On Saturday 31st August, 2024, I had this unquenchable urge to call my Sweet President as I usually call her but due to incessant poor network the calls were aborted. I was left with heavy heart and emotionally traumatised when I was informed of her demise on Sunday 1st September, 2024. I know for quite a while she had been going through some health challenges, but like St. Paul, she never gave up always believing that the grace of the Lord was sufficient for her.
Reminiscing her journey in the NCCWO (CWON) it was a beautiful and memorable one. I met her in 2003 and she possessed these unequal attributes. She was an epitome of beauty and brain with infectious smiles. An aura of environmental radiation of love, and was exceptionally diligent in whatever she set out to do. She was a kind, generous, loving peaceful person, she was a supportive and harmonious person, a solution solver and provider, a graceful woman, she was caring, highly sociable, down to earth honest, a lover of music, a fashionistic Lady, a polyglot/linguist (speaks Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, French and English).
She mingled with people from different spheres of life. She had the ability to relate with people from different classes of life. A woman who would share your joy as if it was hers. She would share people’s sorrows with proffered solutions. A woman with a high sense of humour, charitable in words and actions, committed to friendship and will leave no stone unturned to honour her friends.
Her achievements in the then NCCWO, now CWON within 4 years, 2009- 2013.
Her tenure in the presidency was astronomically impressive a beehive of activities. About six (6) of us from the Archdiocese of Lagos namely; Chief (Mrs.) Christiana V. Kehinde – Chairman, Communication & Editor in Chief of the Women Echo Magazine, Dame Rosemary Azimi – Assistant Secretary 2 (NCCWO), Mrs. Elizabeth O. Martins NCCWO representative to the National Laity, Mrs. Florence Idowu Nwosu- Provost, Mrs. Lilian Famoroti- President of Lagos Archdiocese and Mrs. Melodia Ewumi- General Secretary of the Lagos Archdiocese worked with her during her tenure and we were able to move closely, to be able to record her outstanding Dame (Chief) Felicia Ngozi Onyeabo, quintessential lady of class, honour & style bows out performances.
To President Felicia Onyeabo, CWON was her constituency and she left no stone unturned to achieve her goals as enumerated below: – The NCCWO (CWON) metamorphosed into a mega force to be reckoned with in the Catholic Church of Nigeria during her tenure. Her regime brought its own innovations, contributions and experiences which brought progress to the Nigerian Church.
• She was NCCWO President, CWON Board Member & WUCWO Board Member.
• She participated at the centenary celebrations of WUCWO-2010.
• Led 76 Catholic Women, clergy and the religious to a pilgrimage to Rome and Holy Land (Israel in 2010).
• Hosted the world CWO during the 8th Africa Regional Conference – 2nd -7th February 2013 at Abuja. In attendance were WUCWO President, Maria Giovanna Ruggieri (Italy) 2010-2014, Rosaline Nganku Menga (Cameroon), WUCWO Vice President for Africa and Mariana Vanyay and over Three (300) Hundred Catholic Women worldwide were present at the conference.
• Commissioned the Cor-Mariae College and got the building, classrooms and Dormitory ready for the first pioneer students’ intake. At Cor-Mariae; she built a 400 students’ dormitory at advanced stage for completion. She also built 12 blocks of classrooms which were ready for the first intake of students. For posterity, she engraved the names of donors on the walls of the college.
• Participated at 2009 Bishop Synod for Africa.
• Participated in various committees of the CBCN under the Pastoral Agents Department.
• In politics her regime created the necessary awareness, machineries and encouraged women to actively participate in politics either by seeking electoral offices or at least register to vote.
• Encouraged CWO at various tiers in the country to register.
• In rural areas, her regime supplied 1KVA generators for centres where erratic energy supply was disrupting registration of voters.
• CWON supplied food to NYSC in rural centres to ensure effective registration.
• Organised National prayer rallies across the country for peace in Nigeria and the world.
• Organised seminar retreats at all levels for spiritual growth.
• In September, 2009, NCCWO acquired temporary secretariat at Abuja FCT.
• The women Echo Magazine attained an international standard and can measure up with top of the class Magazines in the world. Her tenure produced 3 editions.
• During her tenure, the NCWO was represented in a number of organisations; for example; National Laity Council of Nigeria, Catholic Institute of West Africa (CIWA), National Council of Women Society (NCWS), Active in Think Tank committee, Active in Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Member of Roman Catholic, Anglican Commission, Catholic, Muslim Women dialogue (CAMWODIF).
• NCCWO was represented in international events like Laity colloquium in Côte d’Ivoire where the merger of Anglophone and Francophone Regional Episcopal conference of West Africa (RECOWA).
• NCCWO sponsored the Vice President of National Youth Organisation of Nigeria (CYON) to Yaoundé, Cameroun in September 2012.
• During her tenure, National Merit Awards were given – The Ambassador of Mary to appreciate women’s contributions and generate funds for projects.
• Relief materials for victims of Adamgoe collapsed church were distributed by NCCWO.
• Victims that sustained injuries were treated by NCCWO.
• NCCWO gave relief materials to victims that were naturally displaced (flood) at Lokoja.
• Her tenure as President witnessed the attendance of the 1st Lady, Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan and many other political personalities and officials to the NCCWO functions.
• Chief Mrs. Felicia Onyeabo introduced the insignia of office for NCCWO future presidents.
• She introduced New NCCWO uniform with Our Mother of Good Counsel and the Rosary embossed.
• She presented the Amended constitution.
• Purchased a sienna car for the official use of the President.
• Introduced Annual Retreat for spiritual growth.
• Introduced Marriage Clinic and participated in marriage course at the parish level.
• She encouraged cordial relationship within other women bodies like WOWICAN, FORWEN, NCCM, ZUMUNTAN, Matan Katolika, Ladies of St. Mulumba and Ladies of the Knight of St. John International. My dear, Sweet President, Chief Mrs. Felicia Ngozi, Onyeabo, you had laid such an enviable legacy. Death did not consider all your achievements and pass you by, but instead it snatched your life and we are left with all the accolades to reminisce about. My joy is that you lived such a good and qualitative life to be emulated, you loved with passion, you worked with so much agility and fulfillment and prayed hard to break barriers. You have a special and intense relationship with our Mother Mary, and you beautifully sang all Marian hymns.
Your recitation of the Holy Rosary is like having a romantic conversation with our Mother Mary. Your demise is a big blow, to those of us who worked closely with you. As a Homilist once said, that we should live our lives so well, so that when we die, even the undertakers would be sorry to carry us home and that people would not tell lies when writing our biography and tributes in order to paint us good. Our dear lady, your good works speak volume. Dame Lady Chief Mrs. Felicia Ngozi Onyeabo President NCCWO (CWON), OMOLOMO KI LOTI I SE!! SUN RE O!!, this was her expression to those of us from the Yoruba speaking area of the CWO when excited about the beauty, the grandeur or the victory or successes, her humble way of showing her appreciation to the course.
For the other ethnic groups, she also had her own ways of saying such expressions too. We love you, but God loves you the most. Goodnight our dear friend, sister and energetic indefatigable NCCWO (CWON) President 2009-2013. Fondly remembered by friends and sisters in the CWO. Rest in perfect peace!
• Lady Chief (Mrs.) Christiana Kehinde, Chairman Communication Committee & Editor in Chief Echo Magazine 2009- 2013
