Memories last forever, especially those from childhood. Memories are treasures, but at a time like this they become golden treasures. My sister Nwamara and I often joked about our experiences with our big brother. Whenever we just want to reminisce about a time filled with fun and amusement we remember our brother Aji (who is popularly known as 101 by his students) and how he had a very unique side  to him that was fun to be around. We often remember our childhood years and the pranks we played when we lived at Ihie Mbawsi at the Adventist High School Mission Campus. The campus was large with streets lined with beautiful pine trees at the downhill section and fruit trees at the uphill and primary school sections of the campus. We would often climb the guava, mango, and  cashew trees around campus at our playtime. One day in our preteen years, Nwamara and I spotted our brother Aji cruising by in his car right underneath us while we were atop a guava tree on one of the streets and boy did we melt and prayed hard so he wouldn’t see us. But he sure did and made us get down immediately. You couldn’t escape his notice. I remember kneeling down beside my bed and offering a heartfelt prayer to God so I wouldn’t get reprimanded for being naughty when he came back home. Another side of him is that he expected to see you engaged in positive, productive activity. When he sees you idling, he would call you out and would immediately say “hum, my pity for you stretches from here to heaven”. That was his favorite line. These are just a few of our childhood interactions. They are parts of the lessons that molded us into what we’ve become. My brother was a father, away from our father (like “home away from home”). He fulfilled that role even before he became one and continued throughout in all aspects of his life. Aji, saying that I will miss you is an understatement. Because you’ll not only be missed but the vacuum can never be filled. You will continue to live in our hearts all the days of our lives. Aji, may you rest protected in the bosom of our Lord until we meet again at Jesus feet. 

Love Always, Amauche (signing off as you always did when you leave me a note/letters).

Can’t forget one of the very few times I came late for school. I was coming from the main gate and was with the company of some regular late comers. So as a good student back then  I decided to walk faster. This was S.S.1 tho..Suddenly I noticed some students jogging pass me. I didn’t bother, maybe they felt they needed to run. But I was cool with my walking. Not until I noticed a brown Datsun salon, slow driving towards me with the windows down and him looking at me behind those brown shades... My heart skipped and I started jogging. I saw this car and the resemblance of the car he drove then on Pinterest and my mind flashed back to that very day . We all had our various memories with 101, good and not so good once, but one thing is for sure, those memories are part of our stories... We shaped into becoming successful in our various endeavors  He will be missed. R.I.P I.O Izeogu.

Elder I.O Izeogu was my Principal in secondary school. He was a great educationist and a disciplinarian. He laid a solid foundation for his students. He shall be greatly missed by all. May the Lord strengthen he's immediate family and all who he influenced. Rest in peace great man! 

I will never forget the day my Dad made me sweep up sand by the whole length of our fence at the house in Portharcourt. 
I was sitting out in the compound and suddenly became pressed. So, instead of going into the house to use the bathroom, I went to the fence and eased myself there. Suddenly I heard my name from his room window... “what do u think you are doing, Wokoma? Is that the toilet? Just stay right there...”
“Oh no...I am finished”, I said to myself and in what felt like 1second I had dreamt of how many strokes of the cain I will receive. But to my greatest surprise, Daddy had other ideas. He asked me to fetch a broom and sweep from one end of the fence to the other, making sure the sand by the wall is completely gone. I swept that day till it stuck in my head that that was a very big crime.
Up until today(under normal circumstances), I find it very difficult to urinate on the roadside or even throw anything like tissue/serviettes, banana peels, sweet wrappers, biscuit packs, POS slips...anything at all, indiscriminately....he taught me all that. That’s why is u look in my pockets, even now as I write this story, I have one paper or the other in my pockets

My father was a disciplined man, and I’m glad I am his son