But for the one-year anniversary program released by Adaukwu Aro, Mrs Carol Okorafor, to mark the first year anniversary of the death of her beloved husband, one would not have imagined that it is already 12 months since his demise.
I hardly would think or discuss Mazi Chris Okorafor in the past tense because I always believe that he is actively working on some issues that we usually share experiences on while he was alive. For instance, a few weeks back, while revising earlier volumes of Aro News Book Series (Perspectives on Aro History and Civilization: the Splendour of a Great Past) and, also working on a new edition (Volume 4) to mark the 25th anniversary of Aro News, I wasn’t comfortable with the fact that Prof Chris won’t get a mention in the historic text because he died before its debut. To solve that problem, I used his goodwill message during our 20th anniversary which, though celebrated, did not feature a book publication.
Mazi Chris Okorafor had tremendous respect for my founding role at Aro News and held intellectualism and Aro Historiology very dearly. A top-notch academician and an icon of our cultural heritage, indeed he was one of the glamorous and legendary figures that represented the Arochukwu Kingdom very well locally and internationally.
A little trait of Aro identity was sufficient to extract rich knowledge from his vast reservoir, and even people he hitherto knew not could secure audience and assistance of very big magnitude from him for that reason. His enormous works on our heritage have become landmark reference materials for people researching Aro history and traditions. Mazi Chris wasted no time to advance issues that furthered the civilization and culture of the kingdom. A cultural ambassador extraordinaire, he was one elite among the many who dedicated all they had to the growth and development of the ancient kingdom, and the sustenance of its revered cultural identity. His simplicity knew no bounds; and as a man of principles, he carried his simple attitude to life unto death by ensuring that he was interred the same day that he died without the mortuary and ambulance fanfares and showcase of vanity.
To immortalize this great Aro patriot, and keep his memory evergreen in people’s minds, his dear wife, and a rare germ herself, Barr Mrs Carol Okorafor, Adaukwu Aro, designed a project hitherto non-existent in our environment that would care for the elderly and the sick in a special way. According to her, “exactly one year ago, in the early hours of the morning of 10th February, 2023, an Okpankpo Aro and an illustrious son of Arochukwu Kingdom, an accomplished academician, a dedicated family man, a fine gentleman, a true Christian and above all, the love of my life, Mazi Prof Chris Anicho Okorafor, passed on to be with his creator and ancestors. May his great soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace, Amen.
I thank God for the good life he led and the numerous legacies, both human and material, that he left behind. It has not been easy to fully come to terms with his exit, but the Good Lord’s abundant grace and mercies have continued to sustain us”.
This is being as simple and conservative as possible because anyone who knows Mazi Chris Okorafor very well will realize that everything she said about him fitted exactly his real person. Chris had an answer to every problem that confronted individuals and the community, and he would readily proffer solutions and be a part of the vanguard to deal with the challenge.
So, ‘to immortalize this ICON, who will forever live in our hearts, an Adult Care Centre, to be known as “Prof Chris Anicho Okorafor Care Centre” is being set up in Amuvi Arochukwu’, Barr Carol asserted.
Prof Chris Okorafor and wife Carol
The centre is scheduled to be commissioned on March 31, 2024 to provide day care and recreational services for people with dementia as well as elderly persons whose families, for various reasons, are unable to provide quality care during the day. It shall operate from Monday to Saturday, between the hours of 8am to 5pm and lunch and refreshments shall be served to the inmates.
While giving further details on the planned commissioning of the centre, Mrs Carol Okorafor noted that volunteers working with her on the project are making tireless efforts to come out with relevant documentation, details for eligibility and other terms and conditions for acceptance into the centre. The selection process for prospective beneficiaries shall be an impartial and inclusive representation of elderly persons from 19 villages of Arochukwu with special considerations for the most vulnerable.
She appreciated those who responded to their earlier appeal for support and made generous donations in cash and kind towards the success of the Care Centreproject, as well as the tabernacle project at St Thomas Catholic parish, Amuvi, Arochukwu in memory of Mazi Chris Okorafor. Some of the benefactors included: Dr. Pat Dike Odimgbe, and her husband, Ichie Engr Emma Odimgbe, Mazi Engr. Ugochukwu Martin Onyeador, Sochiand her husband, Uche; Mazi Val and EZINYE Angela Emesih, Mazi Mike & Ezinye Ngozi Akpara, Lambert Nwaneti and Ego, Ada Ezeorizu, Elder Dr Doris Oji and several others.
She also appreciated many people that pledged to support the project as time goes on, and at various stages for its sustainability.
She cordially invited all to be available to witness the commissioning ceremony, which shall start with a Holy Mass on March 31, 2024 at St Thomas Catholic Church Amuvi, Arochukwu by 10 am. The commissioning shall take place at the Care Centre, near Prof Chris & Barr Carol Okorafor’s residence in Amuvi.
One year after his demise, several Umu Aro, particularly those that closely associated with him, such as Mazi Emma Onyema, describe his death as a major loss to the university community and the Arochukwu nation. Those who assessed him by his level of interest and contributions to Arochukwu history and culture noted that his exit is a major gap in what we need to sustain the dwindling pure Aro cultural norms and values.
A foremost Aro scholar described the late literary giant as being very popular in the vanguard for reinventing our true cultural identity and a big miss in many social circles as he related very well across groups.
Indeed, the passing on of this great and noble Aro son has left us poorer but we rely on the hope that the worst tragedy in life is not death, but a life without purpose.
Mazi Chris Okorafor lived a very purposeful life. In fact, so fulfilling and accomplished that his stars will remain bright until the end of time.
An accomplished intellectual and a professional who, through his dedicated contributions, proved that there was honor and virtue in service, until death. He remained firm in the principles that stood him out throughout his service years.
Of course, it is only when an Iroko tree is down that its true length shall be ascertained. We shall miss him but we shall not remain in anguish for too long. He strongly believed in his people and was very proud each time he played host to them either at Arochukwu, Enugu or Abuja. It was very easy to see contentment around him, just like the joy parents have for their children. This singular attitude greatly assisted the community in multiple occasions and many alluded to his excellent closing campaign speech when he vied for the post of President-General of the then Amuvi Welfare Union.
According to those familiar with the story, he simply reeled out several contributions he made towards human and institutional development of the community that he easily dwarfed other contestants, so was unanimously elected.
Each time disagreement occurred within the town, his approach ensured that normalcy triumphed. He elevated decency in leadership to a norm and mentored many who drank from his rich fountain of knowledge.
How else can we pay him back for all his services to the community than to rally round his family and ensure that the noble project dedicated to his memory thrives? The “Prof Chris Anicho Okorafor Care Centre” Amuvi, Arochukwu, which will be commissioned on March 31, 2024 to provide day care and recreational services for people with dementia as well as elderly persons, provides the best opportunity for all Umu Aro that wish to immortalize this great Aro patriot as a testimony to the fact that he lived a life that touched many with good deeds. In fact, his existence exemplified the fact that one does not need to be filthy rich to make positive impacts.
Given the enormous changes in culture and civilization across societies as a result globalization and rapid industrial and technological advancements, most institutions and practices that hitherto supported a harmonious elderly citizen’s wellbeing within the pure African cultural settings are quickly breaking down and many senior citizens are currently left unattended to, hence they suffer untold hardships. The paucity of or non-existence of government institutional arrangement to deal with the challenge is apparent, especially when it could hardly provide the basic necessities for the other members of the community. Hence, the need for a novel institutional mechanism to cater for this segment of our community is urgent and greatly felt. This is why this innovative care centre for the elderly is worth everyone’s support to ensure that a special and critical need identified as its priority does not fail to succeed. We thank and rejoice with Mrs Carol Okorafor, and the entire family, and wish them the best as they strive to immortalize our departed illustrious Aro patriot via this critical pet project.
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