In Affectionate Memory of our Beloved Sister, Dr Chioma Uzoho (1961-2013)

Dr. Chioma Uzoho [nee Anyikwa], July 6, 1961 to January 28, 2013

Dear ASRF family,

I am deeply saddened to share with you the news of the tragic death of our
dear sister, Dr. Chioma Uzoho, in a multi-vehicle accident in Nigeria at
the start of this year.

Like many of you, I had the joy of meeting Dr. Uzoho at the ASRF annual
meeting during the Association of Third World Studies conference in Rome,
Gerogia in October 2012. During the conference, Dr. Chioma Uzoho
demonstrated her warm commitment to the growth of the ASRF family by
cheerfully volunteering to serve on two vital ASRF research and publication
committees. Following the conference, I began contacting and working
closely with those colleagues who had agreed to assist with different
aspects of our core mission, and became increasingly concerned that I was
unable to reconnect with Dr. Uzoho.

It was with a great sense of unease that I finally decided to expand my
search as widely as possible on the internet and this was how I discovered,
to my shock and sorrow, that our colleague, sister and friend had passed
away in this horrific accident. The banal tone of media reports barely
hinted at the heartrending cost of the tragedy, “18 persons feared dead as
articulated vehicle loses control, tears through other vehicles at Nkpor,
near Onitsha in Anambra State, FRSC says.” Who would have imagined that we
had lost someone so wonderful?

Dr. Chioma Uzoho, was the beloved wife of Mr. Ali Uzoho, the first child of
the Late Pa Benjamin Anyikwa and Mrs Comfort Chinyere Anyikwa of Umuchu,
Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria. She was a dedicated
Christian and a loving sister and friend to many. Until she was called home
to be with the Lord, Dr. Uzoho was a lecturer at the Department of Modern
European Languages, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) Awka. She was an
exemplary teacher, honored as best Lecturer, Modern European Languages in
2004/2005 by the National Association of French Language Students (NAFLANS)
of UNIZIK. She had obtained a Diploma in French Language, Literature and
Civilization at the Universite de Grenoble, France in 1983 and graduated
with a Bachelor of Arts Degree on her return to the University of Nigeria,
Nsukka, in 1984. She obtained her Masters Degree in 2002, a PhD in French
Literature in 2011 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, and was later
appointed lecturer at the University in 2005. Chioma was resident in
Onitsha with her husband, Mr. Ali Uzoho, commuting from there to Awka
almost every day.

Her family and friends have shared moving remembrances and testimonials of
Dr. Chioma Uzoho as a true servant, treasured friend, soul winner, and
mentor who was a transforming force of love, humility, generosity and
service in her family and community. Dr Anyika likened his sister to a
peace-maker, path-finder and torch-bearer and described her as the
spiritual arrow-head of the entire Anyikwa family.

Dr Chioma Uzoho’s funeral services were held on April 19, 2013 and she was
laid to rest in Ogwa, near Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.

May our sister Chioma’s lovely soul rest in perfect peace and may her
husband, family, friends and colleagues at the University of Nsukka be
comforted in their memories of the blessed years she shared with them.

For more information: see *the Tribute By LEVI ANYIKWA in honor of Dr. Mrs.
Chioma Faith Enuma Uzoho, using the *link below

http://leadership.ng/nga/articles/50681/2013/03/23/dr_chioma_uzoho_lives.html?quicktabs_1=2

With prayers for a peaceful year ahead,

Peyi Soyinka-Airewele

President, African Studies and Research Forum