LETTER TO MY DARLING SISTER HON. JUSTICE CHINWE IYIZOBA, JUSTICE OF THE COURT OF APPEAL (RTD.) — ADADIORANMA, IN HEAVEN By Dr Ifeyinwa Nwakwesi
My darling sister,
What happened?
This was not our plan.
I always sent you prayers, and I would end by saying, “May God bless you with ripe old age to reap the rewards of your labour.”
I saw how you coped with your husband’s health challenges. I witnessed how you managed your second son, Ossy Junior’s health condition with God-centeredness, strength of character, resilience, and optimism.
I often told you how proud I was of the way you carried your challenges with such grace, always maintaining a positive mindset while looking beautiful and elegant. No one would have imagined what you were going through.
You used to tease me, saying my phenomenality was “fake,” and that if I were the one facing your challenges, everyone would see it written all over my face.
You were right to some extent. That may have been true of the old Ify, but not the transformed Ify of today, who by God’s grace has grown spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically.
I once saw my cup as half empty; now I see it as half full.
We were sisters who were authentic with each other. You were proud of my renewed energy and my lifestyle of happiness and dancing. I tried to co-opt you into it. At first, you resisted, but as I persisted, you eventually keyed into my positive, faith-filled affirmations.
I would ask:
“Adadioranma, are you vibrant, happy, positive, and prayerful?”
And you would respond:
“I am vibrant, happy, positive, and prayerful, in Jesus’ name.”
I became your health coach, and you embraced it wholeheartedly.
I sent you faith-filled affirmations such as:
“Holy Spirit, speak to my conscious mind to direct my subconscious mind to appropriate by faith the grace of God in my life, that I am vibrant, happy, positive, and blessed with healthy knees.”
You became more health-conscious and began doing your daily 10,000 steps. Your daughter, Ify Ugochukwu, bought you a Hurom juicer—one of the best for extracting rich, nutrient-dense juices—and you faithfully took your vegetable and fruit juices.
Adadioranma, we discussed so many dreams you still wanted to accomplish.
You were passionate about your foundation, and we discussed how it could collaborate with Women Aligned for Growth to upscale the impact of your work.
You once made a special request of me, something very dear to your heart. I assure you that after your funeral rites, I will take up that assignment, and by God’s grace, it will be accomplished.
In FGN Okoye family matters, we shared the same goals but sometimes differed in strategy. That led to occasional disagreements, yet it never stopped us from loving one another deeply or showing compassion and empathy.
You once advised me to slow down with WAG Passion. I explained that impact work brings me joy and fulfillment, and you blessed me on my journey.
When we established the Enugwu-Ukwu Daughters Community Development Initiative (EDCDI), you joined and showed great interest in our activities.
You were always among the first to contribute financially when needed. You attended our End-of-Year EDCDI Rendezvous in Isolo with Lady Uche Obi and I , something I deeply appreciated. Many members later described you as humble and amiable.
You consistently supported our Food for Vulnerable Enugwu-Ukwu Women Initiative, which made me proud.
Our sisters Dame Princess Karenate- Egbuson, Lady Uche Obi, and our youngest sister, Barr. Joy Ebeledike, are also members of EDCDI. You and Joy were like twins and always aligned on certain family matters .
I now understand that we are different individuals with different perspectives.
Thankfully, it never disrupted our sisterly bond.
Spending time with you at The Oranges in Enugu or The Pathfinder in Nimo was always a joy.
Your spirit radiated peace, warmth, authenticity, and love, qualities reflected in your beautiful and family-oriented children: Ebele Ugochukwu, Onuorah Iyizoba, and Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu.
You were a passionate and impactful matriarch of the Iyizoba family. Your husband Ossy Iyizoba was my friend and he was a very impactful patriach .Your second son Ossy junior was my husband’s son . They enjoyed a deep friendship and Ossy junior was my nephew/ friend. May our two Ossys continue to rest in God’s presence.
Your home was a haven for all the Iyizobas, young and old. The FGN Okoye nephews and nieces always looked forward to visiting The Oranges and The Pathfinder.
They would plan to stay for 2 hours but end up leaving in the early hours of the morning.
What I cherish most about you was your authenticity, no pretenses, no masquerading, no need for social validation.
I share a deep bond with your daughter Ebele Ugochukwu. We are friends who relate to each other with openness and authenticity. Your daughter Ify is also a remarkable woman, peaceful, composed, and thoughtful.
Onuorah, your first son is a family-oriented man who loves spending time in the East, and I am confident that The Oranges and The Pathfinder will be lovingly maintained by him.
Your fashion sense was impeccable. You were elegant yet lived within your means, never competing with anyone, always choosing refined and tasteful attire which made you stand out .
You were beautiful, intelligent, wise, emotionally intelligent, spiritually grounded, and principled.
You were a respected member of the FGN Okoye family. You cared for Papa Mama and your sister Ngozi Asiegbu.
You fulfilled your role with dedication.
Losing you is traumatic in the flesh. Yet, with spiritual maturity, I see death as a transition to glory.
I believe you are reunited with your beloved husband, Chief Ossy Iyizoba; Charles iyizoba ,mmaji Iheawuaba Ossy Junior; Papa (Sir FGN Okoye); Mama (Dame Monica Okoye); Dr. Felix Chuks Okoye; Florence Okoye (née Chiamonwu); and other loved ones who have gone before.
I remain anchored at the covenant table, appropriating God’s grace to remain sane in this storm.
I am grateful that you left behind an authentic life story—one I am prepared to share with the world.
Women Aligned for Growth (WAG), the character-rebuilding and social-change NGO I chair, has nominated you as a “Beautiful Inside-Out Woman” whose life will inspire generations.
Your surviving sisters promise to strengthen our bonding, sisterhood, and friendships, living with authenticity, truth, fairness, and justice.
I thank God for making you a masterpiece. I thank our parents, Late Sir FGN and late Dame Monica Okoye of Orji Village, Enugwu-Ukwu, for raising such a worthy woman
I thank your siblings, in-laws, friends, and especially my husband, Dr. Maduka Nwakwesi, who loved you dearly and supported you wholeheartedly. Our children and their spouses love you dearly and are very proud of you.
I thank your children and their spouses, Chiedu Iyizoba, Elizabeth Adimora, the entire Iyizoba family, the FGN Okoye family, and the Ugochukwu family for loving and honoring you while you were alive.
Going forward will not be easy—no more daily chats.
But life is not about how long; it is about how well.
Your life reminds us that life is vanity, but value endures.
Are we building or destroying?
Are we assets or liabilities?
Adadioranma, you were a tremendous asset to your family, your community, and society.
Rest well, my darling sister. Pray for us that God’s Spirit will help us turn our vices into values.
Through the Impactful Patriarchs and Matriarchs Foundation, whose posthumous grand patrons are our parents, Late sir FGN and late Dame Monica Okoye we will honor your legacy.
In due time, we will formally nominate you and Chief Ossy Iyizoba as Posthumous Patrons.
It is hard to end this letter. This is only the first of many.
I will continue to tell you about the blessings, grace, and mercies God bestows upon us.
On behalf of the FGN Okoye Women, the Enugwu-Ukwu Daughters Community Development Initiative (EDCDI), Women Aligned for Growth (WAG), the Dr. Maduka Nwakwesi family, and the Impactful Patriarchs and Matriarchs Foundation, I say goodbye for now.
Thank you, Lord, for giving me a sister like you.
I will love you, your children, and your grandchildren until God calls me home. I spoke to your picture today and I told you that as long as I live i will cover up for you , a mother / friend to your children and a friend to the Iyizobas . I have been speaking to your inlaw Mrs Agnes Ugochukwu (Agunwa) your friends /sisters , . They are all holding on by Gods grace .
Good night, my darling sister.
God’s grace is my peace amidst this storm.
With eternal love,
Your phenomenal sister,
Dr. Ifeyinwa Nwakwesi ❤️