The Executive Secretary, National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, has described the demise of Mrs. Maimuna Ndaman (nee Usman), the wife of Alhaji Ndaman, a staffer of NICO, late Tuesday, 26th November, 2013, as very sad.

The ES, who stated this when he paid a condolence visit to the family of Alhaji Ndaman in Suleja, Niger State, said though death was inevitable, it is very painful when a wife dies leaving the husband and the children or a husband dies leaving the wife and the children.

Urging Ndaman to have the fortitude to bear the loss, Dr. Ayakoroma said he never liked visiting his workers under sad circumstances, adding: “Alhaji, God will give you the fortitude to bear this loss. It is very painful. It is very sad. I love to visit my staffers. But I love to visit when it is for a thing of joy. But death is inevitable. Alhaji, God knows the best. So, take heart. God gives and He takes. God will grant her eternal rest.”

Responding, Ndaman thanked the ES for finding time, in spite of his very tight schedule, to visit his family in their moment of grief, saying he was encouraged by the kind words: “I am grateful, sir, for this visit at a time the family is mourning. It shows that you care for me and my family. I am encouraged and strengthened by your kind words, sir. Honestly, it is a sad loss to me and to the family. I feel very devastated. It is a big shock to me. Our two children will miss her. Her twin sister will also miss her, because both of them were very close.”

He explained how his wife died, saying, the 35-year old Maimuna, who was pregnant, was hale and hearty: “I made some calls to our NICO Offices in the zones around 10.00 pm about the Governing Board Meeting scheduled for 28th November. She was the one I sent to help me buy recharge card. She was even asking me, if I was still working by that time of the night. I told her that in civil service, when you get a directive from your boss, work has started. So, she bought the card for me. She went into labour later that night but as she was being taken to the hospital to be delivered of the baby, she died on the way to the hospital around 11 pm.”

Mallam Yusuf Kudu Abubakar, who led NICO staffers in prayer, asked God to be with the family of the deceased and for Allah to grant late Maimuna Aljanah Firdaus; also praying that God should grant those who went to commiserate with the family safe journey to their respective destinations. Late Maimuna has since been buried according to Islamic rites.

Those who accompanied the ES included the Director of Finance and Account, Mr. Godson Ordu, Acting Director, ES Office, Mr. Nelson Campbell, Acting Director, Orientation and Cultural Affairs, Mr. Alex Omijie, CSO to the ES, Pst Richard Tamaranebi, and PA to ES, Mr. Emeka Bokolo, among other staffers in the ES office.

Nwagbo Pat Obi
Corporate Affairs