By Mcanthony Onuoha
It was a moment of respect for the MD/ CEO of Globe Gate West Africa Ltd , and Vice Chairman of NAGAFF, TinCan Chapter, Late Fwdr.Ken Okoro-Obi Chidozie, as members converged on the Chapter’s Secretariat to eulogize his person and celebrate what he stood for.
Freight Forwarders, family and friends turned out in their numbers to extol the virtues of one of the best hands in maritime practice who passed on recently.
During the service of songs which was a segment of the event, the officiating pastor, Pastor Edwin Chukwudire Obi, admonished everyone to always be in good terms with the Creator of Man because death, he said, remained an inescapable end, adding that it was important that one embraced God as the decider of all things.
One of the key coordinators of the event, and Secretary of NAGAFF TinCan Chapter, Fwdr Godfrey Emeka Nwosu (KSM), who incidentally, also represented the Chapter Chairman, Chief Fwdr. Austin Azubuike Ekweozor (Ide Umuawulu), described late Ken Okoro-Obi as a dependable professional colleague whose wealth of experience in his chosen field was a cutting edge. Fwd. Nwosu, who regrettably announced the inability of the Chapter Chairman to grace the occasion for unavoidable reasons, bemoaned the painful exit of Late Fwdr. Ken Okoro-Obi, saying that the Industry as a whole had indeed lost a rare gem.
The moderator of the event, the National Publicity Secretary of NAGAFF, Fwdr. Stanley Ezenga also apologized on behalf of some key members of the Association for being unavoidably absent, both the Founder of NAGAFF and the National President sent representatives.
Former interim Chairman of NAGAFF TinCan Chapter, Chief Fwdr. Ingnasius Nwachukwu, lamented the demise of Fwdr. Ken Okoro, saying the deceased was an exceptional personality. He said “Late Ken Okoro was a great mind, l have known him for long, though it was when l became the Interim Chairman TinCan Chapter that l really came in close contact with him, within that short time l discovered that he was an exceptional personality. I was never surprised when the Founder told me that Ken Okoro was supposed to represent the Association at the National level, indeed he was an excellent leadership material.”
In his words, the TinCan Island Chapter of Association of Igbo Maritime Practitioners in Nigeria, Chief Charles ‘Taylor’ Igbokei, admonished the family of the deceased to embrace the reality of the irreparable loss and anchor their hope on God Almighty. He advised the children not to drop their aspirations because of what had happened but to always remain focused in the pursuit of their dreams, saying that it was not the end of the world for them.
Former Public Relations Officer of TinCan Chapter of NAGAFF, Fwdr.Godson Chibundu Chukwu and some others who graced the event extolled the virtues of Fwdr Ken Okoro- Obi, describing his death as very unfortunate. In the words of Fwdr. Chukwu,” the Maritime industry and NAGAFF as an Association have lost a great man; Ken Okoro was a man with a large heart. He really impacted a great number of people, his benevolence was indeed amazing. We will miss him dearly “.
Late Fwdr. Ken Okoro -Obi who died on Thursday the 28th of May,2020, at the age of 54 years after a brief illness, according to his family, will be buried on the 28th of August,2020, in his home town,Umuaro 11, Village,Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.
Late Fwdr.Ken Okoro-Obi Chidozie is survived by his beautiful wife, Mrs Rose Okoro-Obi, Children, brothers, sisters and other relatives.
