PRESS RELEASE
There are moments in life that remind us how fleeting our journey on earth can be. Death, though inevitable, often leaves behind a silent emptiness, an ache that words can barely comfort. It was within this solemn truth that the Rector of Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Brigadier Dr. (Mrs.) Basilia Nkemdilim Igbokwe, found herself standing among men and women of faith at Umunde Primary School Field, Abviosi, Edo State, Saturday 25th, Oct, 2025 to pay her last respect to a father, a mentor, and a soldier of faith, Late Pa Alexander Ohiwerei Odiaua (AFOLIJO THE WINNER).
Life, like the morning dew, glitters for a while before it fades. But some lives, even in departure, continue to glow through the legacies they leave behind. Pa Odiaua, born on 9th February 1944 in Ekhoa Quarters, Abvioa of the then Midwestern Region (now Edo State), lived a life that mirrored grace, discipline, and an unwavering faith in God. He passed peacefully on 5th April 2025, leaving behind a lineage steeped in moral strength and spiritual conviction.
Among the many who gathered to celebrate his life was his son, Major General Smart Odiaua, Director of Training at the Redeem Chaplaincy International (RCI), who led the mourners with quiet dignity. But it was the presence of Brigadier Igbokwe, Rector of one of Nigeria’s most vibrant polytechnics, that added an extra shade of warmth and solidarity to the ceremony.
Despite her tight academic and administrative schedules, the Rector made the long journey from Owerri to Edo State, not out of mere protocol, but out of genuine compassion and spiritual fraternity. She joined her fellow Chaplaincy officers in hymns, solemn reflections, and words of comfort, offering a symbolic gesture that leadership is not just about occupying high offices but about standing with people in their seasons of joy and grief alike.
Her soft-spoken message to the family resonated with empathy: “We are never truly gone when we live through the goodness we sow. Pa Odiaua’s faith, discipline, and fatherly example have become a legacy that will outlive generations.”
That moment captured the essence of Brigadier Dr. Igbokwe’s leadership; humble, humane, and deeply spiritual. She embodies a rare blend of military precision and motherly tenderness, guiding Federal Polytechnic Nekede through transformation while never losing touch with the essence of service to humanity.
Even beyond the campus walls, she continues to nurture connections with colleagues, friends, and well wishers. Her presence in Edo State to honour a departed father of faith shows her deep understanding that leadership must have a heart, one that feels, listens, and reaches out.
As she plans to celebrate her one-year anniversary in office, the Rector’s journey so far reads like a story of purpose and divine alignment. From infrastructural growth to institutional reforms, from moral rejuvenation to academic expansion, her tenure has been marked by visible impact and quiet transformation. Yet, in her own words, “We have done much, but there’s still so much more ahead. Progress is not an event, it is a journey.”
Indeed, Brigadier Dr. (Mrs.) Basilia Nkemdilim Igbokwe stands today not just as a Rector or a Chaplain but as a beacon of faith, strength, and servant-leadership, a woman who leads with vision and feels with compassion.
In a world that often forgets the human side of leadership, her story remains a refreshing reminder that greatness is not measured only by titles, but by the hearts we touch and the lives we uplift along the way.
Signed
NobleUchegbu Uchechukwu Zachariah
Special Assistant to the Rector on Media Matters
