Let us start off from here

One of the gifts given to me from God Almighty is the ability to put my thoughts into writing. It is a gift I and my sister Okeh, Ogechi Amarachi inherited from my late Father.

On 17^th of January 1990, a Wednesday evening in faraway Kaduna state precisely at Ahmadu Bello University teaching hospital Zaria, my mother gave birth to me. I hail from Umuikeama community in Amaku nvosi isialangwa South local government area of Abia state while my maternal home is Umuikea, Ntigha Isiala Ngwa North LGA of Abia state.

I was given birth to, after two years of working so hard to conceive as a 28 years old lady. You definitely know the type of pressure this period of wait puts on couples. God at the end of the day came through for my parents and blessed them with the gift of two (2) kids.

The joy of my parents was what led to their christening me, Onye ka chi which translates to who is greater than God?

Late Mr. Okeh, Chinjioke Akwarandu

I would forever be grateful to God Almighty for blessing me with the gift of my Father. Everything I am today in terms of values and most philosophies I hold dear as a man, were taught me by my late Father. My Father was the first son of his mother, who was the sixth (6^th) and last wife of my grandfather.

My late grandmother was popularly known as Nwaanyi ocha and she gave birth to Olenjiulo, Nwaovuaku, Chinjioke, Chintuo, Chiemela and Akunna.

Dad was a dental technologist who trained at Manchester City polytechnic, Great Britain in the early eighties. He was a poor child by every index despite having a father who was rich and had so much resources at the time. The reality of my father’s childhood re-emphasises why no sane person should look at polygamy as an option because in most of the cases, when the polygamous man or father of the house passes away, the family is often thrown into unimaginable crisis which often impoverishes the family.

My dad grew up in Nigeria when the nation worked a bit relative to what we have now. To study in the United Kingdom at the time, all my dad had to do was to write the federal government funded scholarship examination in which he was successful and that was how he moved overseas at the time.

While schooling in the United Kingdom, my dad was involved in all forms of community service for which he was very fulfilled. Upon the completion of his education in the United Kingdom, he rushed back to Nigeria as a very honest, straight forward and passionate African whose aim was to come back to Nigeria and contribute to the healthcare development of the Nigerian state.

Nigeria failed my dad a million times

Upon my dad’s return to Nigeria, he was employed at Ahmadu Bello University Zaria Teaching hospital in the late eighties, that was where he worked committedly and passionately in the department of Dental Technology at the time.

While in that unit, there was an Indian expatriate alongside a man called Mr. Akpapuna who wanted to cut deals in the department. My dad refused that such was not going to happen while he was aware.

This led to this duo setting up my dad and using the contacts of some high-profile staff in the university who were members of the syndicate that were interested in the deal to see to it that my dad was forcefully retired from service.

This saw to our relocation from Kaduna Zaria to Abia state. Upon our return to Abia state we lived in Umunkolo Nbawsi Isiala Ngwa north and Aba simultaneously.

My Dad’s private dental technologist practice

As a result of the forced retirement, Dad came back to Aba and started off his private practise. My dad’s private practise suffered mainly from his kind heart. Before my eyes, I watched my dad render all sorts of services to dental patients without having them pay commensurate fees for these services. He was always willing to help at all times even at extra cost to him and this act of service and kindness to people made him very fulfilled.

My dad registered a private dental services centre called Paramount Dental service which was situated at 47^th St. Michael’s Road Aba Abia state.

Death of Mr. Okeh, Chinjioke Akwarandu – a man i would forever cherish

This was where he worked until his death at the wee hours of the 4^th of February 2017. This event happened on a day I had travelled from Aba to Nnewi to celebrate Prof. Samuel Meludu’s birthday at college of health sciences Nnamdi Azikiwe University.

Dad died at the age of 63 years in Aba and was buried on the 22^nd of April 2017, when I had just started off my one-year internship programme as a medical laboratory scientist at Federal medical centre Umuahia Abia state.

Fatherhood in its purest form

My dad was one of the greatest influences I had in my life. He believed that to have anything we wish for, that we ought to work very hard to earn it. He often emphasised that top of all we have as men, in my father’s world of assets is family.

After dad returned from the United Kingdom, he was so enthusiastic about getting married and starting off a family.

Meeting my mother on the recommendation of his elder sister – Daa Olenjiulo and her husband – Ukwu De cock / Isi the hen of blessed memory gave my late, extremely introverted father a great tool to do life with. They made the best of their marital union to the extent that a lot about how my parents lived as husband and wife still makes me happy.

Dad while he was alive literarily laid down his life for our family. My dad was such an introvert that I didn’t know him with much people as his friends except his family. There was no socially active part to my late dad’s life and that had so much consequences on us.

That was why I took a very firm decision to not be an introvert by any stretch of human imagination. This is why I have consistently invested recklessly in relationships and to a very large extent I can say that the return on investment has been mind-blowing with a few losses here and there which should always be expected.

At a huge cost to my dad and my mum they went out of their way to offer us education and that we would forever be grateful for.

Mrs. Okeh, Veronica Adaku – mother like non other

My mum is a typical wife and mother who understands her reality at all times and goes out of her way within the limits of what is moral to support her husband and family. My mum is the daughter of late Nze P. N Ohajuru and Chief Mrs. Grace Ohajuru.

My maternal grandfather was a well-travelled and top-ranking civil servant in his time. He belonged to catholic knight order of St. Mulumba while my maternal grandmother was a primary school teacher.

As kids we called my maternal grandfather, Papaukwu while we called my maternal grandmother Mamaukwu.

My mother is the first daughter of her family with Frank, Uche, Ngozi, Evelyn, Chiemela and Uzoma as siblings. Daa Uche (the first person to take me to Abuja in my life and offer me the privilege to travel in an aeroplane) and Daa Ngozi without any form of equivocation played critical roles in my upbringing, as they have always been there to support me through life. I would eternally be grateful to them.

My mother is a retired secondary school teacher who thought biology the most part of her life. She was an unrelenting disciplinarian who believed that on no account should a parent spare the rod and spoil the child. Growing up was fun for me and my sister but it was not without our days of pains of discipline.

Indeed, Mum as I call her gave me the best of supports growing up. She has always loved to see me happy at all times. Adaa as my late father often called her has always been very supportive of me and this, I am very grateful for. Independence of mind and contentment are some of her greatest strengths. Lately I discovered that one of her happiest moments after the death of my dad was on the 7^th of December 2024. You would know the reasons in the paragraphs to come.

Okeh, Ogechi Amarachi my beloved sister in whom I am well pleased

Amaa like I fondly call her is my younger sister. She has been a journalist for a very long time now and through her journalistic prowess, she has effected change in some sectors of the Nigerian society. My adanne is more of an introvert when compared to me but not someone you can intimidate by any stretch of human imagination. Overtime she acquired skills at international bookings for cruise, tours, flight tickets and international hotel reservations.

Amaa is not the type of sister who calls you up every time on the phone to check up on you, but you know most definitely that whenever the need for her to stand up for you as a sister arises, she would go to the ends of the earth to make things happen for you. I count myself very privileged to have her as a sister. The beauty of our siblingship is that we are both strongly opinionated people, and we make very logical arguments when we have to, to establish our own thoughts and opinions as supreme.

My childhood and the impact it had on me.

Having been born in Ahmadu Bello University teaching hospital Zaria we relocated to South-eastern Nigeria around 1993. On moving to the Southeast my mum got a teaching job at Girls high school Umunkolo Nbawsi Isiala Ngwa North, where we lived for thirteen (13) years before we fully relocated to Aba.

As a result of the harsh economic realities my parents faced at the time, they had to primarily choose the accommodation provided by government for teachers in the teachers’ quarters of where my Mum thought while my dad rented a one room accommodation in Aba from where he went to work every day. Dad stayed in Aba from Monday till Thursday every week and returned to be with us in Nbawsi on Friday evenings. He spent the weekends with me, my sister and my mum in Nbawsi and then leaves for Aba with public transport very early on Monday morning.

Never did my dad miss coming to spend any weekend with us in Nbawsi for the period we lived there. That is how important family was to my dad while he lived. We were his biggest assets and as such he gave it all he could afford at the time.

Growing was so much fun for me as I watched my loving parents cherish and adore themselves within the scope of their resources. Never did I see my dad yell or scream at my mother out of anger at any time. The family model I was raised in is one where family is all you have got and as a result deserved all forms of investment made in it.

My primary school was done at Daughters of Mary Mothers of Mercy Primary and Nursey school. We were groomed by very neat Reverend sisters whose passion for education was something else. Mr. Success Levi is one of my primary school classmates I can still remember at this time. It was a mixed sex school and the impact of that school on me remains till date.

Umunkolo in Nbawsi was a semi urban town where everyone knew each other. This made misbehaviour very difficult as there were people on ground to report to your parents. Then my parents especially my mother addressed every case of misbehaviour from me with well arranged whips. Mum gave her all to our grooming and I am eternally grateful to this woman of inestimable value. Nbawsi was a great place and that was where I made a lot of friends like Mr. Onyebuchi Nwagbara, Kingsley Kanu, Charles Onwukwe, Stanley Nwaekwe, Livinus Amaike and a lot more other people.

Secondary Education and how it transformed my life

In the year 2000, just after we had soaked up the tales by moonlight that was being pushed all over the place then that the world was going to come to an end as we moved from 1999 into the 2000’s. I am here wondering how wild such fake news would have gone, if it were to be in this era of social media content creation.

My JSS1 at Adventist secondary Technical College (ASTEC) was a beautiful experience. ASTEC was a mixed sex school owned by the Adventist church in Nigeria. It was my first time of leaving home to live with other young people. As I was about going to school then, my very meticulous and detailed mother took her time to use nail polish to mark all my properties. This was so that no one takes what belongs to me in school. Those her marks saved my belongings a lot from being stolen at the time.

ASTEC blessed me with the gift of high value friends which have actively nurtured until date. The mixed sex nature of the school made some of us appreciate women and how creative God was at creating them even as at then as a very young boy. I wrote love letters to my love interests at the time, tried out a few things that teenagers did at the time and then took a decision to stick to what was in my best interest. The quality instilled in us at ASTEC would live with me and so many of us that graduated from there for a long time.

ASTEC gave me the privilege to make friends who have become family to me. It made it possible for me to learn how to be bold and able to express myself anywhere I find myself and at all times. There is no one I cannot walk upto to express in very clear terms what my thoughts and intentions are towards at all times. These levels of boldness were things I learnt from my secondary school and above all I learnt faith in God, dedication to hardwork and team spirit which is often needed to get things done.

The skills I acquired at ASTEC as it pertains to using my intellect to seduce the Ladies in my space at the time was often deployed when I visited home during school breaks, where my mum’s students were always amazed at how intelligent I was.

Most of my mother’s students at the time in senior secondary schools then could not reign in their emotions. To express themselves, they wrote love letters to me stating how much they are amazed at my level of brilliance and I was always quick to send them warm well scripted replies. The special purpose vehicle with which they delivered the letter to me were assignments given to them by my mum which they claimed to submit to me.

ASTEC which was a full boarding school, formed me in so many ways and this narrative would not be complete if I do not mention that my principal at the time, Prof. K.C.K Nwangwa and his wife believed so much in me and did a lot to support me when I eventually became the Senior prefect after holding the position of the General monitor. I would forever be grateful for that stage of my life.

Life after secondary school

We had our West African examination council (WAEC) in the year 2006. We gave that examination alongside National examination council our very best such that we passed all our papers in the first sitting. These were grades which we achieved through sheer dint of hard work and giving so much time to our studies.

The goal was to study Medicine and Surgery in Abia state university Uturu at the time but unfortunately it never became a reality as a result of multifaceted factors. My parents’ inability to have an influential figure had a role to play beyond my ability to pass the examinations at the time.

The year 2006, 2007, 2008 passed by without my being able to secure admission as my parents were of the conviction that I had to play by the books if I was to secure university admission. Abia State University and University of Nigeria Nsukka didn’t favour me all these whiles. It was in the midst of my confusion that my secondary school mates namely Onyebuchi Nwagbara and Bestman Oriaku muted the idea of trying my luck with Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka.

Out of desperation to get into the university, I bought the prescience form and enrolled for the programme. During that programme I made some friends whom I have maintained contact with till date.

The prescience programme drained me to all extents and this was because being that I had left Aba to come to Anambra for the programmes, some neighbours erroneously assumed that I had secured admission. So as to not make a mess of myself and my family, the only option I had was to study hard and pass the examination so as to gain admission into the university.

The year 2009 under the leadership of Prof. Boniface Egboka, without knowing anyone I was offered admission to study Medical Laboratory Science at NAU Awka. Meanwhile before this result of my Post UME came out, Prof. Jay Jay called me after a class session to advise me to change my course of choice to Medicine. He told me clearly at Mbaukwu that he had noticed my commitment to my studies and that he was very sure that I would scale through in that examination. His prediction of me having a high score happened but unfortunately as a result of fear I didn’t effect the change of course.

Spotting relationships that are worth investing in

Overtime, one of the many areas that I have been deliberate about honing my skills is in building worthy relationship with people who are deliberate enough to reciprocate my actions towards them.

Most of the things I have been able to achieve over these years are clearly through the relationships I have nurtured with people. The truth remains that to me, I see investment in relationship exactly the same way a venture capitalist looks at investments in business. These investments would either yield great returns for the venture capitalist or things could go south such that all the investments you made in such relationships becomes a huge waste.

The most beneficial relationships I have nursed overtime are the ones I have shared with my childhood friends and university mates. In these relationships, we are often deliberate to outdo each other as a way to show that in sincerity, we have so much worth and admiration for what we share.

There are overwhelming reasons why I have never shied away from identifying with Chief Okey Ambrose Ahiwe. I would always be grateful for the privilege of access which he freely offered to me so many years back.

Prof. Anthony Igwegbe’s family has shown me that there are investments in relationships that would always give you unimaginable returns. What started in 2013 between me and his son Dr. Kenechukwu Igwegbe has grown into something bigger than the both of us. Indeed, I would forever be grateful to that family for always looking out for my interest at all times. To everyone who is in my space as a friend, you all know that you individually mean so much to me. That is why I would always do my best to show you all that indeed you are one of the best gifts to me from God. Unfortunately, in the past few months, I have had to deliberately recalibrate my relationships with people, so that energy and resources are largely deployed to worthy quarters.

During our preparation for our wedding ceremony which took place in Aba on the 7^th of December 2024, I saw in full glare how some of you outdid yourselves with respect to your various support for me. Those images of those financial supports and most importantly presence at the occasion would forever play out in my mind. A lot of others choose to make very bogus promises which they never honored. For me, it is about picking up the necessary lessons and moving on with my life. At least we are now better guided as to where to invest our time and resources more and where not to waste an ounce of our energy or resources ever again.

Always understand that no one owes you. This implies that whenever any human goes out of their way for you, you definitely owe such a person reciprocity.

BO i would not ever forget your commitment to what we share as brothers. You have always kept to every word of yours in this friendship we have shared from childhood.

Meeting Marnie and how it has changed so many things about me

In July 2022, I was privileged to ride with the pretty, gap-toothed Lady who later would become my wife after two years of initially meeting each other.  On that fateful day, I was on my way to Aba from Nnewi in a Peace Mass Transit Hummer bus. I was sitting on the seat just before her and her friend. They were young, good looking, decent and beautiful. Despite having noticed them, I claimed ignorance of the both of them as I immersed myself in the downloaded YouTube videos, I had on my phone with my ear piece stuffing my both ears.

Before all these things started off, I had smartly looked at their both ring fingers to be sure I was not admiring someone’s wife and all that. On a thorough glance, it dawned on me that my would-be wife’s friend had a wedding band while she didn’t have.

While we got to Owerrinta on our way to Aba, I put off the video I was watching and smartly eavesdropped on their conversation with my both ears still stuffed with the pair of earpieces still, so as not to blow my cover. I later got to know that they had come to Nnewi to search for house officer’s quarter’s accommodation as House officers. The other married Lady who is a friend to my would-be wife dropped off before we arrived at Aba Park. That indeed gave me the freedom and pseudo privacy I needed to engage my would-be wife when we got to the park.

My conversation initiating line that Friday still amuses me till date. I asked her of where I can buy provisions in Aba. This question was just to get her attention after which I would now step further to ask her if she was having issues with getting an accommodation of where she would live for the one year of her house job at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi.

Owing to the fact that the time was getting late and it was getting dark, we had to exchange phone numbers so that we can talk at length at our earliest convenience. She was indeed polite in her engagement and seemed well groomed as a woman.

The conversation as expected progressed later over the phone but I told her that I was not making her a promise to provide her an accommodation but nonetheless that I would give it a shot and if it works out, that she would hear from me.

Of course, I gave it my best foot and it worked. I offered her the accommodation and moved on without following up on the lady.

Time passed; we never really took each other seriously but I used to see her a few times in the hospital premises. We often casually say hello and hi then to each other and proceed to mind our various businesses.

After a while, I looked at her closely and noticed how much of a good person with worthy values that she was. It was at this point that I told her that I was interested in dating her and that if things work out well, that we can take it from there. She simply asked quite politely that I should not make the mistake of coming to play games with her or lying to her to get into her pants. Her boldness at engaging me very clearly made me ask myself, whether I was ready to date a lady or not as my last committed dating relationship was in 2017.

Along the line we finetuned what we both shared and decided that we were going to do what is in our best interest as adults. It was at this point that I told my mother that the time to get a wife was now. We dived right into it and today we are happily married to each other. The only validation we both sought on our way to here was that from the both of us.

On the 7^th of December I officially got married to Dr. Uzoma and this has changed a whole lot about me and my perception of reality. I am glad I settled for what matters most as this remains one decision, I would always be excited I made in spite of daunting economic realities. We were ready to go all the way and we did that in style and class within what was important to us.

Career realities and the dreams ahead

As a well-trained and eminently skilled Medical Laboratory Scientist I have had the privilege of working for Echolab Radiology and Laboratory services. This was made possible at the time by Mr. Soji Billyrose. I would always be grateful to them for the opportunity to work for them when I did. Feel free to use their services when you need to, they are a great brand.

The team I worked with at Area 11 Garki and Wuse 2 branches were excellent men and women. The memory of what we shared while I was there would consistently be fresh in my mind.

Then I have been privileged to work in a federal government owned institution. This has thought me so much about the profession, human beings and the need to never let down your guards as a professional. Dr. Kalu Stephen Okoroafor made my adaptation when I first came to work with the teaching hospital very seamless and smooth. Mr. Ndulue Israel has continued to guide me, support me at all times and never seized to correct me where necessary. Indeed, I am blessed to have access to this Enugu Agidi born civil servant. To the regular colleagues at our place of work, I would always be grateful for sharing this phase of my life with you all.

What lies ahead of me in the profession is huge and it is just a matter of time, before I would explore the options available on my desk at the moment so as to make out something more worthwhile from my areas of comparative advantage.

Community Service

This is one aspect of my life that I would invest in massively in the years ahead. I am passionate about education and the welfare of children of Soldiers especially the non-commissioned ones among them.

The years ahead would have me mobilise resources and deploy same in the most transparent manner for the welfare of the beneficiaries who would primarily be the down trodden in the society. We want to offer them a lifetime of mind-blowing opportunities through education.

This is a part of my life I am willing to give one of the biggest pushes I can ever muster.

Conclusion

Prof. Igwegbe, Dr. Odili Alloy and Dr. Obiesie Arinze deserve special mention for their roles in keeping the health of my family stable and excellent through their professional advice and surgical knives. May God bless you all, just to let you all know that I would never forget. Dr. Odili whom we know as Oke Dibia with the very great handwriting, this is to remind you that this is the second time you would be using your surgical knives on “me”. The first was on my laps and now this, we would forever be grateful.

This is my 35^th birthday and I am blessed to be celebrating it to the woman who has been making my life glow in ways that are not routine. Big shout out to my parents’ in-law (Mr and Mrs. Orji), they did an exceptionally phenomenal job in raising my jewel of inestimable value. In the days to come, I would expand on these to tell a bit of my story through life.

For now, this is me saying happy birthday to KaTcHmoney Inc. Indeed, I am a child of grace but above all, God is faithful. Feel free to celebrate with me where ever you are, I appreciate you all.