Lady Bridget.
What started easily enough as a simple patient / doctor relationship about two decades ago slowly morphed into a mother/ son relationship.
The fact that Emeka still managed to maintain first son status is a testament to her grace and generosity (to him).
Her quiet dignity shown through with my staff and I, and we looked forward to whenever she was going to be in town.
I will miss her, we will all miss her, getting to write this brief tribute to her is both sad and simultaneously a pleasure.
Emeka, ……. Thank you for sharing your mother with me,
May God give you the strength to bear this immeasurable loss and I and others will be with you every step of the long road ahead.
Pecos T. Olurin MD
Wilmington, DE
>> EN: And to think this yeye man woke up one day, got dressed, put his right hand up, and took a so-called "Hippocratic Oath" to "do no harm". Judge for yourself! (He thinks he can bad-mouth me now that I'm an orphan. Mba o!!!!!! I no gree!)
Emeka,
My heart is full and my prayers are with you and your family as you celebrate the life of your Mum. May her advice continue to guide you in difficult times; may her achievements and the many lives she touched be a reminder of how you can use your gifts to help others; and may each day be brightened with a memory of a moment from one of the many years you were blessed to have together.
And may her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace.
P.S.
I have 2 memories of your Mum :)
(1) A gathering at your house when you told me NOT to have a beer (which I did get) and NOT to ask to be included when the kola nut came out (which I didn't get)
(2) When, out of respect, I offered her the front seat in your car
Significant moments in my journey to appreciate other cultures /upbringings and not act like such an American.
Alicia Clay, Ph.D.
New Orleans, LA
Emeka,
I appreciate the opportunity to write a tribute to your mother. But the truth is I don't know what to say.
I met your Mom, may be twice? On both occasions, it was not for an appreciable period of time. The first time was in Ife, and the other time was after NYSC when I stopped by your house in Aba? I don't think it was the one in Umuahia, which I visited many years later. Anyway, unknown to me, you had already left for graduate school in America. I told her we both graduated from the same dept, and I distinctly remember her replying somewhat like a teacher would, " You mean you are both alumni." In my mind, I said to myself, "Yep, education commissioner, no doubt." I know that another friend of ours popped into town, told her he was Emeka's friend and ended up staying in your house for as long as a year? Emeka's friend. It was all she needed to know. Wow!!
I would take solace in the fact that she lived a long life of service to her community, and she left behind a legacy. It is now up to you, my friend.
May her soul Rest In Peace.
Oh well... I did have something to say after all.
Kayode Bajela
Tulsa, OK
>> EN: Kayode Bajela, you just wrote a tribute, Bush Boy!
About 32 years ago, I moved from Knoxville, Tennessee to New Jersey for work. Not long after, I reconnected with my friend Emeka, who I first met as a student at the University of Rochester in New York. Back then, we were young men just beginning to chart our paths, him as master’s student and I as an undergraduate student. By the time we met again, Emeka was pursuing a doctorate degree in Chemical Engineering at Columbia University. We rekindled our friendship.
One evening after we got back from a night out in the city, Emeka casually mentioned that his mother would be coming to visit soon. I remember him getting his place in order, making everything just right in his bachelor pad for her arrival. It was clear this was no ordinary visit. He rented a car to pick her up from the airport.
The way he prepared for her visit revealed not only how special their bond was but spoke volumes about the kind of mother she must have been. I was curious to meet this woman who had raised the man who was becoming such a close and valued friend.
That’s when I met her—Lady Bridget Chikereuba Nwankwo.
From the moment she greeted me, I felt her warmth. She had a calm presence, a genuine smile, and a graceful way of engaging people. I remember how curious she was about New York, about the people, about life here. When I learned she was an educator, I arranged a small dinner so she could meet some family friends in her field. That evening, as she spoke about her dream to start a school back home, her eyes lit up with passion. You could feel that this wasn’t just a career—it was a calling. That dream, that school, was deeply personal and close to her.
Fifteen years later, during a trip to Nigeria, I visited Emeka and saw for myself the fruits of her labor, the realization of her vision—St. Bridget Schools. I remember walking through the grounds and feeling the love, the vibrance, in every corner. Her spirit was everywhere. I also visited her home, and she welcomed me once more—with that same smile, that same warmth, that same grace I had felt so many years ago.
Lady Bridget Chikereuba Nwankwo was thoughtful and deeply committed to the work of shaping young minds. Her belief in the power of education wasn’t just something she talked about—it was something she lived. She didn’t just build a school—she built a legacy.
Though her time here is done, her impact lives on. Her life’s work continues in the classrooms of St. Bridget’s, in the lives of the students who walk through its doors, and in the hearts of those of us who had the privilege of knowing her.
Rest in peace, Lady Bridget Chikereuba Nwankwo. Thank you for your light, your wisdom, and your legacy.
Jolomi Omatete, MBA
Silver Spring, MD
Tribute to a Brilliant, Fearless, Beautiful Inside and Out Lady
I first met “Emeka’s Mom” in the early 90s in Delaware. Those were the carefree days when we were all finishing or had just finished our post graduate degrees and were brimming with enthusiasm about our careers and futures. Emeka the brainiac and also a socialite (believe it or not, once upon a time he loved having get togethers) used to have frequent social get togethers and professional summits. During that period which was over a number of years, I had the opportunity to meet Lady Bridget. She was a wonderful person who welcomed all of us as her children. I will remember her for her quiet strength, wisdom and friendliness. In addition, she was so elegant and beautiful! We would sit and talk, I learnt so much from her as she spoke about being a wife and a mother and about her career. She totally adored her children and was so proud of them. I remember an incident when I was in the kitchen trying to heat up a tray of chicken bit by bit in the microwave, she quietly came up behind me and said, "Kemi you will be done quicker if you heat up the chicken in the oven…" that was Mummy, ever observant, looking to guide her children and doing it in a gentle way.
Dear Ma, you ran an excellent race, you excelled as a Mom, professional and member of your community. You will always be an inspiration. May you Rest in Peace in Jesus Name.
Kemi Afonja
San Ramon, CA
A RARE GEM OF A LADY
Her talents were many and not hidden well, and they showed in a trailerload of achievements. Big sister, mother (and even father, when her husband got what was almost an early invitation to join his ancestors), grandmother, public servant, educator, visionary, entrepreneur, and businesswoman. But she played one particular part so well every time you met her. She effortlessly made you feel like you had never been away even when you had not been to see her or spoken to her for many years. Like your favorite auntie, she made you feel easily at home and welcome. When you leave, you would promise yourself to reach out to her more often because you always felt refreshed stopping by. And in her steady attention and calm reception, you could feel you were around someone one wise and rather special. Someone who could have been whatever she wanted and would have done everything with diligence but was happy with where she was and what life offered. Life threw her many lemons, but she made lemonade with bold resilience and grace. She rarely complained but focused always and what needed to be fixed.
Her elegance was simple yet had charm and warmth, and she came across as one imbued with great brilliance and intelligence but who made sure it was toned down so as to accommodate others and allow their own lights to shine forth. That may not have come from being a mother and a teacher but maybe from a tender appreciation of human beings and knowing that what came easy for her was already a struggle for others. It was her way of engaging without being obtrusive, of being present in the moment while being kind and nice.
Mrs Bridget Nwankwo was a gem, a rare one from those times and realms where decency, politeness, confidence, and forthrightness mattered. And those who met her would have to work extraordinarily hard to forget her because she was a thorough bred lady whose carriage and conduct left deep impressions, one who made it her life calling to impart knowledge and teach good behaviour and manners and point by example to the disciplined life. The secret of her good health, her long, productive life could have been in that minimalist waste-nothing lifestyle. The school she founded may be one of her most visible legacies, but in the strength of her character reside her most enduring lessons. There, too, lie her greatest gifts to mankind!
We can, therefore, only but be grateful to the Almighty for her life and its deep impact on generations.
Obinna Uruakpa
Lagos, Nigeria
A Tribute to a Wonderful Principal.
I feel so honoured and privileged to be called one of your students.
Thank you for all that you imparted in us in our young age which made us who we are today!
May you rest in eternal peace and know that your life here has had purpose and meaning.
Adieu Mma Bridget.
Safe journey, until we all meet again in that heavenly abode Amen!
Love and Peace
Ada Agbai (nee Kalu)
London, UK.
A Tribute To A Mother, Mentor, And Benefactor: Lady Bridget Nwankwo
Lady Bridget's life is a story book to many young ladies who aspire to be great in a world of struggles and mistrust.
An extraordinary woman, whose love, guidance, and generosity have touched countless lives.
As a mother, you nurtured and cared for your family with selfless devotion, instilling values of compassion, kindness, and integrity.
As a mentor, you shared your wisdom, expertise, and experience, empowering others to grow, learn, and thrive.
As a benefactor, your philanthropic spirit and generosity have made a profound impact, not only to women folks, transforming lives and communities.
Your legacy is a testament to the power of love, kindness, and generosity. You are a shining example of what it means to live a life of purpose, compassion, and service.
We celebrate you ma, we honor you, and thank you for being a beacon of hope, inspiration, and guidance.
May your memory continue to be a blessing to the many you would have touched if you were here today. With joy, love, and fulfillment, we say go well mama with the Angels to a ready home prepared for you by your Lord and Saviour.
Requiescat in Pace per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.
Seyi Martins, Esq.
Lagos, Nigeria
TRIBUTE TO AN REAL DAME
I lack words to pen down my thoughts on how I feel about your demise, not because you did not fulfil your length of days but that it came to me as a shock. However, I give all glory to God.
My experience with you started in 2005 when I joined Aquada Development Corporation, Old Umuahia. You took me in as a daughter to the point that a lot of people thought I was the original Mma Nwankwo. You imbibed in me a lifestyle that I have held close to me- being feminine, through and through, oral hygiene and loving God absolutely. You introduced me to using Our Daily Bread Devotional for my prayers and bought me a Bible with inscription "FOR YOUR DEDICATED SERVICE TO MY FAMILY".
You lived an exemplary life of love, laughter and an irrepressible belief and faith in seeing the best in everything…even loss. You gave of yourself and resources, you withheld nothing from me. You were amazing, kind, supportive, attentive, tolerant, patient and protective. You loved God and dedicated your life to His service. Even when I left Aquada, you kept a tab whenever you could and got excited when I called you.
You were my role model. I would always tell anyone who cared to listen that I want to age gracefully like Mummy Bridget.
You left an impact on every person you met, even strangers, who didn’t stay strangers very long because you were friendly. The love you spread on this earth will live on. Your demise has left a vacuum that can hardly be filled but we will let the will of God prevail. After all, you always told me "let go and let God".
Mummy B, you fought the good fight, you finished the race, you kept the faith. Now there is in store for you the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge will award to you on that day- and not only to you but also to all who have longed for His appearing. Hallelujah! Death has been swallowed up in victory! You reign with our heavenly Father!
Rest in peace mummy Bridget.
Mma Yoni Akomas
Lagos, Nigeria
Tribute To A Beautiful Woman Of Value!
There is time for everything under the sun. A time to be born and a time to die! It does not matter how long one lives on this planet, but how well.
Lady Bridget Nwankwo, we celebrate your life for how much of a blessing you were to everyone who encountered you. You were truly a delightful embodiment of grace, character, and compassion; besides being a woman of substance and a renowned Educationist/Administrator. You were dearly loved and appreciated.
Death, as usually said, is a thief that comes when you least expected it. The consolation is that you are in a better and more peaceful place now, as allowed by our Creator.
Your memories and legacy will forever shine so bright and live on!!
Rest on in the Lord, till that resurrection morning; when all who are sleeping in the Lord will wake to meet their Lord!
Goodnight Mama,
Engr. Roselyn Orji
Okitipupa, Nigeria
In Loving Memory of Mrs. Bridget Nwankwo.
Today, we gather to honor and celebrate the life of a remarkable woman, Mrs Bridget Nwankwo best knowntome as Aunty Bridget, who touched the lives of so many with her kindness, strength, and unwavering love. To my dear friend, Dr. Emeka Nwankwo, and the entire family, I extend my deepest condolences and share in your grief as we remember the extraordinary person she was.
Aunty Bridget was more than a mother; she was a beacon of light, a source of endless warmth, a disciplinarian and a pillar of strength for her family and all who knew her. Her love was boundless, her wisdom profound, and her laughter infectious. She had a unique way of making everyone feel seen, heard, and valued, and her presence brought comfort and joy to every room she entered.
As a mother, she nurtured, guided, and inspired her children with a love that knew no bounds. She was their biggest cheerleader, their safest harbor, and their greatest teacher. The lessons she imparted, the values she instilled, and the memories she created will forever live on in the hearts of her loved ones.
To my dear friend, Dr. Emeka, your mother’s legacy lives on through you. Her strength, her compassion, and her unwavering love are reflected in the person you are today. Though she may no longer be with us in body, her spirit will forever guide and protect you, and her love will remain a constant source of comfort and inspiration.
In this time of sorrow, let us also celebrate the beautiful life she lived and the countless ways she enriched ours. Let us hold onto the memories, the laughter, and the love she shared so freely. And let us honor her by living our lives with the same grace, kindness, and generosity that she exemplified every day.
Aunty Bridget may have left this world, but her light will never fade. She will be deeply missed, but her legacy of love and strength will endure forever. Rest in peace, dear Aunty. You will always be remembered, cherished, and loved.
With heartfelt sympathy,
Ijeoma Wachuku Ukwa, Esq.
Lagos, Nigeria
I had known Emeka all through secondary school, and still, we ended up in the same university. It wasn't until he invited me to Isiama Afara that I realised he actually took me as a friend as well as a brother from another mother. I had the privilege of meeting you in that visit and remembering all the phone calls I had with you after then. You certainly played the role of a mother in that short meeting, and that memory has lingered ever since. You will always have a place in my heart, Mama. Adieu.
Akan Eyo Aki
Lagos, Nigeria
A Tribute To A Trailblazing Educator, Entrepreneur, Wife And Mother
I came to know her as a young boy growing up around the same environment with her son Emeka. She was a woman of extra ordinary poise. A loving mother, caring wife to her late husband and a strict disciplinarian. As it turned out, she had a keen entrepreneurial spirit. She saw the gap in the standard of education that public schools offered and Mrs. Nwankwo ventured into establishing a private secondary school in Ahiaba Umunze Aba. In doing so successfully, she inspired generations with her foresight, rigor, resilience and determination. Her crowning achievement, St Bridgets College is a beacon of quality education in the city of Aba, in Abia State, in Eastern Region and Nigeria. Thousands of students have benefited from her vision, and many have gone on to become leaders in their respective fields. She may have had only four children of her own, but today, she has many sons and daughters whose lives she moulded. She has contributed immensely to education, and community development in Nigeria. May her record of service and work in the life of her many children far and wide continue to inspire future generations to strive for excellence, to serve with compassion, and to live with purpose. A mother of Enyimba City has gone to be with the Lord. May her soul find eternal repose in the bosom of our Lord Jesus Christ, and May the Lord grant Emeka and his siblings and the entire Nwankwo family the fortitude to bear her loss. Amen.
Mr & Mrs Chibuzo Ekwekwuo
Abuja Nigeria
As we bid farewell to Mama,let us carry forward her legacy of love and resilience. One of my fondest memories of her was during those beautiful visiting days at FGC Ikot Ekpene,those beautiful sun shades and the provisions she brought part, of which she encouraged you to share with us from the north,a symbol of kindness.Though she may no longer be with us in body,her spirit will continue to bloom in our hearts,reminding us of the great and exemplary life she lived
Adieu Mama!
Inuwa Sarki
Bauchi City, Nigeria
I was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of your beloved mother. Losing a parent, especially one who lived such a long and impactful life, is an immense loss. At 90 years old, she undoubtedly left a legacy of love, wisdom, and strength that will continue to live on through you and your family.
Please accept my heartfelt condolences during this difficult time. May you find comfort in the cherished memories you shared with her and in the knowledge that she is now at peace.
Heavenly Father, I lift up Emeka and his family to You during this time of grief. Grant them strength, comfort, and peace as they mourn the loss of their dear mother. May her soul rest eternally in Your loving embrace, and may her legacy of love and kindness continue to shine through the lives she touched. Amen. May her Soul rest in peace.
Michael Akinde
Minneapolis, MN
Remembering Mrs. Nwankwo
I was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Mrs. Nwankwo on January 25, 2025. I always knew Mrs. Nwankwo as "aunty," which dates back to the turbulent years of the Nigeria-Biafra war when I was a little boy. Like many women at the time, she played the unenviable and critical role of providing stability and security for her family amidst too many threats and uncertainties. She was instrumental in maintaining the sense of community that our families needed to overcome the vicious obstacles that had to be overcome during that difficult period.
I remember aunty to be kind, gentle and nourishing. Though she and her husband were friends of my parents, she never wavered in her efforts to extend her warmth to us, the children of the house. Her motherliness "spread" beyond her immediate household and touched the lives of many other young people, including me.
When I last met aunty in Newark, Delaware in the late 1990s, she still displayed the dignity and kindness that I had witnessed from when I was a boy. She had not changed and remained as selfless and as doting as she had always been.
Dear aunty, I believe your departure is temporary. I believe your departure is timely as you accomplished all that you needed to accomplish in the physical. I believe life continues after we exit the physical earth. I therefore believe you are in a much better place.
I will miss you dearly, aunty. May your gentle soul Rest in Perfect Peace!
With love and fond memories,
Philip Effiong Jr, Ph.D.
East Lansing, MI
TRIBUTE TO LATE (LADY) BRIDGET NWANKWO
I join thousands of well meaning people across this Cosmos, particularly Nigeria to celebrate (Lady) Bridget Nwankwo, a great woman and mother of my good friend Dr Emeka Nwankwo. I think I saw you once or twice when you came visiting your Son Emeka at Unife, now OAU. This was one of rare thing to see those days of early '80s in the Uni. You loved your children and I believe You passed on to them what you had among which is good morals. This I confess shaped and kept the long friendship between Emeks & I. My prayer is: God will keep & protect the children and family you left behind. May you find the narrow way to Heaven in Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.
May Your sweet gentle soul rest in perfect peace. AMEN
ADIEU ma..
'Tayo Adams, JP
Lagos, Nigeria
I became friends with Emeka in secondary school in Ikot Ekpene. During holidays I would travel to Aba from Port Harcourt to see him, and met Mum on a number of occasions. She always impressed upon the importance of education, and I saw that in Emeka back then, and still see it in him today.
Mum lives on, not just in Emeka and her immediate family, but in us all. She has been such a positive influence to so many. Goodbye Mum, and thank you. May you rest peacefully in the Lord.
Chukwudi Nwajei
London, England
TRIBUTE TO A WOMAN OF IMPACT .
Today , I consider myself privileged to submit this tribute on a woman of substance and impact who never and doesn't renege from taking actions and being honest . She stood tall for discipline . She inspired others, leading by example, and using her voice to create positive change.
I met mum when I came to Umuahia a long time ago on an official assignment while at Radio Nigeria. She was so engrossed with touching young lives and mentoring many who today have become successful and accomplished captains of industries. I met her several times over through her son Emeka with whom I shared business ideas and knowledge of how to become the entrepreneur that I am today .
You can clearly see or read of mum through the exemplary life styles of her children.
I mourn her death which is a glorious journey as she will be missed. Today she has left finally bowed out after accomplishing so much and the legacies live on . A disciplinarian has gone but her legacy , her name , her essence, her integrity and her inate beauty are here .Akwada as Aquada is global and its one of the achievements her commitment to quality education has left for the sands of time and prosperity to lean on . Mum lived well paying her dues to humanity many of whom she empowered.
Umuahia , Abia state , South East, Nigeria and indeed the global village has lost a rare gem and a diamond. Farewell to a woman of integrity who revels in womanhood, with all the marvelous and feminine grace . My condolences to the entire Akwada family. Adieu Mum .
Dr Vera Ngozi Osokoya (Nee Ihebuzor)
Paris, France.
LADY BRIDGET NWANKWO - A GREAT EDUCATIONIST
Lady Bridget Nwankwo, was a pillar of knowledge and a beacon of inspiration that left a profound impact on the lives of countless students, during her stint as Commissioner for Education in the old Imo State. Her stride as a Commissioner, positioned and shaped most schools in the old Imo State. She retired, but was never tired, hence she dedicated her life to fostering a love of learning in others, shaping young minds and inspiring them to reach their full potential, through the birth of St. Bridget College, one of the foremost private schools in the then old Imo State, and still a school to recommend for shaping academic minds. Her motivation and passion for education, especially for the ‘Girl-Child is unrivalled. We are going to miss this great Teacher, Administrator, former Commissioner, mother, grandmother and a great human being. They are never goodbye to a dear one, who touched the lives of many. Her pivotal role in our lives will remain in our hearts and memories.
----Prof. Udensi Ekea Udensi (Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria)
