The Memorial thanksgiving service in honour of the late Prince Bernard Sampson Idiong and the Late Professor Stella Bernard Idiong, parents of the wife of Akwa Ibom Governor, Mrs. Martha Emmanuel was marked with outpouring of tributes, eulogising their lives and times.
The glamorous event which attracted personalities within and outside the state, the academia, members of the political class, catptains of industries, religious, women and youth groups, held at the prestigious Ibom Hall Grounds, IBB Way, Uyo.
In a tribute, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, the State Governor, thanked God for the lives of his late parents-in-law, and described them as great people of candour with impeccable character, noting “Believe me, with everything that is said about them, I am not sure they’ve said 20 per cent of the attributes, traits and what made up these two great people.”
Emmanuel expressed delight at the legacies of Prince Bernard and Professor Stella Idiong, adding that “through us, whose lives they enriched and touched, their names will always be spoken of and I believe, through their contributions to growth in all ramifications, those whose lives they impacted in various ways have gone far in both the academic and corporate worlds.”
He recalled the sadness and gross feeling of loss that enveloped him 10 years ago when he heard the news of the demise of his mother-in-law, who was the first female Professor of Fine and Industrial Arts and first female Dean in the University of Uyo, describing it as a very devastating period for him having just buried his own mother four months earlier.
While eulogising his grand-father-in-law, who passed on a year later, he saluted the legendary strides of the renowned agriculturist, maintaining that his record as Paramount Ruler of Abak, Ukanafun and Oruk Anam local government areas remains unparalleled.
Emmanuel enjoined the people to shun a lifestyle of mischief and disunity while alive so they could be remembered for the positive lives which they led, remarking, “May we not live a life in this world and leave and the only thing they would remember you would be that you were a mischief maker. May we not be remembered as someone who caused disruption in the unity of Akwa Ibom State or someone that was always putting separation, but may we be remembered for good works.”
The State Chief Executive thanked everyone for honouring their invitation and particularly appreciated members of Southern Governors Wives Forum (SGWF), who came from their various states to show solidarity to the family, and urged them to keep up the spirit of unity existing among them, hoping that the integration and bonding would continue beyond their tenure as first ladies of their respective states.
Speaking on behalf of the SGWF, Mrs Nneoma Nkechi Okorocha, the President of the Forum and wife of the governor of Imo State who lauded the vision of the group in coming together as a people to achieve a Nigeria of collective dreams and aspirations, stated that they were delighted to be part of the testimonies of goodness to honour parents of one of their own, Mrs Martha Emmanuel.
Mrs Okorocha said the group simply identified as sisters beyond borders is convinced that from the numerous outpouring of eulogies, the parents of the wife of Akwa Ibom State Governor were assets and gifts to the family and the entire country, expressing joy that the duo had bequeathed their virtues to their children.
In a family thanksgiving, wife of the Governor, Martha and her siblings were full of appreciation to God for blessing them with wonderful parents, noting that although they were devastated at their demise, but they are consoled that their parents made them who they are today, extolling their exemplary lives which impacted on a lot of people.
The Akwa Ibom first lady recalled that while alive, their mother, Stella, whom she described as an astute artist, was always clamoring for an art gallery, announcing that to honour her memory, they had earlier inaugurated and donated a world-class art gallery to the University of Uyo as well as laid foundation for the construction of a medical centre to address the health challenges of people in their Obio Akpa community as a legacy to their beloved father.
She stated, “I want to pray that the legacies would continue to linger on and may God continue to raise men and women who would do good in Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria so that when it is time for them to pass on they could be remembered for their good deeds.”
On her part, Mrs. Eme Etim, the eldest daughter, thanked God for the legacies bequeathed to them by their parents, and acknowledged the numerous blessings they have enjoyed as a result of being raised by two amiable parents, maintaining that it was appropriate to celebrate their lives and times in appreciation to their outstanding parentage.
In eulogy, Professor Comfort Ekpo, the immediate past Vice Chancellor of the University of Uyo (UNIUYO), accompanied by some members of Forum of Female Professors of University of Uyo, described the late Professor Stella Idiong as a dedicated academic who devoted her time and resources to the development of Fine and Industrial Arts Department in the institution.
Professor Ekpo stressed that it was hard work and dedication that made Professor Idiong outstanding in a male-dominated profession, and hinted that her demise motivated the establishment of Forum of Female Professors in the University, maintaining that her death was a great loss to Uniuyo and Fine Arts Department in particular.
Earlier in an exhortation, Bishop Emma Isong also a member of the family had described the late Professor Stella as a ‘personification of compassion’ and her husband, a ‘strict disciplinarian’, pointing out that “the memory of the just cannot be forgotten” and extolling the children for the show of love towards their departed parents.
Reading from Matthew 26:13, Bishop Isong said that God rewards every act of goodness, and charged the people not to relent in good conducts, harping on giving as a window to divine blessings.
The clergy man remarked that God loves a tearful giver more than a cheerful giver, explaining that when people practise giving in their inconvenience, it is an act of lending to God, opining that such people usually experience divine abundance.
The event featured praises and worship by renowned gospel artistes, choral rendition, music performances, ballad presentation and intercessory prayers for the family, state and the nation.
High point of the occasion was the presentation of the Book, A Sketch in Gold by Professor Inyang Udofia and review of the book by Professor Best Ochigbo.
The family members awarded scholarshiops to 40 indigent students in tertiary institutions in the state scholarships in memory of their deceased parents.
Dignitaries at the event included wives of governors of Enugu, Mrs Monica Uguwanyi; Edo, Mrs. Mercy Obaseki; Cross River, Dr. Linda Ayade; Oyo, Dr. Florence Ajimobi; wife of the Deputy Governor of Abia, Lady Vivian Ude Chukwu; the State Deputy Governor, Mr. Moses Ekpo, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Barrister Onofiok Luke, the State Chief Judge, Justice Godwin Abraham, the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio and wife, Unoma.
