News: Touching Tributes To Amaka Igwe By Husband, Daughter, Colleagues & All

Tributes to Amaka Igwe keep pouring in, read:

AMAKA,

Thank you for the memories, for the joy, for the grace evident in you, the passion for God, for the truth, for life, for doing right, for loving, for creating, for giving, for caring, for family, for making memories and you did make memories, for me, for our children, for family, for the nation, for the world.

I am thankful for the times we had together and for the gift you were to me and to this world. I am grateful to God for sharing me in this world with you. I do know that you have peace now, free from the labours of our world, present in the majesty and light of our Lord, for whom you lived and in whom you moved and had your being.

I will see you again, we will see you again. This is to say I miss you, our children miss you.

However I say thank you, my life with you was an amazing life. Till we meet again… Charles. (Charles Igwe-Husband)

"If I had a choice, I will rather be doing a toast than engaging in this unpleasantness- writing an obituary on Amaka. Amaka and I were extremely close, not only because of our fraternal interest in the arts, but also because our families enjoyed an affinity even at the domestic level."- Peter Igho

"The Duchess as I fondly called you, you were the first lady of Nollywood. You were the best when it was everything about Movie-Dom. Then I called you Amaka Isaac-Ene."- Igwe Gabosky

"Rest your feet o Nne! Your dance has come to an end. But boy! Did you dance elegantly and boldly to your particular tune and that tune plays on in me and the thousands of other people in and out of the industry who’s lives you touched more profoundly than you’ll ever know. It plays on in the amazing body of work that you left behind, in the structures and systems that you helped to put in place, and even more so in the exceptional children that you raised.

Nne o! Mrs I! I find it hard put to say rest in peace! If I know you well, you’re probably prepping for the biggest movie production heaven has ever seen!"- Ireti Doyle

"Toe-to-toe with men who stood! In recognition, she was Order of the Federal Republic (MFR). Last night, Amaka was on set for her current movie and last night Amaka died still working on a movie. Goodnight, Great woman, Goodnight. (Tears rain down. Rest in Peace, Great Amazon, Rest. We won’t miss you because everywhere we turn in Nollywood, we see you, we feel you, Amaka. I remain your friend even in the after life."- Don Pedro Obaseki.

Good evening everyone, my name is Ruby Igwe.

We are all here this evening grieving Amaka Igwe, who we loved, and were inspired, influenced, or maybe intimidated by. I also know that there are many here who she, by God’s grace; mothered, trained, and raised.

 I’m sure you will agree that our mother had a unique spirit.

 Her priorities may have seemed infuriatingly odd because they were so, so different. The steps to success society has defined for us were of little to no consequence to her. However, she left this Earth as one of the most successful people I have ever known.

She was a professional, and she touched lives, yet she remained humble, and discreet. She never considered herself to be a know it all. However, she never sold herself short. What she knew, she knew, and what she didn’t know, she gave credit to those who knew.

Her contributions to the Creative Industries were in lieu of a much bigger picture. She received a passion and talent from God, and she utilized it, became an expert, and did not hesitate to share her expertise. How she spread her wealth of knowledge is baffling.

People have been calling me saying, ‘Your mother taught me everything I know.‘ In 51 years? How Mummy, did you teach so many people everything they know? Yet she would always say to her students, ‘I will teach you everything I know, so you can add it to what you know and be better than me.‘ I’m thinking, how?

When you didn’t compromise on your children, or your marriage, or your family; how did you manage to teach so many people everything they know, workwise, and otherwise? And it can’t be that they don’t know a lot, as they are all so successful! How then, did you manage it all?

I don’t know the specifics fully. But I do know, that in this life, we will be fine. It is still well, even now, even in this loss, this great, great loss. We will all be phoenixes in that in this death, in this separation from Amaka Igwe on this Earth, we will rise. We will learn.

We will be inspired and influenced. Because she has done, we will do. Tonight, we remember to never forget that it is possible to make a mark, while making memories. It is possible to give our all in all we do.

And it is possible to identify with God and for it to be a great strength, and not a hindrance.

I will end with a letter I wrote to my mum.

Thanks Uncle Chris.

Hey Mummy,

I miss you. So much. More than I can ever fully express in words. I must tell you though that I am mourning your absence. Not your present location. Oh that, I am so proud of, joyful in, and grateful for. I am going to see you again by the special grace of God. My only sadness is that it won’t be very soon.

You were, and are, my mother. It’s more than that though. You were my best friend, my partner in crime. You don’t find that kind of love just anywhere. You were my teacher, and my confidant. You were also my support when I needed to be yelled at, or reminded of who I am, or simply babied. We were the girls’ squad that marshalled Dad, David and Dani.

Now I’m a one-man team.

What do I miss exactly? You being around, my house is empty, my phone is neglected, someone yelling, Ruboo! or Esita, or Abosede, or David, or Puttiman, or Juli, or Aachaki! Or yelling just because you haven’t seen us in a while. I miss our talks, the ones on the white chairs, on the red chairs, on the stairs… I miss bringing you your checkbook. I miss bringing you a snack. I miss your hugs. I miss you Mum. I’m going to live with it, though. I don’t know how I’ve done it this one-month and some days, so it fits that I have no idea how I’m going to go the rest of my life without you.

But there is a God. So I am not afraid. It is still well. Thank you for not treating me differently from your students, thank you for throwing me in at the deep end early, and teaching me to be responsible, and resilient, and reliable. I think you are an astonishing woman who has broken barriers, set standards and has established a can-do attitude for many.

You have inspired me to continue to stand for integrity and the right morals, and to keep pushing and keep standing in the face of the ever-evolving strategies of adversity. I look up to you as a role model, and I know that your efforts for my, your and our country will not be in vain. Thank you for being one of the scarce but incredibly intense light that this country is privileged to have. Thank you for always wanting to be the best you could be. Thank you for being a woman of unpretentiousness and open frankness.

I appreciate you for being the best possible mother for me.

This is my unadulterated nineteen-year-old Nigerian girl honour to you, and in conclusion I just want to let you know that because you could, I can, and because you have done, I will do.

I miss you. More than I can ever put in words.

But know that I am coming.

Yours truthfully,

Ruby Igwe. (Daughter)

The three-term lawyer, and barrister to be.

Charles Igwe

Hubby & kids

Ruby Igwe