This memorial is created in memory of our dear son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, nephew and friend – John Chukwudi Nwachukwu (September 6, 1959 - July 3, 2017). He will always be remembered.

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JOHN CHUKWUDI NWACHUKWU (UNCLE JOHNNY)

John Chukwudi Nwachukwu (Uncle Johnny to most) was everybody’s brother, and friend. A twin and the youngest (by a few hours!) of four siblings, he was born in Lagos on September 6, 1959 to Michael and Magdalene Nwachukwu. It speaks volumes to who he was that others in the family were referenced to him: John’s Dad, John’s Mum, John’s twin sister and so on.

Many have pointed to the social disruptions caused by the Nigerian civil war that interrupted his early education (and development) as the probable origin of the youthful exuberance challenges he occasionally displayed when the family returned to Lagos from the East where they moved to during the war period. His classmates at St. Finbarr’s College, Akoka which he attended after the war and from where he got his secondary school education say he was everybody’s buddy. By the time Uncle Johnny arrived at Truman College, Chicago for further education, it was clear that the Nwachukwu family had in John the makings of an exceptional social networker.

Like everybody else, Uncle Johnny’s life had its ups and downs. As he used to say, life is ‘upandan’ (up and down). From two marriages that produced three beautiful children: Rachel, Obinna and Daniella and three grandchildren (courtesy of Rachel), he never tried to pretend that he was who he was not.

Those who would wish to find out why Uncle Johnny was as popular and well liked as he was, need only to know that he was a man who was very generous with whatever he had, time or money. His acceptance of Jesus Christ as his personal saviour in the 90’s caused a transformation in his life that was evident in every aspect of it. He never forgot the role the church that helped him come to the Lord played in his life, so it was not surprising that he moved with the pastors from that church when they went on to establish another church, the International Citygate Center in Lagos where he regularly worshipped.

You know winners, not by the money they have made but by how they deal with the obstacles they encounter in the journey of life. Uncle Johnny won when he made the decision that the way out of the many struggles he faced was to come to the Lord. How many people would have imagined that a man who had spent most of his life in cosmopolitan Lagos would become a farmer in Delta State? That working with the Ibru Organization (under Olorogun Oskar Ibru) would be the path to an Uncle Johnny rebound…?

Uncle Johnny was working on a new business venture in Ghana when he passed on but that is not what people will remember him for. They will remember a man who

was quick to forgive, rarely bore a grudge and did not like people bad mouthing others. They will remember a generous heart, a man who shared whatever he had and a man who was wise enough to know that in the Lord was the answer to his limitations.

He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and all those who were acquainted with him here in Nigeria, Ghana and beyond.

He lives on in our memories in the different ways he touched and maybe shaped our lives. So all are encouraged to share on this site – today, tomorrow and in the years to come – those things about him that keep him alive in your heart and bring a smile to your face. In this way, we will keep the gift of Uncle Johnny’s life alive.

MAY THE SOUL OF JOHN ‘UNCLE JOHNNY’ NWACHUKWU, THROUGH THE MERCY OF GOD, FIND PEACE IN THE LORD AND SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST. AMEN.