By Young E. Freeborn, Warri
Late Sgt. Andrew Udufovwe, aged 77, was committed to mother earth on November 29, 2024 at his residence, on Uruvwigbo Street, Uwheru town in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State as members of the Udufovwe royal family of Uwheru kingdom was thrown into mourning.
The funeral service, which was conducted by the Assemblies of God Church, Uwheru Branch, was attended by children, family members, in-laws, friends and others.
In his sermon, the pastor called on members of the family to always embrace God and also receive Him as their personal Lord and Saviour, just like the way their late father and brother did before he finally passed away.
The Man of God however his message by praying for the child and members of the family to live more than their late father and brother in all areas of life.
Presenting her late father’s biography to the guests, the only child and daughter of the deceased, Miss Oghenekevwe Adogho described her late father as a highly disciplined man who faithfully and gallantly served the Nigerian Army for more than two decades before he voluntarily retired from the military service.
She said: “My late father was born in Uwheru here, but was brought in Benin City where he had his primary and model schools. He then went to Zaria for greener pastures. He worked briefly as a clerk before he then joined the Nigerian Army around 1960s. He fought the Nigerian civil war in 1967 and also went to other African countries for peace keeping missions.
“In his Christian life, my late father worshipped with the Assemblies of God Church, even till his death. I know him to be a very committed and dedicated member of the Church.
“In his family life, he married my mother, Mrs. Martha Adogho Udufovwe. They gave birth to me as their only child and daughter. In the same way, my late father was a highly social man with love for his siblings and members of his extended families. He always carried everybody along, both in the the family and the community. May his gentle soul rest in peace,” she said.
In separate tributes to the late Sgt. Andrew Udufovwe immediately after the interment, the present head of the Udufovwe royal family, Olorogun Pa. Okachi Udufovwe, who was ably supported by Pastor Sunday Ekah Udufovwe thanked the pastor and members of the Assemblies of God Church for a job well done. They also expressed their appreciation to their in-laws for doing the traditional rite of inlaw’s greetings to the family and their wives as daughters of the family. They however thanked all that graced the funeral event for the support they gave to their daughter, Miss Oghenekevwe Adogho to enable her gave her late father a befitting funeral.
Late Sgt. Andrew Udufovwe was aged 77 years and survived by a wife, a daughter and many family members.