Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has announced the death of his mother, Mrs. Bessie Ikpeazu (Nee Nwagwu). She was 87.

Madam Bessie, a career nurse and midwife, died of natural causes after a brief illness in the early hours of Sunday, November 29, at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Enugu.

Born on May 27, 1928 to Mr. Mrs. Nwagwu Anaba of Umuafor Village in Obingwa LGA of Abia State, her father died in 1944 when she was 16 and her mother took the decision to send her to school, which she started at the age of 17.

She obtained her primary education from Adventist Primary School Aba and later attended School of Nursing, Adventist Hospital Ile Ife, and graduated in 1959. In 1975, she went back to further her education at the School of Midwifery, Methodist Hospital, Amachara Umuahia.

Mrs. Ikpeazu got married to late Mr. Ishmael Uleanya Ikpeazu of Umuobiakwa Village, also in Obingwa, in December 1961. This union was blessed with three children; Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu (Governor of Abia State), Mrs. Ocheze Edith Ugboaja and Barrister Iheanyichukwu Ugonna Ikpeazu.

As a nurse, Mrs. Ikpeazu worked at Ahoada County Hospital, Ahoada, Rivers State, Okpuala Ngwa General Hospital and Nigerian Christian Hospital, Onitcha Ngwa in Aba, where she served as the matron until she retired in 1994. During this period, she also served as the Nursing Supervisor for the Motherless Babies Home, Adventist Hospital, Aba.

Mrs. Bessie Ikpeazu as an entrepreneur was the founder and owner of Ulari Maternity Home/Clinic Umuobiakwa, a clinic where she saved many lives at no charge and delivered thousands of babies at little or no charge.

A community leader, social mobiliser and Deaconess of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Madam Bessie also served as the leader of the Women’s Ministry of the church.

Commenting on her death, Godwin Adindu, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ikpeazu, said: “Though Da-Bessie lived to the celebrated age of 87, her death remains a great loss to all Abians who would have continued to benefit from her wise counsel, drawn from her fountain of knowledge, age and experience.”

He said that the burial date will soon be announced.

•Photo shows late Mrs. Bessie Ikpeazu (Nee Nwagwu).