Izu, Your Demise Still Reverberates
Mr. Michael Izuchukwu Egbuna, fondly called Izu and also referred to as AJIE was born onthe 6th day of January 1988 to the family of Mr. Michael Chukwuemeka Egbuna and Mrs. Chinelo Yvonne Egbuna. ‘AJIE’ was from the initials of his Ibo native names and surname, which was coincidentally the title of his late great grandfather whom he was named after, Ndiche Aniegboka Edward Egbuna, the Ajie of Onitsha while Osigbeme arises from his Edo affiliation.
Izuchukwu brought great joy to the newlyweds and the entire family at large. As his name connotes, it was a pact with God. A few years down the line, his beloved sister Michelle Nkiruka (Kiki) joined him, the early years of their companionship created a great bond between them and they remained inseparable until his untimely demise.
Izu’s early life was full of love as he always had lots of relatives around him who showered him with nothing but love and affection.
Izu went through his Nursery and Primary School days at various times at the Kaduna Preparatory School, Creative Minds Nursery School, Onitsha, Anambra state, A-Z Interna- tional School and Molly International School, Ajao Estate, Lagos. After his Primary school, he attended Christ the Cornerstone (CTC) School Ikeja, Lagos for his Secondary school education before going to the United Kingdom where he furthered his studies at the Edinburgh Academy, Scotland and obtained his Scottish Foundation Highers. He moved on to the University of Reading, also in the United Kingdom where he obtained his
International Foundation and then proceeded to the University of Essex, in Colchester, United Kingdom where he graduated in Accounting and Finance. His time in Essex was full of adventures and he made a lot of friends due to his ever vibrant nature.
Izu moved back to Nigeria in 2012 and completed his National Youth Service Program after which he gained employment with TOTAL Plc where he worked until his recent demise. Izu was a loving and jocular person, who had this “joie de vivre” about him and was very humble, never discriminating of anyone nor was he able to say no to anyone who asked anything of him. His friends cut across all ages and indeed the length and breadth of the world.
We draw strength from the narration of your colleagues of a discussion that went on in your office on your last day at work being Friday 10th July 2015, when you all were talking of the road to heaven being narrow and in your usual jovial manner said to them that you would be the first to get there as you were quite slim with an athletic physique and would be standing at the gates of heaven as an angel and would decide who to let in, who not to let in, whom to give water and whom not to give.
This to us is a spiritual revelation made known to you and a confirmation of where you are, in the bosom of the Lord.
News of your passing still reverberates and shocks all that come to hear of it. It is said that in everything, we should give thanks to God. Our dear Son, Brother, Father and Friend, Izu, we give thanks to God and succumb utterly to His will for your wonderful and amazingly short life, you are dearly and sorely missed. May your loving, caring, kind, compassionate, humble, sweet, gentle and selfless soul continue to rest in the bosom of the Lord.