Fides Media Living the Faith
By Alexander Johnson Adejoh
Discipline, spirituality, passion and love for people, were some of the factors that played a great role in making the late patriarch of the Dike-Uzoka family of Enu-Avomimi Village, Enugwu-Ukwu in Njikoka LGA of Anambra State, live to the ripe old age of 92 years. One of the children of the deceased, M. Anastasia Ebelechukwu Dike,
who is the mother general of the Daughters of Divine Love Congregation, DDL. disclosed this to Fides days after the burial of their father, Mr John Nwakozo Dike-Uzoka, who was buried Thursday, January 12, 2023.
Fides discovered that the late Mr John Dike-Uzoka was born on 19 April 1930 to the late Nze Jeremiah and Mrs Rebecca Oyima Dike of Enu-Avomimi Village, Enugwu-Ukwu. He was of staunch Anglican parentage and the only child of his mother, Mrs Rebecca Oyima Dike (Nee Eze) who was the second wife of Jeremiah Dike and hailed from Ehalumona, Nsukka, Enugu State. Although born into a polygamous family as the only son of his mother, he enjoyed very close, enviable relationship with his half brothers and sister.
John had a happy, privileged and balanced childhood. Like any other normal child, he had his childlike virtues and played his mischiefs. He told stories of his childhood with nostalgia. John grew up tall and very handsome and was loved and admired by many. The late John Dike was married to Mrs Marian Ebere Dike.
Discovery into his early life revealed his passionate interest in his social life (sports), his acting career, his life in the choir, his life as a professional nurse and Rural Health Officer and his worthy family and spiritual life.
Mother Dike, who pledged to their father that his children would continue to forever remain united and emulate his lifestyle as he (Dike) had prayed, extolled him for the good things he imparted to them and the entire Enu-Avomimi Village, in Enugwu-Ukwu in Njikoka LGA of Anambra State. She added that their father lived such an exemplary lifestyle even until the time he passed on and attributed his longevity to discipline, spirituality, love for people and nature.
Her words, ‘He lived like any other normal human being who saw all sides of life. He was that man that was disciplined himself and would want everyone around him to be disciplined because he believed that discipline, order and spirituality, worked hand in hand.’
Fides recalls that among those who attended the funeral Mass were Catholic Bishops led by the Catholic Bishop of Awka Most Rev Paulinus C. Ezeokafor; priests and religious (especially the Daughters of Divine Love Congregation, DDL) across Nigeria; politicians; friends and well-wishers of the Dike Family.