Chief Adanma Okpara, the wife of the celebrated first Republic Premier of the defunct Eastern Region of Nigeria, late Dr Michael Iheonukara Okpara, is dead.
Aged 96, she reportedly died on Sunday morning in an undisclosed hospital in the state.
Earlier before what appeared as official confirmation by the Abia state government, the Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, had while addressing Catholic Bishops in Enugu reportedly disclosed the incident and had observed a minute silence.
The Abia State Government, through the Commissioner for information and Strategy, Chief Okiyi kalu, has confirmed that lady Adanma Okpara, the wife of Michael I. Okpara, the former Premier of the Eastern region, is dead.
But prior to the confirmations, an inside source confirmed her death, disclosing that a day earlier, (Saturday), she had gone to a hospital “only to be heard that she died early this (Sunday) morning”.
Lady Adanma Okpara, spouse of the Premier, defunct Eastern Region, Dr Michael Iheonukara Okpara is reported to have died at the earlier hours of Sunday, August 22, 2021. She will be 97 in December, 2021.
Family sources said she died after a protracted illness. Though her second son, Chief Uzodinma Okpara could not be reached for detailed information leading to the sad news, it was stated that the nonagenarian has been sick for a couple of years before she reportedly bowed to the natural way of eternity.
Nonetheless, several calls made to Uzodinma Okpara on the matter on Sunday were not responded to as at press time, but informed sources said she died at an undisclosed hospital.
However, a visit to the Umuegwu Okpuala, Ohuhu country home of the Okparas at 4pm on Sunday, showed that the unfortunate incident may have shocked their kinsmen. Umuegwu Okpuala, Ohuhu is in Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State.
Few family members were on hand to welcome the sympathizers who had come to ascertain the verity of the news. Uzordinma Okpara, , was absent as at the time our reporter visited.
An elderly woman in the community, who pleaded anonymity said she could not confirm or deny the news, added that “Igbo tradition forbids any announcement on the health status of a prominent individual like that without consultation with the family.
A brief profile of her by blerf.org showed that born on Sunday (Afo) 22′”‘ June, 1924, at Ntalakwu Oboro in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State, Chief (Mrs) Adanma Okpara was a distinguished Women Leader, Teacher and Farmer.
She was trained as a teacher and lived like one before she got married to one of the greatest leaders the Igbo and Nigeria has ever found in the 1950s and 1960s.
Her education spanned through: Central School Ndoro. Ikwuano Oboro • Mary Flanney Memorial School Oron • Women Training College. Umuahia • Westhill Teachers College and Selly Oak Birmingham UK Employment and
Her Job Experiences includes: Tutor Girl’s School Ovim 1942 -1943 • Tutor. Women Training College Umuahia. 1944 -1947 • Tutor. Elementary Teachers’ College Oron 1948 -1949 • Director, Mitchelson Nigeria Ltd- a maize milling Industry whose foundation was laid by Late Dr. M.I. Okpara in Umuegwu Okpuala. Patron, Girls’ Guide Abia State and Girls’ Brigade Umuahia and Ohuhu Districts
• Patron, Women’s Fellowship . Methodist Church of Nigeria Awards and Honours
She had in recent years received several Awards and Honours from Mission Organisations and Voluntary Agencies. • Knight of John Wesley (KJW) • Abia Women Of Substance Award • Conferred with Chieftaincy Titles of Eze Nwanyi and Ochi Ora.
She was known as a disciplined, humble and hardworking Lady who is an Icon by her own virtues not because she married the late Premier of the then Eastern Nigeria. She never arogated any title or power to herself nor saw her self as the wife of the Premier of the former Region of what is now about nine states of the Federation.
She was a role model for all women whether in government or not. She was a Lady who deserved the Respect of all as a Virtuous Mother and wife, a Leader by Example and a woman of quintessence who never enriched herself through the weakness of other poverty striken rural women.
She was a civilized woman of all times. She got married to Late Dr Michael Okpara and they were blessed with children.
-OPTIMUM TIMES with additional reports by PointBlank
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