Bianca Ojukwu Loses Mum...

 Her Excellency, Chief Mrs. Caroline Onoh, Former First Lady of Old Anambra State is dead, Aged 80 years.

The Family of His Excellency, Late Chief C. C. ONOH, former governor of old Anambra State, regret to announce the death of its Matriarch and former First Lady of the State, Her Excellency, Chief (Mrs.) Caroline Chinweolu Onoh (Mmili-Aku), (Nee EKE).

Born on 26^th December 1935, Late Carol Onoh was the first child of Anselm Eke, one of the first indigenous railway engineers and train operators in Nigeria.  She was the only child of her mother who passed away when she was barely 2 years old.

An exceptionally intelligent child, Late Carol Eke was educated to the highest level available in Nigeria at the time – the Holy Rosary College, then run by Irish Reverend Sisters.  She was the Games Captain for the school, excelling in sprinting and netball.  Such was her excellence that she was assigned as the Headmistress of the Government school in Udi (one of the largest schools at the time) even before her final academic results were released.

It was in her capacity as the headmistress of the Government School Udi that the Late Chief C. C. Onoh sought her hand in marriage in 1957 when he returned to Nigeria after obtaining a Law degree from the University of Aberystwyth, Wales.  They married in 1958 and Late Carol, the only child of her mother, went on to have 8 children of her own.

During the struggle for the creation of Enugu State, Her Excellency was a steadfast supporter of her husband’s struggle and quietly held the forte for each of the 13 times her husband was jailed for fighting for the creation of Enugu State. 

In life, Mmili Aku remained an avid organiser, leader and teacher and was the patron and founder of many organisations, including Patron of the Boys Brigade, Girls Guide, Life Member of the Holy Family, Patron of the Altar Boys, a Mass Server, Founder of the Afamefuna Cultural Association, Eke Daughters Association, A founding member of the Okwesilieze Social Group (the Premier women’s group of Eastern Nigeria), Grand Patron of the Catholic Women’s Organisation (CWO) to name a few.  She was ordained ‘Nne Eji Eje Mba’  at the Holy Ghost Cathedral in April 2004.  Her Excellency was also conferred several chieftency titles by different communities, including ‘Mmili Aku’, ‘Electric Umu-Agbala’, ‘Nne Ora’ and ‘Ada Eke n’ese’. 

She is survived by 6 Children: Hon. GB Onoh (a two-time Commissioner and former Mayor of Enugu Municipal), Alexandra Onoh (Author), Mrs. Nwoga S. Anyanebechi, Ambassadorial Nominee Lilian Onoh, Nigeria’s immediate past Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain and Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UNWTO, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu and Hon. Josef Onoh (SSA (projects) to the Governor, Enugu State and former member of the Enugu Legislature), many grandchildren, several proxy children, sisters and brothers and relatives too numerous to mention.

Funeral details will be announced by the Family.