21/01/2026
Happy Birthday to my beloved mummy 🎂
No one can replace you in my heart. You know that I will always love you, FOREVER, to infinity and beyond. Hugs and kisses to THE NOBLE LADY!!! OCHEZE!!! ❤️
Let me tell you a bit about my beautiful mum ❤️
The Noble Lady Agnes Ukoh was born on the feast day of St Agnes on the 21st January 1943 at St Philomena’s Maternity, Benin City, Edo State into the family of Sir Daniel Abasili (KSM) and Lady Roseline Abasili (LKSM) (Mama Ekpele) of Umubiala Village of Agulu, Anambra State. She was the third of a family of four children - THE GREAT ABASILIS
She was highly indebted to her parents for the sound catholic upbringing she acquired and remained grateful to the missionary of Irish Reverend Sisters who taught her at college. She drew moral and leadership inspiration from them. These provided the good foundation for coping with career and the other life challenges. She wanted to be a Reverend Sister Awww. There was always an attraction to the convent, for she carried her interests even later in life; she made time after work to attend Vespers and Masses at the Daughters of Divine Love Convent Enugu.
Noble Lady Agnes blossomed into a beautiful young lady with a determination to be the best of whatever she got involved in. She was a very diligent person. As a young lady, she was very respectful, reserved and shy. It was these qualities that caught the eye of a very handsome young man, Chief Julius Ukoh who was based in the UK for studies and he asked for her hand in marriage. She couldn't resist this very handsome man who was based in UK hehehe. Lady Agnes travelled to England in 1965 and in summer of 1966, she got married to our most humble handsome Daddy, Chief Julius Ukoh, at Our Lady of Victories Catholic Church, Kensington London. The marriage was blessed with seven lovely children, four boys and three girls, which includes a set of twin girls. Salutes to ONYIUKE THE BEST DAD EVER!!! ❤️
In the 60s the London financial realm was so richly blessed with high class professionals including Mrs Agnes Ukoh. She trained at the West London College Kensington and became an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers. With her success in banking education, and with honour and class, she served as an Accounts Clerk at the prestigious Harrods in Knightsbridge. There is only One Harrods all over the world!!! She then later worked at Lloyds Bank (Later Lloyds TSB) and also at Midland Bank (now known as HSBC bank). Kudos! Happy Birthday my classic moma ❤️
Back in Nigeria late 70s she became a hot cake for banks and secured a banking job with Cooperative and Commerce Bank CCB Nig PLC Enugu. Held several positions and progressed from Senior Manager to Principal Manager, Controller Foreign Operations; to Area Manager covering 13 branches; then to AGM Human Resources and finally as AGM Admin Department overseeing 62 branches of the Bank.
Indeed she became the 1st Female Bank Manager from Controller Foreign Operations, Area Manager to AGM Human Resources & Admin at the CCB Bank overseeing over 60 Bank branches nationwide. This is the position she held until her retirement in 1996. Every moment was joy, no one ever imagined not having her around. HBD ever loving mum ❤️
During her banking career that spanned 21 years, she was very popular both within the wider banking system and beyond. She campaigned for proper cash handling even on Television programmes across the nation. In CCB she was highly esteemed by both staff and her customers due to her dedication to work, sterling qualities of uprightness, transparency and honesty. She then became a financial consultant to WARO with the joint connection of her dear friend and defender of faith Prof Mrs Onah KSJI.
Despite her tasking banking job in CCB Nig PLC, Noble Lady Agnes Ukoh dedicated her life to God; put her energy, will and devotion to do the work of God. She engaged in numerous religious activities. Like most devoted Roman Catholics, she would start and end the day with prayers, attending daily morning masses and Sunday masses. She had great admiration and reverence for priests and the religious. She was a strong Marian devotee and built a special Grotto in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary in our home in Agulu. She was a Professed Oblate of St Benedict from 1991, attached to Paschal Abbey, Benedictine Monastery, Nike, Enugu. Her Oblate name was Cornelius. As a lay nun, she was dedicated to living a chaste life. She prayed the Lauds and Vespers daily.
In fact, she was my earliest and most profound influence in music. As a lay nun with a deep connection to psalms and choral music, her early morning renditions of psalms and evenings filled with the classical symphonies of Handel and Mozart and other classical music along with the energetic beats of The Beatles and 80s music, ABBA and others formed the eclectic soundtrack of my childhood. You can imagine the great joy when I returned from school to tell mummy of my elegant music mentor Mrs Dorothy Ipere. She said “What! Mrs Dorothy Ipere! I know her! She is my friend!” Wow I was blown awayyyyyy and you know the rest; the bond has been BONDING! Salutes to OGENE VATICAN!!!
Noble Lady Agnes was a very active and committed member of the Knights of St John belonging to Laux 339 Enugu. She served as treasurer from 1991 and was trustee, District I Laux 339 KSJI and because of her education, honesty and thoroughness, she was appointed CHAIRLADY, Board of Trustees, Knights of St John, Laux 339 Enugu. In 2006, she was awarded ‘Queen of Saints Award’ of the Supreme Ladies Auxiliary, Knight of St John International as a member in good standing in Auxiliary 339 for 21 years. Now one thing my mum was definitely unapologetically proud of was the fact that she was serving God and protecting the church through the KSJI. She accepted with all pleasure the crown as THE NOBLE LADY of the Knight of St John International KSJI; the highest confirmed title on earth. She won’t forgive me if I don’t mention the “THE NOBLE LADY” 😜Awww bless you mum ❤️
Noble Lady Agnes was very active in her local church, St Mary’s Catholic Church, Trans-Ekulu, Enugu. She was conferred within the CWO and honoured as a LIFE MEMBER. She was elevated as Special Mother of the Catholic Church with the title ‘EZINNE DI OGO’ in Madonna Assumpta Parish, Agulu in December 1999.
Lady Agnes belonged to some pious societies and associations:
Catholic Women Organisation CWO Enugu
Catholic Women Organization CWO Agulu
Life Member of the Catholic Women Organisation Enugu Diocese
League of Sacred Heart of Jesus, St Mary’s Catholic Church, Trans-Ekulu Enugu
Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, St Mary’s Catholic Church, Trans-Ekulu Enugu
Purgatorian Society, St Mary’s Catholic Church, Trans-Ekulu Enugu
Divine Mercy Society, St Mary’s Catholic Church, Trans-Ekulu Enugu
Lay Readers Association, St Mary’s Catholic Church, Trans-Ekulu Enugu
Catholic Biblical Instructors Union (CBIU), St Mary’s Catholic Church, Trans-Ekulu Enugu
Catholic Charismatic Renewal of Nigeria, St Mary’s Catholic Church, Trans-Ekulu Enugu
Apostles of the Blessed Virgin Mary BVM Enugu
Mediatrix Of All Graces Enugu
Holy Family Association, Holy Ghost Enugu
Infant of Prague Society Enugu
Our Lady of perpetual Succour Society Enugu
Adoration to the Holy wounds of Jesus Group Enugu
Associate member of the Missionary Society of St Paul
Cenacles of the Marian Movement of Priests Enugu
Blessed Iwene Tansi Solidarity Movement
Friends of DDL
Lady Agnes sought after God with all her heart. She felt at home around activities that involved God and the church and passed this onto all of us her children. She infected everyone around her with joyful spirit and laughter and had a kind word for everyone. She wanted the best for everyone right up to her sick bed where she instructed alms to be given to the poor. She was a delight to be around and fondly loved and cherished by family and friends. She loved the Royal Family especially THE QUEEN. In fact, she instructed me to buy her the CD complete video of the Queen Diamond Jubilee celebration which took place in June 2012 so she could watch it in FULL. She admired the Queen as a pillar of integrity, a guardian of her nation’s traditions, guiding light toward righteous action and led by principled example. Salutes to HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II
On Valentines Day 14 February, 2013, mummy was anointed by Fr Tochukwu Umeh. She received her last sacrament - Viaticum on 04 March 2013 by Fr Solo Essiet at St Nicholas Hospital, Lagos. Unfortunately, she sadly died the next day, 05 March 2013 at 4.30am. An hour and half after we said the Divine Mercy prayers. Her death was a total blow to everyone and saying farewell has been the most difficult thing to do. My sister Chinelo made a remarkable summary of our mum which I admire and love so much. Referring to mummy, she said
“She served God when she had everything. She was devoted to her prayers and God when she had everything.”
Our mum had a good job, blessed with the best and handsome man, had many children and had money. But at the centre was indeed to serve the ALMIGHTY GOD; THE MOST POWERFUL GOD.
After 13 years, we still thank God for her life and celebrate Heaven at her homecoming, for there she dwells forever, Amen!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUMMY 🎂
INDEED YOU ARE OCHEZE 👑
HAPPY FEAST OF ST AGNES 🎉
JOIN ME CELEBRATE THE NOBLE LADY 🎉🎂❤️📣
