I’m going to make this as simple and easy as possible. Until a few
years back, a lot of Nigerians (including yours sincerely) knew very little or next
to nothing about the adverse effect of fake drugs until our very own Nigerian Professor
Dora Nkem Akunyili (aka MAMA NAFDAC)
became the Director General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration
and Control of Nigeria and Nigerian Minister of Information and Communications
from 2008 to 2010 and created huge awareness on the damaging effect fake drugs
and foods as well as counterfeit cosmetic products have dealt/dealing with
Nigerians. God bless the day she was born which according to reports was on the 14th of July 1954
in Makurdi, Nigeria and sadly died on the 7th of June 2014 in India. 
Also, in the 90’s when many people were still trying to grapple or find
their bearing in good TV Production, we were nevertheless providential to have mind blowing
and entertaining programmes grace our TVs from the unwavering, creative and
intelligent works of one of Nigeria’s leading Writer, Producer and Director in
the movie industry who is none other than Mrs Amaka Igwe (nee Isaac Ene) another
of our very own successful Nigerian personality.
Amaka Igwe, until her death was the brain
behind BOBTV (Best of the Best African Film and Television), founder and CEO of
Top Radio 90.9FM, Q Entertainment Networks as well as the great Amaka Igwe
Studios that created many of Nigeria’s best, award winning as well as some of
the highest quality of television and video productions such as the evergreen ‘Checkmate’,
‘Rattlesnake’, ‘Violated’, ‘Fuji House of commotion’ and more. All of her works
remained relevant even as the years passed by speedily and it is no doubt that
they will continually outlive her because not many people would be able to step
into the vacuum she has created with her death on the 29th of
April 2014. There goes the dream/opportunity of ever working with you
as I always thought that peradventure one wants to have a stint in Nolly
wood, it would have to be either through your creative platform or Emem
Isong's.
Hmmm! Now onto Irikefe (aka Kefee) Don Momoh (nee Obareki). Kefee the multi-award winning music ‘branama’
crooner was one young strong voiced gospel singer who transformed local traditional
songs into contemporary acceptable/danceable and interesting music. I remember
vividly the first time I heard her sing in Benin city with her friend Estee a
song from their ‘Trip’ album until a few years later when she filled the
airwaves and television as she thrilled us with her first solo album ‘Branama’
which shot her into limelight and she never stopped gliding till that day when she
finally let go on the 13th of June 2014 at a Los Angeles hospital
having been in coma for days after battling with lung failure.
Kefee established her entertainment outfit ‘Branama Afrique’ in
2007 and also had new plans which included tours within and outside Nigeria, so did
Dora as well as Amaka who all had plans too. For people such as these trio, ‘quitting’
was never in their game as they worked hard to continually achieve their
dreams. Nonetheless, while they did their best in their chosen fields and made
plans for bigger things; they each unknowingly had a common appointment for
2014.
Painfully, on the 29th of April, 9th of
June and 13th of June 2014 respectively the world received
the sad news of their exit towards the great beyond where everyone would
go eventually.
Nevertheless, they all made their marks in their respective fields
before their
exit despite their short stay here and hence the life they all lived
left a
message that is ‘do something meaningful and leave a good mark in the
prints of
time/life before you take that inevitable bow’.
And so, adieu!
our beautiful gap-toothed smiling and vibrant mama NAFDAC, you will always be
remembered as that vibrant no-nonsense multiple award winning woman who
believed in a great Nigeria and contributed her quota. Rest in peace, our highly
talented; intelligent and also numerous worthy award winning Amaka and finally our
sonorous voiced Kefee!! Adieu!!! dearest ones since you have all finally taken
that bow.
The world, Nigerians within and without miss you and hope that your good works will always keep you alive in our hearts.
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