Memories of James Adichie | Remembering James and Grace Adichie | Memorial Website Honoring James and Grace Adichie

21 entries.

Chinasa Ignatius from Porto novo

My encounter with late professor Adichie was at saint Peter's church, Nsukka. Although I had not met him before then, the moment I walked up to him, he immediately accepted me. He was so kind, gentle and warm while receiving me. I had just returned from a graduate program and he was delighted with me when I shared the news with him. We spoke for a short while before entering the church on the said day.

With my short stint with him, I believe he is a gentleman even though I had never met him before that encounter.

We pray that the good Lord rest his kind soul amd grant you his children, family the fortitude to bear the loss.

UMUONYENAOCHA FAMILY from ABBA

Professor James Nwoye Adichie,KMS odelu ora Abba
Odelu ora,anyi bu ndi ezinaulo gi ka no na ewute maka otu I si apu anyi. Anyi mana I no ebe di mma akwudoro ndi nso.
Na-alaru nke OMA n'ime Onyenweanyi wee ruo mgbe anyi niile ga ezuko.
Papa ka mkpuruobi gi zuru ike na ndugwa, isee.
Adeiu nnukwu nna anyi
Adeiu odelu ora Abba.

Maren Michel

My dearest Chimamanda and family,

My dearest friend, God Bless your beloved Daddy and Mommy. The moment I first saw that photo of little you with your daddy, many years ago, I saw "you" – your happiest self, your love gleaming through that photo. Only now I realize you that photo must have been taken by your mommy, and I suspect that is what makes the photo so complete. That little girl already knew she was entirely loved. You share this beauty with your brothers and sisters, and I know your parents are the source of this.

Chimamanda, you taught me the importance and real meaning of the word "good" – and that good people are to be treasured: your mommy and daddy are everything that is good. We ache for you all. The children and I send our love, always.

Esege Andrew & Violet from Enugu

Prof Adichie was a distinguished husband, father, and lecturer. May his bereaved children take consolation in his legacy.

Miss Nneoma Agbasi from Bishops Stortford, UK

My fond memories of Uncle Prof James Adichie lies in my childhood days growing up at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka Campus. I usually visited Ijeoma, his first daughter at their home, when they still lived in the Odim South area of the campus. UNN campus was such a peaceful community and everyone went to each other's home. So during these visits, Prof would sit in the parlour, and from the corner of his eyes, be enjoying or partaking in the children's play and communications. It is so commendable to see a dad pay attention to his children's upbringing and interest. You can tell from the measure of success in all the 6 children that they all have a balanced upbringing and development. Ije will reverence Prof's allegiance at St Peter's Catholic Church and strong ties as a practising christian. Prof was one of those chosen to act out washing of the feet of the apostles. This will demonstrate the deep faith and relevance of God that was instilled in all children. You can bet how I continued to clamour with the family, chasing after each of them whenever our paths crossed. Chuks has become the Adichie that I can touch more often as we both reside in the UK and interact through the University School Old Friends, UK Chapter. And Ije and Ngo too, during ocassional sojourns in the United States. Prof, you surely digged in your footprints in the sand of times and your legacies will forever live fresh in our hearts, and all those you left behind, from our beautiful pace setter Aunty Grace to all the children, families and friends will go a long way to keep the candle shining. God in his infinite mercies will accept your gentle soul and give you eternal rest, whilst comforting all those you left behind. Adieu to the one who has lived a beautiful life, of which we will all relic in. Needless to say, your numerous tributes says it all, and remember, many more are said in words and some lies unspoken in our hearts. Ndo nnu Aunty Grace, Ije, Uchay, Chuks, Okey, Ngozi and Kene. God bless.
Nneoma Agbasi

Dozie Okeke from Portharcourt

A Tribute from Ichie Pius Okeke’s Children
Late Prof. James Nwoye Adichie

Dear Engr. Chuks Adichie,
The news of the tragic passing away of Odelora came to us like an earthquake bearing in mind that we were all together at Christmas and Odelora was in high spirits . Prof was not only a dotting Dad to you and your siblings but also a man we in our family looked upon as our Uncle. This is evidenced by our close friendship stretching all the way back to when himself and Okaa Obuluzo were young men. We remember with nostalgia all the jokes he used to crack whenever we were around using our pet names from when we were so little. How can we forget the many visits to Nsukka where we were always so graciously entertained.
Odelora stood stoutly for integrity all his life, encouraging all to aspire to any position in life through merit. Hard work was his mantra. Odelora set such a fine example of what it means to put family first. This is evidenced by the successful children he raised . He was also a man of peace. Despite his lofty achievements, Odelora led a humble and exemplary life. His passing has left a huge vacuum in the academia and Abba community which he loved so much. Nigeria as a country has lost a great Scientist , community builder and academic heavyweight .
Devastating as his passing has been, we must navigate this loss through fond memories of our time with him, while submitting to the will of God .
We commiserate with your entire family for this painful and irreparable loss and to wish his departed Soul eternal rest in the bosom of the Almighty God.

Joy , Flora , Ngo Ngo, Obiora, Chy Chy, Emeka and Uwo

Management, Staff and Students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University from Awka

A TRIBUTE TO THE LATE PROFESSOR JAMES NWOYE ADICHIE, KSM, ODELU ORA ABBA
The news of the death of Professor James Nwoye Adichie came with much grief, yet it evoked a sense of gratitude to God: grief because the academic community, where he was an icon, the Catholic Church that had knighted him with the Knighthood of Saint Mulumba; the Abba community that had conferred on him the chieftaincy title of Odelu Ora abba, in appreciation of his involvement in community affairs and recognition of his scholastic achievements and the Adichie family of Ezi-Abba village, Abba, all lost a rare gem. Yet there is every reason to give gratitude to God. At eighty-eight years, we must thank God that Prof. Adichie passed through the inevitable portal of death not prematurely.
Aside of the longevity, many aspects of the late Professor's life excite joy and call for gratitude to God. All his work-life was creditably spent in the Public Service of Nigeria; first in the Research Department of the Central Bank of Nigeria; then the Federal Office of Statistics, the progenitor of today's National Bureau of Statistics; the defunct Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology, and finally the University of Nigeria, where he spent the bulk of his work-life and made his prodigious scholarly achievements.
At the University of Nigeria, the late Prof. Adichie was a fecund scholar, turning out numerous seminal publications in statistics in national and international journals, which earned him promotion to the rank of Professor in 1976, making him the first Nigerian to attain that position; before then, he had become the first Nigerian to hold a Ph.D in Statistics when he earned that degree from the University of California in 1966. He can, therefore, be rightly considered as the doyen of statistics in Nigeria. He meritoriously held many administrative positions and membership of committees in the University of Nigeria: the first Head of the Department of Statistics; Dean, Faculty of Physical Sciences; and Deputy Vice-Chancellor.
Outside the confines of the University of Nigeria, Prof. Adichie was a key player in institutions. He was visiting Professor to the University of Sheffield England; San Diego State University, California; member of the International Statistics Institute; Institute of Mathematical Statistics; and Mathematical Association of Nigeria; and the first editor Journal of Statistical Association of Nigeria.
Professor Adichie was not just an academic recluse; beyond the academia, he was active in the Catholic Church, accounting for the conferment on him of the Knighthood of Saint Mulumba. He also participated actively in the Civic affairs of his native Abba community, earning him the Chieftaincy title of Odelu Ora Abba.
In family, he had a fecund marital life, being sire to a worthy progeny of six children among whom, without any intent to overlook the others, special mention must made of the world-renowned novelist, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, whose literal works have brought fame to the Adichie family and Nigeria. On account of foregoing, it could be said that in the life of the late Professor James Nwoye Adichie KSM, Odelu Ora Abba, there was nothing left to be achieved.
On behalf of the Management, Staff and Students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, I send our heart-felt condolences to his spouse, Grace, children and the larger Adichie family of Ezi-Abba village, Abba. May God grant them the fortitude to cope with the vacuum created by his demise.
May the soul of the late Professor James Nwoye Adichie, KSM, Odelu Ora Abba, rest in the Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Chukwuemeka Ben Bosah from New Albany

On September 15, 1979, I arrived in Nsukka to start my university education at the University of Nigeria. I did not know Odelu Ora or his beautiful wife, Grace before my arrival that but he was a contemporary at what was then University College, Ibadan with my father, Ogene Ben Bosah. My father would essentially dump me into their hands and I would spend my first months in the university in their home. As surprise a guest as I was to them, they made space for me and I was treated excellently as another biological child of theirs, and sharing space with Chuks, Okey and Ngozi (Chimamanda) while Ijeoma and Uche were away in boarding school. And that one gesture has informed mine in adulthood of having an open door to receiving guests without notice.

I remember a quiet man, religious but not overbearing about it, and a rigourous academic who enjoyed learning even as he matured. As Dean of my faculty at the University of Nigeria, he was respected for his standards and fairness and would eventually become the Deputy Vice Chancellor.

Uncle James, while we mourn your physical passing, we celebrate a great life. We remember you fondly for your scholarship, honesty and integrity, and strive to emulate those finer characteristics. For that reason you are still alive to me. We pray to The Almighty for you and all those who hold your affection. We are blessed to have had you in our lives. Go well and go with God.

Auntie Grace, Ijeoma, Uche, Chuks, Okey, Ngozi and Kene, keep your spirits up. That is what Uncle James would want. God bless you and all of us.

Ifeanyi Felix Anthony Okafor from Enugu

FAREWELL, UNCLE JAMES
The news of your death came to us like a bolt from the dark. We are yet to recover from the shock. Uncle James, it is nigh impossible to mention in just some few words the heartwarming and joyous occasions we shared with you over a period of time spanning many decades.
You were a gentleman to the core. That you were Nigeria's first Professor of Statistics never made you show any condescending attitude towards others. You spoke English so well as if you were related to the Queen of England. You also spoke Igbo so well that we used to be mesmerized each time you communicated in Igbo. You always appeared as though you had a bagful of adages and idiomatic expressions which you regularly released with a gentle smile.
Uncle James, you never ever forgot your roots despite the fact that you were such an accomplished and well-travelled academic. The love you showed to family and friends was incomparable. We shall surely miss you. As you journey into eternity, we hope to meet someday, never to part again.
'Adieu Uncle James'
Late Sir Fred N Okafor family
Nkwelle-Umunnachi

John Anene from Florida

A Tribute:
Uncle, this is John “your boy” remembering your accomplished life. I pray the good Lord reward you abundantly. You have always called me “my boy” so endearing and supportive. So, uncle, permit me a few recollections on what it was like.
Let it be noted, you were a Great Uite. In addition, your remarkable professional accomplishments since your student days at UI (University of Ibadan) brought joy to us all. But uncle let me veer off a little from professional accomplishments into student life during your time in Ibadan, 1957 -1960. Were you in what later became Sultan Bello Hall (a Bellite) or Kuti Hall (a Kutite) or Mellanby Hall (a Mellanbite) or Tedder Hall (a Tedderite)? That was a table-talk I was hoping we will have to gouge student life between generations during pre and post-independence historical contexts; but not anymore! We miss you.
I remember the summer I spent at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka doing “vacation job” as it was known in those years. I had my room in your house and bonded with the family. I was so proud and bragged to my fellow vacation jobbers who had to stay in student hostels.

I remember in 2017 I was home at Abba and on very short notice had to arrange for some customary and traditional marriage rites for my daughter. I came to you. You mobilized our people to make it a success. Your caring spirit was evident. You asked me about her welfare and when you heard she was a graduate student at UC-Berkeley, you smiled and said “it rings a bell.”

Uncle, you were a pillar to the Umueri Kindred of Abba. We relied on you. We miss you. You were the Odelu Ora Abba, a title chief. We will miss you. The multiplier effect of your professional life in the students you touched in Nigeria was a gift that will keep giving since it is a “touch of immortality.”

Adieu. May the good Lord smile on you.
Your boy,
John

Chukwuma Ezedinma from Centurion, South Africa

A Tribute to Prof James Adichie.
The family was our closest family friends not because we come from neighboring towns but for the proximity of our houses in Odim street at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in the early 70s, our early years. We were only three houses apart 611 and 617 Odim street. Both homes were like one home as we ate and played from morning until evening – school holidays or not.
Uncle Adichie, as we called him, would meet us at home playing late into the evening. He never raised his voice in reproach but would quietly ask us to go home for it is late. Such gentility, such peace.
Yes, Uncle Adichie was a gentle soul. He was an epitome of simplicity and love. He was not a man of many words, yet he achieved so much. He was among the titans of his time. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace.
And may the good Lord grant Aunty, Ijay, Uche, Chuks, Ngozi and Kene the fortitude to bear this great loss.

Nkiru from Baltimore

Thinking about my memories of Prof. James Adichie brings a broad smile to my face and a feeling of calmness in my spirit. His achievements preceded him, and one may be mistaken to think that he had an air around him, but not Uncle James. He was unbelievably polite, humble, and kind. His voice had a ring to it and even made listening to him much more enjoyable.
He had the rare gift of wisdom, and I could tell from the moments we would spend in Abba, or the times he will come to our home in Umunnachi that he was special. He loved his family, and it showed in how glowingly my aunt, whom I call Big Mummy Grace, would speak of him. He always picked up the phone whenever I called to check up on her, and he will say to her, "your sister is on the phone." I always laughed at why he referred to me as her sister, but that was his interpretation of family.
Sadly Uncle James has left us, but I will never forget how welcoming and safe he made me feel around him.
God rest his kind and beautiful soul.

Adanma Ezedinma from Lagos

If there was any one that I considered more quiet than my own father it was Uncle James. As a child I used to think they were related….

What I remember of him is his great sense of humor. The brilliance of his smile that seems to light up the space and heart of the recipient of that smile. So much so that one can see the love shining through his eyes.
It’s amazing the impact one makes in other people’s lives.

For Uncle James … he lived and gave the greatest gift of all – Love.

I know he lives in each and every one of us that crossed his path. May our loving thoughts jointly accompany him on his way home.

Obumneme Nwoye from USA

I will remember Prof always as a calm and equable man. I never once saw him overly excited or agitated. He shared his wisdom and advice graciously and generously. He was completely unpretentious and very steady. May The Lord hold him close, and have mercy on his soul. Amen.

Ebere Igboko from Raleigh

My first and lasting memory of Ije's Dad or "Uncle James" is of him sitting by her bedside at the Medical Center in Nsukka. I would come by after school to visit Ije during her numerous hospital stays due to childhood asthma. Unfailingly, I would find her Dad seated on a chair by her bedside and Ije would gesture for the pack of cream crackers, offering it to me with a hand that bobbed to her breathing. Over our 50+ years of friendship I have witnessed Ije's relationship with her Dad firsthand. I know that Ije is the original Daddy's Girl and love the fact that Uchy and Ngo can lay claim to the same. It is testament to the character of Prof Adichie. He knew how to love – each child without reservation. I admired how freely and easily Ije talked with/to her Dad. She often shared their inside jokes and would leave me marvelling at the wicked sense of humor of this brilliant man of an older generation. It gave me insight to a man who was wise and briliant, who was kind and humble, and non judgmental. He had a quiet way of making his daughter feel like she hung the moon. In fact when our daughter was born I told my husband, Abel Ekpunobi, that our daughter's self esteem depended entirely on their relationship. I cited Ije and her Dad as yet another model of such a desirable relationship. When Abel met Uncle at Ije and Obi's wedding in Connecticut he saw for himself.

I prayed for Uncle James' recovery when I learned that he was ill. Since June 10 I have been praying that God would comfort Aunty Grace, Ije, Uchy, Chu, Okey, Ngo, & Kene, as well as their spouses and all the family and loved ones. My mother so often would say "James anagi acho isi okwu" (James is a man of peace). May his gentle soul rest peacefully. May the funeral rites go smoothly and bring comfort to all those who mourn his loss. Ndo nu o.

Chinyere Ezike Ozumba (and Berti Ozumba) from Port Harcourt

I thank God that we were able to make that trip last October to spend a Saturday afternoon with Uncle James and Aunty Grace at Abba. I am not sure what drove me to plan that trip, but whatever it was, I thank God I acted on that instinct. While there, he was so full of life, still very mentally alert and had his usual words of wisdom and jokes for my hubby and I. Those fond memories will be with me for a long time to come. Uncle James was my late dad's school mate at the University of Ibadan in the late 1950's and both remained close friends till my dad's demise in 1989. The friendship has been transferred from their generation to us the children. Uncle James is of the 'old school' that believed very strongly in integrity and hard work and those were the values they imparted on us all. I will repeat here, what I told Aunty Grace when I heard the sad news: He has fought a good fight and left his footprints in the sands of time. He led a very peaceful and fulfilled life and impacted on so many lives. May his great and gentle soul rest in the bosom of the Lord who he served very diligently. Amen. He will be sorely missed.

Edith Okafor from Woodlands

I believe Uncle is at a better place than any of us especially considering the world we are in today. God rescued him at the right time. We shall celebrate him because he was an example of who a father should be, who a husband should be and who a leader should be. His quietness was a good one and not a bad one.
I met him through my Uncle Late Professor Ikeme; they were neighbors. This meeting happened because of a cookery class in UNN that my auntie arranged for me in the summer period yearly. This class brought myself and Ijeoma close as friends! We happened to have mothers that knew each other. My mom was Ije’s mom’s senior and Ms Odigwe while my mom Ms Ikeme was going to be a Mrs Odigwe. I think my dad caused a lot of confusion by addressing my mom’s letters including “Odigwe” pretty early. I am not sure they opened each other’s letters! Lol!
My condolences to Ije and siblings and in laws and most importantly auntie who remains beautiful, a confirmation uncle kept her happy and preserved her in health.
Yes! Uncle’s legacy needs to go from generation to generation!
Uncle take care and prepare the grounds for us all in heaven . Amen

Oji Kanu from United Kingdom

A letter of Condolence to (GB) Chimamanda

Sis mu

I know it has been a very tough time for you with everything going on and our beloved daddy passes on.

I know how much you adored each other. We must keep our fond thoughts about him as we did while he was with us. His subtle way of making people laugh without being aware of it. It was what made him special to us who I should say are lucky enough to have shared those moments with him.

I cherish those times we shared. Just him and I (mom mom was in the States and Okey in the UK) It was a father and son relationship because I called him dad. I felt at home.
I knew he had started to warm up to me when on my 'famous' trip to Abba, he had planned how he would beg me on the day to go on an errand on his behalf. I was smiling with the corner of my lips when he came out of his room, facing the stairs and I stood waiting for his instructions. Then he said, "Oji, I want you to go to Abba for me to deliver a message for me, and on the day I shall beg and tell you what to do”. I thought it very civil and I knew it was a different way of asking for something but I loved it. When I called Okey because Kene’s text message about daddy passing on hasn’t sunk in yet, on the phone Okey and I cried for a few minutes and he was narrating to me how it happened. Then Okey being him tried to lighten up the mood then said in daddy’s voice “Orji I shall beg you”, then I replied in dad’s voice too “ and I want All of the ALL DESTROYED” and again I said, “I became confused if not suspicious”. These have become a standing joke that we fondly remember him with. We did and we will still do.

I miss the days when we watched the news together, he would sit on his favorite chair, the one that faced the window closest to one of the shelves that held some figurines and pictures. The one that held a picture of him in his professorial regalia with these words inscribed on it "the first Nigerian Professor in Statistics". I remembered being so marveled when I first saw it. He will remain the most humbled achiever I ever met or in my case lived with. His many ways of showing humility and giving credit to those to who credit was due were on one quiet evening when Kofi Annan was giving a speech on the US-led war on Iraq, I could see dad was so engrossed with Kofi's speech that he had to sit almost on the edge of the coffee table in the living room close enough to touch the TV and a way to immerse himself. That was how important the speech was. Kofi had just given a brilliant speech and I could tell he was proud of him. As if that wasn't enough, Kofi switched and gave the same speech in French. After he had finished speaking, dad turned to me and said " ana ekwu amaka ndi gwula akwukwo, nekwa onye gwula akwukwo". ( in my head I was like you self follow na). It was the same way he was proud of your work that came out in a US magazine back then. I think it was the one where you wrote that if it was an American child, they would have handled the issue differently. He showed it to me and I remember he read that magazine so many times.

He was a man of peace and love and had his way of expressing it. I remember one of our journey to Enugu to pick you up. I think the weather wasn't great so there were many cancellations which meant you would then arrive very late in the night. We waited patiently and it was getting dark. It was the first time I was seen him worried but he kept his cool. And when you finally arrived, I saw his face beamed with a smile. His daughter had arrived safely but yet again he was faced with another challenge of driving in the dark which wasn't really his thing and again he handled it calmly and gracefully.

My darling sis, the father and daughter bond you had with him can never be so explained to me until I saw the one you both had for each other. So many times how you kissed him when you said goodbye, it was affectionate and I loved it. And when we dropped you at the airport the silence that followed, the feeling you get when you miss someone. I want you to know that his memories live on. Time heals everything but doesn't erase it. He lived a full life and his children are a testament to that. I chatted with Okey the other day, as she said mom mom was okay. I didn’t have the opportunity to speak at length with her when I did. But please extend my love to her when next you hear from her.

I love him and miss him. Take care and my regards to everyone.

“Ojiako Kamanu”

Joann Otaru nee Ekezie from Lagos

On this particular day, sometime in the 90s, I was going to visit my parents in Nsukka. At the Murtala Mohammed airport in Lagos, who would I espy from a distance but uncle James. I tried to catch his attention but he would look my way and "look through me." Not one to be deterred by an uncle not recognising me, I walked up to him, beaming with a smile. I said, "Good afternoon, uncle." He responded politely but showed no iota of recognition. My smile broadened and I was now grinning from molar to molar; a myriad of thoughts going through my head as to what he was thinking. (These Lagos girls have come o)
He looked at me for a moment and looked away. I then say, "uncle, how are Uchy, Ije, Chuks,Okey, Ngo and Kene?" in that order because Uche was my classmate and friend. He immediately lights up, beams me a very warm smile and says, "aha! I thought that smile was very familiar." I then disclose my identity and he reels out my parents' names, our home and their relationship. We spent the rest of the time just chatting until departure. In subsequent years, that incident would be a recollection point anytime I ran into him at Uche's or elsewhere. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace.

Ihuoma Okoroafor nee Uzoigwe from Lagos

I remember the Adichie's home filled with so much love, joy and pet/nicknames.
We thank God for a well lived and fulfilled life and may his gentle soul rest in peace.
Uchie, Ije and all please be comforted. Our thought and prayers are with you.
God loves you all.

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