Life’s and time of late Mazi Ntiwunka (23rd August 1945 – 19th April 2025)

Mazi Remigius Ntiwunka (De Remy), was born on the 23rd of August, 1945 in Umungakwu Egberede-Nguru Aboh-Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State to Late Mr Nicholas Ntiwunka Akalawu and late Mrs Josephine (Nwanyinma) Ntiwunka Akalawu.

He was a native son of the land, deeply rooted in his community and culture, proud of his heritage, and always representing it with honour and unswerving passion. Education, he attended St. Joseph Federal School Aboh-Mbaise, where he obtained a Standard 6 certificate and laid the foundation for a life guided by discipline, resilience, and a strong sense of responsibility and value.

He later took the entrance examination to Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, where he passed the entrance exams. But, due to financial challenges, he could not proceed with the admission.

This led to his father enrolling him to study radio engineering in a private institution in Garisson Port-Hacourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, where he gained knowledge of machine maintenance. Though he did not attend the university, his intelligence was unquestionable as he was nicknamed

“The Prof” by Colonel Joe, his cousin. His witty grammar and eloquence, garnished with Queen’s phonetics, often left people in awe as he used words so perfectly and effortlessly that many wondered if he had a PHD in English language.CareerIn addition to his engineering skills, he loved football and was a trained, no-nonsense football player.

In the late 1960s (during his early youth), he actively played soccer for several football clubs in Nigeria, such as Mbaise Football Club, P&T (later Nitel), Vasco da Gama, and Rengers International Clubs of Nigeria. He was nicknamed “Chakara” by the people due to his popular football mantra that says “If you miss the ball, don’t miss the leg”.

The kneecap injury he suffered during his soccer role with Vasco da Gama hindered the progress of his professional career in football. This accident led him to attain a maintenance technician job role with P&T and later NITEL in Enugu state.

It was during his early career in NITEL that he met his lovely wife, Late Mrs Virginia Ntiwunka, who was also a staff of NITEL, Enugu. This wonderful union was blessed with a son (Ntiwunka Uchenna).Mr Remigius Ntiwunka’s dexterity, brilliance, and meticulous delivery of his job resulted in a series of promotions in NITEL even without a university certificate.

He was promoted to Maintenance Supervisor in NITEL Idah, Kogi state, and later transferred to Lokoja, the state capital. Here, he championed the installation and commissioning of telecoms in the community, in which the Supreme Ruler of Ibira Land, His Royal Majesty King Ado Ibrahim 1 was one of his clients.

HumanitarianismWhile he was popularly known as “Chakara” among the Mbaise community, his Enugu community calls him “Government” as they will always receive support from him when they want to make calls through the NITEL network. His community in Kogi state calls him “Mr Nti” due to his Father’s name, Ntiwunka.Mr Remigius Ntiwunka lived by the values he preached, always upholding what was right, even when it was difficult.

His sense of fairness, honesty, and upright character earned him respect and admiration from all who knew him. This led him to keep various positions at home after retirement from service. He was once the secretary and chairman of both Umuoparafor and then Umungakwu autonomous community and secretary of the Egberede Electric Redeployment Committee.

Mr Remigius Ntiwunka’s generosity and discipline are nothing short of amazing even after retirement. He significantly supported the educational and moral training of his younger siblings during the demise of their parents and co-parented his nieces and nephews in support of their parents.

He is also a man full of laughter and life, such that there was never a dull moment around him. His presence brought joy, his humour lifted spirits, and his jovial nature made everyone feel at home.

He had a special way of making people feel seen, heard, and loved. He was a loving husband, proud father, a loyal friend, and a man whose legacy of faith, laughter, and truth will live on in every life he touched. We are consoled that God blessed him with saintly privileges before he died in his hospital bed on Holy Saturday morning.

A few hours before his death, he spoke to his loved ones, blessed all those who looked after him, prayed with them, and mentioned the exact time he was going to die. In his last words, “I will be leaving you all in the next 20 minutes”, and he died exactly within the next 20 minutes.

Though his earthly journey has ended, the light of his life continues to shine through the great memories he left behind, the values he instilled, the impact he shared, and the legacy he built. He will be deeply missed and forever cherished. He is survived by his brother, sister, son, daughter-in-law, three grandchildren, in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and loved ones.

May his soul rest in peace. Amen!Adieu Papa! De Remy, Jee Nke Oma! Till we meet to part no more! In a burial announcement signed by his son Ntiwunka UchennaFor the family, the burial program of Mazi Remigius Ntiwunka Akalawu, aka Prof. Character of Egbere Nguru Autonomous Community in Aboh Mbaise LGA Imo State will take place as follows:”Okwukwu Day would hold on 30th of July 2015 by 9am while Novelty match would take place at LA Secondary school football field by 4pm. same day.Service of songs would take place at Ntiwunka Akalawu compound by 7pm while burial takes place on 31st of July 2025 at the same venue.”