By Izunna Okafor, Awka
It was a moment of joy, gratitude, and grandeur in Abuja yesterday, May 29, 2025, as Lady Ifeoma Nwogu — the beloved wife of renowned Nnewi industrialist and philanthropist, Chief Chris Obumneme Nwogu (popularly known as Mekaodima) — celebrated her 60th birthday in an atmosphere that glittered with love, elegance, and laughter.
Held at the exquisite Delight Event Centre, Gudu, Abuja, the event pulled a cross-section of well-wishers, family members, and dignitaries from different walks of life who came together to honour a woman many described as the epitome of humility, resilience, and grace.
The celebrant, Lady Ifeoma Nwogu, has over the years remained a silent pillar behind the resounding success and stability of her husband, Chief Chris Nwogu, the Chairman of COAN West African Ltd —a foremost construction firm that has carved a solid footprint across Nigeria and West Africa at large. Fondly called “Lolo Ify” by friends and loved ones, the celebrant was celebrated not just for clocking 60, but for doing so with a legacy of virtue, grace, and an unwavering dedication to family and humanity.
The event was tastefully organized, rich in colour and honour, with touching tributes that told the story of a woman whose strength, compassion, and character have continued to inspire those around her. Her children and grandchildren, in visibly high spirits, eulogized their matriarch as one whose life has been a candle of guidance and peace — parts of the virtues holding the Nwogu household together through all seasons.
Among the numerous guests in attendance was Prince Samben Ikechukwu Nwosu, a leading Anambra South Senatorial aspirant under the Young Progressives Party (YPP), who described the celebrant as “a jewel of inestimable value.”
In his goodwill remarks, Prince Samben noted that the Nwogu family is deeply known to him and spoke glowingly of the celebrant’s virtues. He recalled the longevity embedded in the family lineage and prayed that Lady Ify would not only walk into her 90th birthday in good health but do so surrounded by her great-grandchildren, just as joyfully as she was surrounded on her 60th.
In a similar vein, while speaking with this reporter, the Managing Director/CEO of Ekweanaedo News and close friend of the Nwogu Family, Mr. Ebuka Okafor, also joined in felicitating with the celebrant and her family. Though unavoidably absent due to distance, Mr. Okafor described Lady Ify as “a mother-figure of substance whose calm strength and quiet grace illuminate every space she occupies.”
He further extolled Chief Nwogu for his consistency in publicly celebrating his wife at every milestone, describing it as both admirable and worthy of emulation.
The atmosphere of the celebration was not only one of festivity but also reflection on the beauty of an age well reached, a marriage well nurtured, and a family well grounded in love.
From praise-filled songs to poetic tributes, from joyful dances to touching prayers, every element of the event echoed the deep admiration and gratitude shared by all who know the celebrant and her husband, and also reflected a celebration of legacy, love, and a life that continues to inspire, in the person of Lady Ifeoma Obumneme Nwogu.
