Dr Chike Akunyili said he had his 70th birthday recently and all his children gathered in the USA with their children to celebrate him.
He is particularly happy that he did not force one of his children (Njideka) to study medicine like his other children did. One old man had prophesied that Njideka would be a great artist but he was angry with the man for saying that. He wanted all his children to be medical doctors. He wished to see that old man again and apologize to him for the way he reacted to him, for that prophecy!
For him to permit Njideka to study arts, his wife Dora knelt down one faithful night to beg him to allow Njideka to study fine art. He eventually succumbed and she studied fine art at Yale University.
He was in the USA sometimes ago and an immigration officer asked him if he was related to Njideka Akunyili the artist. And he answered in the affirmative; and the officer gave him a treatment reserved for royalties!
Euston tube station London displayed Njideka’s works. Los Angeles displayed her works on their streets. Michelle Obama travelled from Chicago to visit Njideka in Los Angeles. Time magazine picked her as one of the global icons for 2019.
His children have been behaving well and performing well. He is grateful to God for the upbringing they got. And the grace they have received. He linked his blessings and God’s goodness to him and his family to his over 4 decades of treating priests and seminarians of Bigard Memorial Seminary, free of charge! he does not look back when doing things for people.
He is an alumnus of the College of the Immaculate Conception (CIC) Enugu, and was class prefect throughout his CIC days. His principal then, an Irish Priest, was so proud of him, and had to offer express admission to his younger brother, just because of he, Chike’s pedigree.
Their first daughter Ijeoma is a Regional Director in the USA with 190 medical doctors in the North East zone reporting to her.
Dozie, his son, is an Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine. He treats Governors.
While Nigerians are running to other countries for medical treatment, he has been fortunate to be getting patients from Ghana, Cameroon, etc who come to his hospital in Enugu on referral.
Despite his little status, his Archbishop of Onitsha, visited his home recently and slept in his house. He was surprised. Later the Archbishop told him that he came to invite him to chair the board of all the Catholic Hospitals in Onitsha Archdiocese. The Bishop of Awka Diocese called him for the same thing. Recently too, the Bishop called him and informed him that he received a letter from Rome that he, Dr Chike, had been made a Papal Knight. Later he received an award for 40 years of treating Reverend Fathers and seminarians free of charge.
So, God loves his family. But he knows that it is Dora that is shaking things from heaven.
Dora’s death was devastating but he knew God wanted her to be in better place. He saw it as a test from God. But he told God that he would not lose hope in Him.
His Agulu community recently upgraded his title to Agbalanze (“exceptional titled man”) and gave Dora the title Ugegbe-Mmụta (“the mirror of learning”).
May the soul of Dr Chike Akunyili (Agbalanze Agụlụ) rest in peace, and may his family, especially, be given the fortitude to bear his brutal killing.
