Eighty-four-year old Ogbueshi Godfrey Chukwuemeka Asiodu is to be buried in Asaba, the Delta State capital. today (Friday). He was the younger brother of respected diplomat and bureaucrat, Chief Philip Asiodu, the Izoma Ahaba.
His funeral rites begins with a Requiem Mass by 10 am at St Joseph Pro Cathedral, Asaba; while interment and entertainment follow immediately at his residence, Umu-nniikwu Village, Umuaji Ouarters, Asaba.
Traditional burial rites will hold tomorrow (Saturday) at his residence, while Thanksgiving Mass takes place on Sunday, at the same church by 10 am.
He is survived by children, grand children and many other relations.
Ogbueshi Asiodu was born in Calabar, the present-day Cross River State on 6th August 1939 to the illustrious family of Mr. Philip Chibuzor Asiodu of Umu-nnikwu Village, Umuaji Quarters, Asaba; and Mrs. Caroline Nnodu Asiodu (Nee Okonkwo) of Umuagulu village, Umuonaje, Asaba.
He attended St. Paul’s Catholic School and St. Jude’s School, both at Ebute-Metta, Lagos; and proceeded to the prestigious Kings College, Lagos.
After his college education, the youthful and visionary Godfrey proceeded to the United Kingdom for further studies at Bolton College. But that academic pursuit was cut short due health challenges.
Undaunted by the health challenges, and in line with his family tradition for academic excellence, Ogbueshi Asiodu returned to Nigeria and enrolled in the famous Nigerian Institute of Journalism, which was then located at the Tribune House, Apongbon, Lagos.
After the successful completion of his journalism studies, he was awarded the Diploma and Advanced Diploma in Journalism. Asiodu popularity at NIJ played off robustly as he became the school’s football captain in 1977.
He started his working life with the then Electricity Corporation of Nigeria, which later metamorphosed into the now defunct National Electric Power Authority (NEPA), and served in Enugu and Lagos.
He rose to become the Assistant General Manager and Head of Public Relations, Eastern Region. When he retired in 1986 until his demise, he was a member of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations.
In the social and religious circles, Ogbueshi Asiodu belonged to many groups and societies within and outside the church, including Catholic Men Organisation of Nigeria; Falcon Club, Asaba.
In 1964, he got married to the then Miss Simisola Otun from Abeokuta, (now Ogun State), and the marriage is blessed with two children – Mr. Chibuzo Asiodu and Mrs. Ngozi Soetan.