Biography
Uchenna Gerald Igwe
The second son of HRH Ekperebuike Ben Igwe; he came back from having a good time with his friends the night before, on this fateful Saturday morning of the 8th June 2024 in his normal boisterous self. Being a family-oriented person and a great friend to his wife, he woke his wife up and talked for a bit until they both fell asleep. He woke up in the morning as he was supposed to take the kids to have a fun time at the Maryland Six Flags water parks, that day. After chit-chatting with the family, he decided to take a quick nap before driving the family to the water park. Little did anyone know that his quick nap was the last they’d hear from him. Our great Lord of host called him home, and he slept peacefully with a smile on his face and never woke up.
Uche, who hails from Umueli, Amaraku in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State, was born on 12th January 1975 in Lagos, Nigeria, to the loving family of the late H.R.H, Dr Ekperebuike Igwe and surviving mother, Ugoeze Esther Igwe, who both instilled in him the values of hard work, education, and faith. He had a happy childhood playing with his dynamic siblings (his surviving brother and two sisters).
Forever Cherished and Unforgettable!
He met his wife Vivian, and they got married in 2005, they are blessed with two children. His greatest joy was his family and his two beautiful children, Chisom and Osinachi, who were the apple of his eyes. Chisom was his namesake (named Geraldine) born on his 33rd birthday on 12th January 2008. If you want to see a physical replica of Uche, then you only need to look at his handsome son Osinachi.
Uche was a devoted dad who ensured that he attended all school graduation ceremonies, standing on the podium proudly as his kids received Honor roll certificates, watching his daughter give the valedictorian speech upon graduation and also attending her theatre performances. He ensured he was present on the pitch to cheer his son during his games for Soccer and American football.
L-R: Chisom, Vivian, Osinachi, and Uche Igwe
Uche attended Eric Moore High school (Lagos, Nigeria) from 1985 to 1991, where he developed a passion for science, which prompted him to study Electrical & Electronics Engineering. His excellent spirit earned him a place in the downstream oil and gas sector with Master Energy Oil & Gas Ltd. (Lagos, Nigeria) where he excelled and rose to the position of Area Manager (Marketing & Sales).
In 2016, he left the shores of Nigeria to join his family in Maryland, USA where in his quest for knowledge and better life, he remained studious and diligent, working and acquiring different certifications in IT domain (AWS, Splunk Enterprise Security Certified Admin, Cisco Certified Specialist – CCNP- CCNA- CCS-Ecore, Scrum Master Certification- SMC). Upon attaining his desired goal as a scrum certified practitioner, he landed his dream job with Common Spirit Health USA as a Senior Network Engineer, where he worked until his untimely death on the 8th June 2024.
A Legacy of Love, Service and Excellence
L-R: Chisom, Osinachi, Vivian, and Uche Igwe
He was a devoted Christian in the Anglican church. At a young age of 13, he became an altar servant and sang in the choir. As an adult, at different occasions, he was a member of the church council and at the time of his death was the junior warden of his church – the Christ the King Anglican Church, Silver Spring Maryland, USA where he and his family volunteered for community service ensuring that the needs of the church were met. He was also a man of the people, a great leader, a motivator in every aspect of life including within his brotherhood “IOTA Galleon / CAPITOL Frigate” where he touched lives and made a positive impact. He made many friends and enjoyed his life.
A Great Leader and Motivator
L-R, Front Row: Uche Igwe and Victor Igwe
L-R, Back Row: Dr. Chioma Ekechi, Ugoeze Esther Igwe, and Lady Chisom Onubogu
Uche was involved in extracurricular activities, such as playing scrabble, golf, and was a passionate Manchester United fan. He was a very cheerful and friendly person, who liked to make people laugh and smile. He had a positive outlook on life and was bold to speak and to confront any situation, no matter who was involved or the circumstances. Not only that, he was loyal and a joy to have around, never relenting to help anyone in need and always on hand to give advice when solicited. He loved his music (especially country music) and he loved to dance. He enjoyed life and made the most of every moment, ensuring that his last days on this earth would never be forgotten. Furthermore, he had many friends and colleagues, who valued and appreciated him, hence his death has been a shock to many both near and far.
He is survived by his wife Vivian, his two children Chisom and Osinachi, his mum Ugoeze Esther Igwe, his brother Mr. Victor Igwe; his two sisters : Dr. Chioma Ekechi & Lady Chisom Onubogu ; His Nieces and Nephews: Kamiye Igwe, Sinmisore Igwe, Jayanma Igwe, Chidera Onubogu, David Onubogu, Ositochukwum Ekechi; His uncles, aunts, in-laws and cousins. His friends and extended family members pray for his soul to continue to rest peacefully in God’s bosom. Amen.
YG, you have left behind a legacy of love, service and excellence. You will be dearly missed by all who knew you and will always be remembered for all you did.
Rest In Peace – Uchenna Gerald Igwe (fondly called by family and friends as Uche / YG / Daa-ddy / Daddy muo-nso).