Encomiums have been showered on Philemon Orban Udeh, a late staffer of National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), with the Executive Secretary, Assoc. Prof. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, describing him as an obedient, hardworking, humble and well-behaved civil servant
Stating this in a programme organized by the Abuja Study Centre of NICO Training School, on Friday, 24th February, 2017, to pay him (late Philemon Udeh) the last respect, the ES added that the Institute will miss him greatly.
According to him, “Philemon Udeh was not the noise making type; he was a very quiet person; and he was not a petition writing staff. He was a good writer, who you would love to read; and editors did not have problem editing his write-ups because he made very few mistakes. He reported cultural events with passion. The question we should ask ourselves is: Are we more righteous than Philemon? The truth is that we are all alive today because of God’s mercy. May God give his family the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss”.
Before the tribute of the ES, there were readings from the Holy Bible – Mr. Oyewole Akanle from Ecclesiastes 3:1-4; Jonathan Nicodemus read Job 14:1-2; Toruka Dominica read from 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14; and all readings centred on eternity, humanity and the inevitability of death.
In the programme, anchored by Mrs. Jane Anigala, many other tributes were also read for the Philemon Udeh by representatives from various departments he had worked in NICO before his demise.
The Coordinator, NICO Training School, Abuja Study Centre, Dr. Regina Onuoha, described Philemon Udeh, as an intelligent person and good lecturer, who showed sincere concern towards others, adding that, “He was well loved by his colleagues and students in the Training School because of the way he was committed to his work.”
Jide Sokunle, from the Office of the ES, said Udeh was easy going, a great husband and father; while Iyadunni Idris from Corporate Affairs said he was dedicated to work.
Ibrahim Malgwi, who also worked with him in Corporate Affairs and is now the Head of Protocol Services in the Office of the ES, said he lived in Philemon Udeh’s house for six months and really cherished him as a man with a very good heart, stating that God is faithful because Philemon will surely rest in the bosom of the Lord because of his good character.
Also speaking, a former chairman of the NICO Chapter of the worker’s union, AUPCTRE, Comrade Segun Iroko, called Philemon Udeh a man with great honour, who lived a good life; while Sunday Ajoloko, who was Philemon Udeh’s classmate at NICO Training School, Lagos, in 2012, said Udeh was a great leader, as the Class Governor, and informing that every member of the PGDA Class 2012 felt his transparency.
In his message, “Re-Examine Yourself”, Daniel Entonu called on everybody to make effort in conquering sin, so that they will all enjoy life in eternity, reminding all that there is brevity of life.
According to him, everybody has to be prepared through being well-behaved and avoiding sin, quoting various portions from the Holy Bible, including, Ecclesiastes 9:12, Job 14:1-2, and Psalm 90:9-12 to buttress his points.
The Chaplain of NICO Prays, the Christian Fellowship of the Institute, Pastor Segun Adegbaju, prayed for the family of late Philemon Udeh, while Pastor Alfred Ogbe Herbert said the closing prayer.
A funeral programme released by the family states that, the remains of the deceased, late Philemon Orban Udeh, will be committed to mother earth at his home town at Tse Udeh, Agagbe village, Gwer-West Local Government Area of Benue State, on Monday, 27th February, 2017, preceded by a Christian wake-keep on Sunday, 26th February, 2017.
Nwagbo Pat Obi
NICO Training School
Abuja Study Centre