It was indeed a Black Friday for staff of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) as they joined the family, friends and associates of Late Miss Sheila Blessing Emberru to lay her remains to mother earth.

Late Sheila who died on Friday, September 11, 2020 was buried   at the Gudu Cemetery, Abuja, FCT on Friday, September 18, 2020 amidst tears by colleagues and loved ones for a life gone so soon.

In a brief sermon before her final internment which was taken from the book of 1 Thessalonians 4:13-15 and titled ‘The Two Sides of Death’, mourners were admonished to see death as a necessity and always look at the good and bad sides of death.

They were further charged to see death as inevitable, as a gain, something precious for the righteous and a transit to heaven, and to see the bad effect of death as horrific, painful, sorrowful and a terror, hence the need for people to mend their ways as death could strike in a jiffy.

Earlier, a Service of Songs held in her honour at the NICO Abuja office, No.23, Kigoma Street Wuse Zone 7  Abuja, FCT on Thursday, September 17, 2020, staff were given opportunity to talk about lives and times of Late Miss Sheila. Mrs. Jane Anigala, Coordinator Training School, Abuja Study Centre attested that Sheila Emberru was very quiet and reserved, diligent in her work.  She made emphasis that Late Miss Emberru’s smile alone had the capacity to dispel any form of anger and prayed she will be smiling wherever she is as she has gone to rest with the Lord.

Mr. Patrick Obi, a lecturer in the NICO training School, Abuja said that Sheila was prepared for death because she was always smiling. Obi further encouraged staff to be prepared at all times since death is inevitable and nobody can dodge from death.

Mrs. Patience Item of the Administration and Human Resource Department, NICO testified that Sheila was such a loving person, as she believed that she (Sheila) is resting in the bosom of the Lord.

In his sermon, titled ‘What Do We say About You’ taken from the book of Revelation 2:1-14, Pastor Segun Adegbaju, Head, Cultural Affairs Unit, Orientation and Cultural Affairs Department encouraged staff to do self-evaluation about their lives as they mourn Sheila as well as think about what people would say about them when they are dead.

Mr. Adegbaju added that death does not give sign and so every staff should be prepared at all times. He further intimated that there is a garment that is allowed in heaven which is righteousness and is expected of every human to wear in heaven when they die.

Until her death, Late Sheila who hails from Bayelsa State worked with the NICO Training School Department, Abuja Study Centre. She died at the age of 41 and is survived by brothers and sister.

 

Njideka Dimgba

 Media Unit

E S Office

Abuja