COFFHA Mourns Passing of Former Director of SON
member of the Committee of Friends For Humanity (COFFHA), Ngozi Kay Okoro has lost her dear husband, throwing the committee into mourning. “You were the wind beneath my sail,” said the wife, Ngozi Kay Okoro. “Your graceful gait and presence gave life a different meaning to us,” said his first son, Charles.
“A golden heart stopped beating, hardworking hands put to rest and God broke our hearts to prove to us He only takes the best,” So says the last daughter, Stephanie.
“We’re comforted that those we love live forever in our heart, especially a dad as stunning as mine,” so said Michelle, the second daughter.
Derek, the last born and second son, said “Dad had so much love to give and so much compassion to understand. His love will ever remain unparalleled.”
According to Paul Ray Okoye (Son-in-law), “The wonderful memories of you will surely inspire love in all of us.”
And so many other numerous friends from USA, ECOWAS, Ghana and Nigeria recount that a true and dependable friend has passed on. Charles Ikechukwu Okoro was born 63 years ago in Port Harcourt into the illustrious family of Mazi Robinson Osisi and Adamazi Mrs. Regina Akajiasu Okoro of Ezuma Clan in Ndiamazu, Arondizuogu, Imo State.
He attended St. Philips Primary School in Port Harcourt, Rivers State of Nigeria from 1960 to 1966 before the Civil War broke out. After the Civil War, he proceeded to National High School, Arondizuogu in 1970 where he obtained his Secondary School Certificate in 1974. He later proceeded to Lagos and was lucky to have been among the few selected for employment into the Nigerian Customs Service as a Technical Staff in 1975, where he worked briefly before proceeding to further his studies.
In 1976, Charles Ikechukwu enrolled in the renowned University of Alabama Huntsville, Alabama, USA, famous for their contributions to space exploration, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial & Systems Engineering. Thereafter, he obtained a Master of Science Degree in the same discipline in 1982.
He returned to Nigeria in 1983 and served his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) primary assignment with Lever Brothers Ltd now Unilever Plc from 1983 to 1984. He was employed by the Federal Civil Service Commission and deployed to Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) as a Standards Engineer in August, 1984.
He served without blemish in leadership roles such as the National Coordinator, NINAS, Director of Director, Systems/Metrology; Director, Standards/Head Technical Services; Head of Technical Services, Head of Standards, National Ports/Boarders Coordinator/Special Duties/Head Electrical Zonal Coordinator, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Head, Electrical/ Assistant Chief Standards Engineer (STDS/ CA/LAB), Head, Electrical/Principal Standards, Director/Regional Coordinator (SW) Engineer (STDS/CA/LAB) Head, Electrical/Electronic (Standards/CA/LAB) Senior Standards Engineer (STDS/CA/LAB). Chief Inspection Supervisor (Port Operations) Standards Engineer 1 (STDS/LAB).
As Director of Standards, he oversaw the standardization activities of the various departments and Units under his directorate and has successfully seen to the elaboration, adoption and adaptation of thousand of standards for the country.
He represented the country in various capacities such as IEC representative for setting up African Electro-technical Standardization Commission (AFSEC) 2006, Expert and Coordinator for the Establishment of National Codex Contact Point in Nigeria, Initiator and Resource Person for ECOWAS standards on the classification and rating of Hotels and Guesthouses in ECOWAS in 2005 and ECOWAS Coordinator under the project Capacity building in International standard setting in the ECOWAS Region (2016).
Engr. Charles Ikechukwu Okoro was happily married to Ngozi and blessed with four children and grandchild.