BENIN CITY, Edo State – Dignitaries, government officials, media professionals, associates, friends and well-wishers from different walks of life on Saturday converged on Benin City to honour the memory of late Mrs Grace Sarah Ikeke Omoaregba, mother-in-law of Mr Nkem Nwaeke, Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Dennis Guwor.
The reception, held at the Military Hospital Compound, opposite Benin Airport, Airport Road, Benin City, Edo State, brought together family members, political associates, community leaders and other well-wishers who gathered to celebrate the life and legacy of the deceased.
Mrs Omoaregba, a respected community leader and woman of virtue from Ovbiomu-Emai in Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State, was laid to rest in her hometown on Thursday, October 29, 2026, following a funeral Mass at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Ovbiomu.
In a show of solidarity and professional camaraderie, members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council, led by its Chairman, Comrade Churchill Oyowe, were among those present at the reception. Also in attendance was another member of the union, Mr Felix lgbekoyi, NUJ National Ex Officio
Other notable personalities at the event included the Chief Press Secretary to the Delta State Governor, Sir Festus Ahon, as well as representatives of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), among several other dignitaries.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the deceased’s son, Dr Joyce Ohiole Omoaregba, a Consultant Psychiatrist at Logan Hospital, Brisbane, Australia, and former Secretary-General of the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria, expressed the family’s profound appreciation to all those who honoured their invitation and stood by them during their moment of grief.
On behalf of the family, he thanked the guests for their show of love, support and solidarity, while wishing them journey mercies as they returned to their various destinations.
Guests were subsequently treated to a warm reception and entertainment in an atmosphere that reflected the love, respect and fond memories shared by the deceased.
A LIFE OF LOVE, SACRIFICE AND DEVOTION
Born on December 10, 1942, into the family of Mr Samuel Aigbolua Airujuan and Mrs Maria Oibo Airujuan of Evbuvbie Quarters, Uokha Community, in Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State, Mrs Omoaregba lived a life defined by love, sacrifice, resilience and unwavering devotion to her family.
Fondly called “Mama” by her children and loved ones, she was celebrated as a remarkable woman whose strength, wisdom, resourcefulness and sound judgment earned her admiration and respect.
Her early childhood was marked by tragedy when an epidemic swept through her community, claiming several lives, including that of her father.
Following the painful loss, young Sarah returned to Uokha alongside her paternal grandmother, mother and some of her siblings.
Despite the difficult circumstances of her formative years, she demonstrated remarkable resilience and developed the qualities of intelligence, wisdom and resourcefulness that would later distinguish her as a woman of substance.
At the age of 84, her passing marked the end of a remarkable chapter, but the memories of her love, sacrifices, values and contributions to her family and community remain an enduring legacy.
The gathering in Benin City was therefore not only a farewell reception but also a celebration of a life well spent and the enduring impact of a mother, grandmother and respected community figure.
