Dame Dora Oki Buried In Warri, As School Proprietors Grace Event, Celebrate Uvwie CIE, Late Mother

By Daniel Dafe

The late mother of Mrs. Jane Awoyinka, Chief Inspector of Education (CIE), Uvwie Local Government Area, Delta State, has been buried.

NAPPS leaders and members in a group photograph

Dame Dora Engoere Oki died at age 79.

The grandiose occasion on Friday, 18th December, 2020, started with a funeral service at St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Warri.

Delivering the sermon, Ven. Emmanuel Agbawe of Good Shepherd Anglican Church, Warri, said Christianity does not end on earth, urging all to remember that they are strangers and pilgrims in this world.

His message titled: ‘A Time to be Born and a Time to Die’ emphasized on the need why Christians must not be materialistic.

According to him, the deceased lived a life of service of God.

Seating Chair of the Board, Shamar Children School, Enerhen, Amb. (Dr.) Onyi Ikemefuna

The cleric who frowned at politicians, said that they have reduced Nigeria to an issue of APC and PDP, adding that politicians in Nigeria must be determined to add value to the lives of Nigerians.

The interment of Dame Oki took place at the residence of the family of the deceased and thereafter entertainment of guests at the same venue.

Dignitaries from all walks of life were present to celebrate the times and life of Dame Oki.

Conspicuously present were leaders and members of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS).

Speaking to Oasis Magazine (OM), Mrs. Awoyinka said her late mother was a gallant soldier, a committed Christian and has put in more than 50 years of Christian service, adding that all through her life, she gave them a good Christian background.

When asked what she will miss the most about her mother, she said: “I will miss my mum’s special care. She is a very loving and caring woman. I have not actually experienced much of her love ever since she passed because she is the only one that calls us 24/7. Even when I am at work she calls to find out I am fairing and if I have eaten. She is very loving and caring and full of compassion. Also, there is this unity that she brought to the family.”

OM also spoke to the South South Vice President of NAPPS and Proprietor, Classical International Group of Schools, Dr. Ochuko Akpeme; Chairman, Uvwie Chapter, NAPPS and Executive Director, City Child Foundation School, Uvwie, Mrs. Rose Obi and other notable school owners.

While Dr. Akpeme described Dame Oki as a mother to all, he said her life was impactful, saying that many good traits of the deceased were visible in the life of the CIE of Uvwie.

His words: “I am here because of my CIE in Uvwie. This woman is an exceptional CIE, very pragmatic, dynamic and very humble to the call. She has impacted education positively in Uvwie. She is the best CIE in Uvwie so far and all these can be traced to her late parents.”

He narrated how the deceased played a role in acquiring one of the lands that his school occupies, saying that the history of Classical cannot be complete without mentioning the CIE and her parents.

“Madam Oki was a disciplined woman, was humble and a woman of integrity. It is a glorious home call,” he opined.

He called on the family to emulate the footsteps of the deceased.

On her part, Mrs. Obi said ceremonies like this are time for sober reflection.

She added: “But, we are grateful to God that she died as a woman of substance.”

“We have a cordial relationship with the CIE and that can be seen in the large turnout of school owners here today.”

She called on the family to be consoled, adding: “No matter how old, we do not want our loved ones to go.”

She prayed that God will give the family the fortitude to bear the loss, urging the family to keep the fire mama left behind burning so that those that know her will not miss her.

Also, in their separate interviews, the Seating Chair of the Board, Shamar Children School, Enerhen, Amb. (Dr.) Onyi Ikemefuna; Proprietor, Delta Careers College, Ugboroke, Mr. Emmanuel Ukeredi and Executive Director, Hilltop Schools, Edjeba, Warri and Financial Secretary, NAPPS, Delta, Mrs. Dorcas Mojisola also commiserated with the family as they called on them not to grief but remember that their late mother lived a fulfilled life.

Ikemefuna said: “Coming here today is sort of with mixed feelings because the CIE has said a whole lot of the kind of relationship she shared with her mum.”

She added: “It is the place of children to burial their parents, not the other way round. So, we are standing in with her today as she lays her mum to rest.”

Continuing, she said that the late Oki was a sweet woman, mother to all and humble, adding that if you ever came in contact with her she would want to mother to you.

Describing the CIE as a replica of her late mother, she called on the family of the deceased to take heart.

Ukeredi who described the ceremony as fantastic said he did not expect the crowd when he was coming.

Adding: “The CIE has been a Ministry official who has been friendly; she is an amiable lady. It is a situation of like mother and daughter.

“My father died at 102 and I still wept because of my relationship with him. I know the CIE would have felt the same way. What the CIE needs now is empathy and so we sympathize with her. What has happened has happened. They should forget about the past and move forward.”

Also, Mrs. Mojisola said “the CIE is a loving woman, down to earth and a very welcoming woman.”

She prayed for God’s blessings on the children for giving their late mother a befitting burial.