Citypost News Desk
The Executive Vice-Chairman of Baywood Group, Emperor Chris Baywood Ibe, transformed personal loss into a far-reaching humanitarian gesture, feeding 1,050 families across 21 communities in Awgu Local Government Area as a Christmas tribute to his late mother, Lady Ezinne Eunice Nwabugwu Ibe.
The large-scale palliative outreach, held at the Ibe Family Event Arena in Isu-Awaa, took place a day before the burial of the revered matriarch, marking a profound departure from conventional funeral preparations. Rather than commence with feasting and ceremony, Emperor Ibe chose compassion, ensuring that struggling families would not go hungry during the festive season.
From the early hours of the morning, buses conveyed beneficiaries from distant towns to the venue in a calm, well-coordinated exercise. Stacks of bags of rice, five-litre gallons of vegetable oil, and seasoning packs were neatly arranged, each set earmarked for a family. In all, 50 families were selected from each town, with the process independently handled by the Save Awgu Forum (SAFE) to ensure fairness and credibility.
Moving quietly among the crowd, Emperor Ibe avoided grandstanding. When he spoke, his message was brief and deeply personal.
“This is not charity,” he said. “This is who my mother was.”
He described Lady Eunice as a woman whose life revolved around service and empathy, noting that honouring her meant continuing her legacy of generosity. “How can we cook in excess and waste food when people around us have nothing to eat?” he asked.
Beneficiaries described the outreach as life-changing. “Christmas would have passed quietly for us,” said Ifeanyi Okonta from Mgbidi Awgu. “Now, we can sit together and celebrate.” Others echoed similar sentiments, praising the dignity and respect that accompanied the distribution.
Observers also commended the initiative. Former Executive Assistant to the Enugu State Governor, Mr. Lukas Udeagbara, described it as “impact without noise,” noting that such gestures strengthen community bonds in difficult economic times.
The outreach set the tone for a funeral programme that drew wide attention and high-profile attendance. Lady Ezinne Eunice Nwabugwu Ibe, fondly known as Black Indigo or Apunanwu, passed on at the age of 90. An Anglican Lay Reader, music lover, dancer, businesswoman, and Jerusalem pilgrim, she was celebrated for a life of faith and service.
Her burial at St. Mark’s Anglican Cathedral, Isu-Awaa, was attended by five Anglican bishops, over 30 priests, state governors, lawmakers, diplomats, and dignitaries from across Nigeria and beyond. Delivering the funeral sermon, the Bishop of Awgu/Aninri Diocese, Rt. Rev. Dr. Benson N. Chukwunweike, reminded congregants that people are ultimately remembered by their good deeds.
Following the interment at her late husband’s compound, the four-day funeral rites tagged “Black Indigo Goes Home”, concluded with thanksgiving and remembrance services marked by solemnity, unity, and celebration.
As Christmas meals simmered in homes across Awgu, many reflected on a legacy made visible through kindness. In choosing service over excess, Emperor Chris Baywood Ibe offered a compelling reminder that true honour is not announced; it is lived. For 1,050 families, that legacy arrived quietly, wrapped in food, dignity, and the simple assurance of being remembered.
