gets richer and keep spreading them. Akuagbarananwu means wealth spread before the sun. Our family is thankful for this young man and appealing to him to continue with his good works for humanity.
Likewise, we appreciate all efforts of persons who assisted or consoled us in one way or the other. May Yahweh continue to bless you.
Late Lolo Mrs Grace Ugwodiye Okoh is survived by a daughter — Mrs Elizabeth Nwaoshie, a son– Amb . Chief Cosmos Yahzitere Okoh, nine Grandsons, a Grand Daughter, many Great Grandsons and Great Grand Daughters.
Farewell Lolo Mrs Grace Ugwodiye Okoh ! Farewell , Lolo Eze – Abaghashia !! Farewell Mother of Volunteers !!!.
Oration from the family of Lolo Grace Okoh . Signed by Amb. Chief Cosmos Yahzitere Okoh.
