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By Funsho Arogundade
There is a saying that there is no love as genuine, selfless, and enduring as a mother’s love. This statement captured the feelings of Global Investment Advisor and Capital Aggregator, Dr. Nicholas Okoye towards his beloved mother, Her Royal Highness, Mrs. Barbara Okoye.
But for Okoye, founder of Anabel Group and co-founder of Transcorp Plc, he is now in a pensive mood as he and his siblings would no longer have the physical presence of their darling mother.
The great matriarch of the Royal family of Eze Dunu 1 of Ifite Dunu Dunukofia, Anambra State, passed away on Tuesday November 11 at a London hospital after a brief illness. She was 92. The Late Barbara Okoye was married to His Royal Majesty Igwe Augustine Ezechi Okoye, the Eze Dunu 1 of blessed memory. He joined his ancestors in December of 2003.
Late Mrs Okoye was best known for her professional career in the medical and healthcare industries. As a nurse, she was renowned for her professionalism across three continents of the United States, the United Kingdom and Nigeria. She also owned the franchise to the popular ‘Mothercare’ stores which provided nursing mothers across eastern Nigeria with all their unique branded baby needs and mother friendly home equipment. In addition, the late Barbara Okoye was also known as a successful entrepreneur with investment in the hospitality business. She owned Clayton Lounge Hotel and the Gannet Concorde Hotel both in Enugu.
The deceased, originally born a Jamaican, was survived by several other children and grandchildren, including Prince Chinedu Okoye, one time Regent of Ifite Dunu, and Princess Augustina Okoye among many other children and grandchildren.
Nicky Okoye, who is the last son of the deceased, is best known for his role as the Chief Strategy Officer of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (now Nigerian Exchange Group). He, alongside his siblings, inherited her dexterity, entrepreneurial spirit, sound moral and Christian values.
The funeral arrangements will be announced by the family in due course.
