Vivian Obiageli Akinola (1950-2010)

SIR: It was early morning Thursday, March 18, 2010 when Chief Mrs Vivian Akinola passed on to eternal glory far away at Howard University Hospital in Washington DC, USA. A short tribute like this cannot do justice to the memory of this kind-hearted woman who touched many lives in a positive way during her lifetime.



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Born in Asaba and a proud daughter of late Madam Victoria Ogbeyanu Oduah, nee Okonkwo of Isieke Quarters, and Pa Augustine Nkiruka Oduah from the illustrious family of Umoje, Asaba, Chief Mrs Vivian Akinola was brought up in Christian environment, attending Catholic schools and finishing up at Mary Mount College, Agbor, for her High School education.

Vivian was married to Colonel Emmanuel Akinola whom she supported with love and dedication to raise a proud family with the children all grown up and residing in the USA. When her husband was posted to diplomatic service as Deputy Defence Adviser to the Nigerian Embassy in Washington DC, USA in the early 1980s, Vivian was instrumental in caring for the welfare and education of the children.

She was so resourceful that she used the opportunity afforded to assist many members of the Akinola and Oduah families to go to the USA for the advancement of their educational pursuits. It is a credit to her that todayquite a sizeable number of her close family membersare in the USA as responsible professionals and members of the Nigerian community in that country. Her humility and generosity, more importantly, presented her favourably to every member of the larger family, including those in Nigeria and the UnitedKingdom.

On returning to Nigeria, Chief Mrs Vivian Akinola devoted her life to charitable duties to help society. She was president of the Inner Wheel club of FESTAC Town where she was able to embark on positive programmes to help society and raise funds for charitable organisations for the eradication of AIDS, malaria and other diseases. She accompanied her husband to many international Rotary Conventions in Calgary, Canada, San Antonio, Texas and Los Angeles, California.

Chief Mrs Vivian Akinola was the "Iya Ewe", mother of the youth, of St Joseph's Catholic Church, Ikere-Ekiti. She was conferred with the title of "Eyin", a traditional honour bestowed on women of virtue by the Asagba of Asaba, HRH Prof. Chike Edozien. As a matter of fact she was one of the privileged few who received this title along with the late Chief Mrs Stella Obasanjo, of blessed memory, the former first lady of Nigeria.

Chief Mrs. Vivian Akinola is survived by her husband and children, Mr Andrew Akin Akinola, a Computer Engineer, Mrs Vanessa Akinola-Mims, a Real Estate consultant and Master Fisayo Akinola. It was a matter of joy for her to bring so many members of the family together in the USA in 2008 when Andrew got married. She happily witnessed the arrival of her grandchildren Master Dominic Mims and twin babies Bianca and Chanel while she was undergoing treatment for her illness in the USA. As an in-law of this humble and remarkable woman, I commiserate with the proud people of Asaba, the capital of the Delta State of Nigeria. I say NDO-NUO! OZOR EMEZIE. I also commiserate with my brother, Colonel Emmanuel Akinola, to whom she gave so much love and devotion.

May her gentle soul rest in peace.

Anthony Akinola, Oxford, England