It is with great pain and a heart full of sorrow that I present this tribute. Life is basically a journey no one really knows how it will end. There are two important days in a person’s life… the day of birth and the day of death. Death is the price we pay for being alive. Some pay it at a very young age, some at a middle age, while others at an old age. At any stage it happens, how long one lived or the circumstances behind the death become irrelevant. What becomes relevant is how well one lived. How many lives one touched; how one carried out the responsibilities assigned to the person. This is how one will be remembered.

On that note, I want to tell you all that, Mr. Philemon Udeh, though his life was very short, lived a very simple and good life. He was a humble brother, a wonderful friend, a valued colleague, an intelligent and good lecturer, the able Governor of PGDCA Class 2012 and a creative writer. He was always filled with smile and showed sincere concern towards others. He was well-loved and admired by colleagues for his enduring commitment to work, an intelligent officer, who was ever ready and willing to accept additional responsibilities.

Even on his sick bed, he sent a message to me to be constantly updated with programmes of the Abuja Study Centre so that he will be writing news on our activities. The last time we spoke on the phone, he expressed his readiness to resume work by January ending. I told him not to worry because his health was more important to us. We agreed and started contributing money to offset part of his medical bills; but before the money could get to him, we received the sad and shocking news of his sudden demise.

Among the things Philemon will be remembered for, is the way he carried out his work calmly without complaints. One of his defining characteristics was respect for everyone. I will always remember his intelligence, humble approach to issues and down to earth nature. His demise is a very great loss to his family, his community and NICO, all of which he made an indelible mark on the sands of time.

Our hearts go out to his darling wife – Beatrice, his lovely daughter, Philomena, his beloved mother and his entire family. On behalf oNICO Training School, Abuja Study Centre, I wish to say to his beloved family: “Our prayers and thoughts are with you. He really fought the fight but GOD himself knows why He called him home this early. I would like to believe that he did not want to part with you but only went to answer the call of nature”.

For us at NICO Training School, Abuja Study Centre, it is heart-breaking to lose one of our own. We say a good heart has stopped beating; a good soul has ascended into heaven. Prayers and memories are what we have to remember our dearly departed colleague. We take solace in the fact that he lived a good life.

May the Almighty God forgive his short comings and grant his family the fortitude to bear the great loss.

Farewell Phil; may your gentle soul find rest in the bosom of the Lord.

Adieu, beloved colleague, we will certainly miss you.

Dr. (Mrs.) Regina A. Onuoha

Coordinator, NICO Training School

Abuja Study Centre

To Mrs. Beatrice Philemon Udeh: A Condolence Message

It is with grief and sorrow but with total submission to the will of the Almighty God that the Management and Staff of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) received the sad and shocking news of the sudden demise of your husband, one of our own, Mr Philemon Orban Udeh. He was until his death a staff of the Institute.

Words are really inadequate to express the feelings we had as the sad news frittered in about the loss of a very dear colleague. We wholly express our sincere sympathy to the entire family over his death.

Philemon was a gentle and humble staff. He was well-loved and admired by colleagues for his enduring commitment to work. One of his defining characteristics was respect for everyone. There is no doubt that we are going to miss him dearly; but we urge the entire family to take solace from the fact that he lived a life worthy of emulation.

We pray that God, in His infinite mercy, will grant him eternal bliss and give you his family the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss.

Please, accept our most sincere condolences

Dr. (Mrs.) Regina A. Onuoha

Coordinator, NICO Training School

Abuja Study Centre

For: Executive Secretary/CEO

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