The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development has been thrown into mourning following the death of its only female Director, Mrs Nkechi Onwukwe.
The Minister, Sadiya Umar Farouq, expressed shock at the sudden demise of the director when she paid a condolence visit to the bereaved family in Kado, Abuja, at the weekend.
A statement signed by the Special Assistant to the minister on media, Ms. Nneka Ikem Anibeze, said the minister was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, who led the management staff of the ministry, including directors, the National Cordinator of the National Social Investment Programmes (NSIP), Cluster Heads, Special and Technical Assistants to the minister, as well as union members, to commiserate with the family.
In her condolence message, Hajiya Sadiya stated that the untimely and unforeseen death of Onwukwe was a rude shock, having held a management meeting with the deceased on Thursday.
She said: “Indeed, we received the sad news with great shock. This is somebody who is our family member and we always pride ourselves in the ministry that we work as a family.
“Madam Nkechi Onwukwe was a strong family member and will remain a family member even in absentia. Her death has touched all of us.
“She was a very nice and amiable person. We enjoyed our working relationship with her and with all the good memories she left behind, we will continue to celebrate her.
“On behalf of all of us in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, we condole with the Onwukwe family and we pray that God will console and provide for the family she left behind.”
In his remarks, the National Cordinator, NSIP, Dr Umar Bindir, eulogised the late director, describing her as a “natural civil servant” who went about her work diligently.
He said: “She was a professionlal who worked so hard and diligently without crossing anybody’s path. I hope
you, the children of the late Mrs Onwukwe, will imbibe the character of your mother. She will be sorely missed.”
The press release said Mrs Onwukwe, who died on Friday, January 27, 2023, was the Director Special Needs of the ministry.
She started her career at the Ministry of Women Affairs in 1992 before joining the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs in 2019.
She is survived by three children and was aged 56 years.
