PROFILE OF LATE PA MICHAEL OGBONNIA EGWU ALI

 Early life:

Late Mr. Michael Egwu was born on March 10, 1942 into the family of Late Chief Egwu Ali (a.k.a Okuwa Nja) in Ezi Eni Orrah, Ozizza-Afikpo, in Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

 He grew up with his parents and was helping them majorly in some petty trades. His father, Late Chief Egwu Ali was a polygamist and Papa was the first son of his father amongst eight other siblings, five from his mother and three from his step mother.

  Educational life:

During Papa’s youthful days, tradition blindfolded the vision of some parents about Western education. As a result, the future of their children was marred in terms of western education. Papa ended his Western education in standard 4 as a result of life challenges, though he never relented in acquiring knowledge.

 

Professional life:

Originally, the first and major occupation of every Ozizza man was fishing. Therefore, Papa joined in the fishing business. As a matter of fact, if you were not able to startup the fishing business of your own, then someone else could hire you (i.e. Igba boyi or ekperekpe) in Ehugbo and be paid at the end of every trip (fishing season). However, Papa was usually hired by late Mr. Egwu Eni, who He served for many years diligently and with a good report.

 When papa got married to Mrs. Augustina Mgbo Eni in the 70’s, he was a trader in Cross River State, though he comes home to sell his goods from time to time. In 1978 papa relocated to Asaba with his family, while there he worked with several Construction Companies including General Cotton Mill (G.C.M.) Onitsha Anambra State where he ended his Public service. Later Papa went back to Cross River State for fishing, and at the end of each season he will come home for a while and prepare for another season. This he continued until he was longer fit because of terminal sickness.

Marital life:

In the 70’s, Papa entered conjugal bliss with one Miss Augustina Mgbo Eni, a beautiful damsel, the first daughter of Late Pa Eni Mgbo in Ezi Eni Compound Orrah, Ozizza-Afikpo, in Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. The union was successfully blessed with ten children, four boys and six girls.

 Christian life:

The most wonderful aspect of papa’s life is that before his death GRACE and MERCY spoke in his life. Eight years before the terminal sickness, powers of darkness had already been silenced in his life, condemnation was reversed and hopelessness was deleted. This happened the day he met the Lord Jesus Christ and joined the heavenly pilgrims, our joy abounds for papa’s salvation in Christ which assures his eternity with the Almighty God. The will of God has prevailed in his life.

 Papa started having interest in the Christian faith when God miraculously visited and healed his wife from terrible sickness. His wife was one of the beneficiaries of GOD`s mercies during the visit of Pastor W. F. Kumuyi (the G.S. of Deeper Christian Life Ministry) to Afikpo in 1996. Papa told me vividly that if God would heal his wife from her illness then he would join us to serve God. Later when God did it, and the wife was perfectly okay, I called him one day and said “Papa, your wife is healed now when are we going to church?”, he willingly acknowledged in silence and surrendered his life to Christ in 2007 and was equally baptized in the church and then proceeded to become a renown member of Deeper Life Bible Church, Afikpo until his death on June 29, 2017 after a long time illness.

 Papa is survived by wife, four sons, six daughters, Seventeen grandchildren, in-laws, brothers, sisters and other relations.

 

Signed:

Pst. Godwin Egwu

For the family