By Mazi Dr Otti Nwaka – Ezi Nwa Aro, Ikemba Aro Okigbo, Ugwu Atani.
As he returns home to Arochukwu for his final rest…with bowed heads and heavy hearts, we gather to celebrate a life well lived, a man whose name carried weight in every room he entered: Late Nwa Mazi Alexx Ekubo Okwaraeke
Today, Ujari village and entire Arochukwu, the land of our ancestors, the land of the Long Juju, opens her arms once more to receive one of her own. Nde Aro, you have lost a son. Nigeria has lost a builder. His family has lost a pillar. But heaven has gained a worthy soul.
Born of the soil of Arochukwu, Alexx carried the spirit of the Aro people wherever he went – intelligent, bold, hospitable, and deeply rooted in omenali. He never forgot home. No matter how far his work or destiny took him, his heart always beat for Abia State, for Aro and for the red earth that raised him. He understood that a tree without roots cannot stand, so he kept his roots deep in his hometown.
Beyond his roots, Alexx was a man of skill, discipline, and excellence in his chosen field. As a profession in his chosen field, he distinguished himself through hard work, integrity, and vision. Colleagues knew him as the one who delivered quality without cutting corners. Clients and partners trusted him because his word was his bond.
He brought innovation to his work, solved problems others walked away from, and trained many who now carry his name with pride. Whether it was key achievement, family leadership role, or impact in his industry, Alexx proved that professionalism and iguzosi ike na ime ezi can walk together. He did not just earn a living – he built a reputation. His work ethic was a sermon on its own, teaching the younger generation that diligence is worship. To every organization and institution he served, he left them better than he met them. His professional legacy is written in projects completed, lives empowered, and standards raised.
Alexx was not a man who lived for himself alone. He lived for others. He was the kind of brother who showed up, the kind of friend who remembered, the kind of leader who carried people along. His words had weight because his actions backed them up. He believed in building – building families, building communities, building the next generation.
To the young ones, he was proof that you can come from Arochukwu and still touch the world. He mentored, he advised, he corrected with love. He did not just talk about legacy; he lived it daily.
What we bury tomorrow is his body, not his impact. The handshakes he gave, the counsel he shared, the laughter he sparked, the support he offered in silence, the structures he built in his profession – those things do not die. They live on in every life he touched and every project that bears his mark.
In Arochukwu, his name will be spoken with respect for generations. Nde Eze, Ndi Ichie, and the children yet unborn will hear stories of Alexx Ekubo Okwaraeke – a man who honored his home, honored his people, honored his profession, and honored his God.
As we lay him to rest in his ancestral land, we say: Nna, JEE NKE OMA. Go in peace, son of the soil. The drums of Aro will sound for you one last time. The hills of Arochukwu will keep your memory. Your footsteps may have stopped here on earth, but your influence will walk on in us.
To the Okwaraeke family: Chukwu gozie unu. May the God of our fathers strengthen you. You have not lost him, for those we love and lose are no longer where they were, but they are everywhere we are.
Adieu, Alexx Ekubo Okwaraeke – a true son of Arochukwu. A man of honor. A professional of excellence. A name that will not be forgotten.
May your gentle soul rest in perfect peace, Amen.
