But those dreams will never metamorphose into reality, as the young man met his painful end on Friday, October 1. Since the incident, Ehirim’s family, friends and colleagues have been in grief.
The indigene of Imo State, who would have clocked 38 on November 11, this year, was one of the people who lost their lives in the bomb explosions that rocked Abuja during Nigeria’s 50th independence anniversary.
A cousin to the deceased, Mr. Theo Nwaigbo, a lawyer, described the late Ehirim as a calm, honest and diligent young man. Ehirim, Nwaigbo noted, was professionally ambitious and an introvert to the core.
He got married early this year and the union was yet to produce a child before death laid its cold hands on him. The bereaved wife, Daily Sun learnt, presently carries Ehirim’s baby in her womb.
Born to the family of Mr. and Mrs. Ehirim in Ile-Ife, Osun State on November 11, 1972, the late Insurance executive had his primary and secondary education in Ile-Ife before proceeding to the University of Uyo, where he graduated in Political Science and Public Administration.
He later returned to the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife for his postgraduate programme in Business Administration.
Until his death, he was the Business Manager, Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc, Abuja. Before he joined the company, he had worked with the Mutual Trust, Oasis Insurance and NICON Insurance Plc.
Nwaigbo could hardly curtail his sadness and pains as he spoke with our reporter. “He was a man of few words and full of ideas,” he recalled. “He propagated many lofty ideas in the insurance and banking industries, which made him a hot cake in the two industries. He was friendly and accommodating.
“Within the last four years, he changed his job about three times. He worked with the Mutual Trust and from there he joined the Oasis Insurance. He later worked with the NICON before he left for the Sovereign Trust Insurance, Abuja.
“I received the news of his death with unbelief. Though that Friday was a public holiday, I still went to my office. It was when I was there that an elder called me from Onitsha and broke the news to me. Then, I rushed to the village.
“He got married early this year but the marriage is yet to produce its first issue. His wife is currently pregnant. His two parents are alive and they are old, and he was the breadwinner for the family,” he said.
Nwaigbo, Head of Chambers, Theo Nwaigbo and Co on Ikorodu Road, Jibowu, Lagos said that the parents and family members of his departed cousin have not recovered from the shock of their son’s untimely death.
He explained that the family members are still depressed because Chike Cosmas Ehirim was the main source of income for the family. He wondered how Ehirim’s immediate family would cope after the demise of the young man.
Nwaigbo asserted that the insurance and banking industries have lost a gem, adding that the vacuum his death left behind would be difficult to fill.
Deputy Manager of the Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc, Mr. Bola Atoyebi, told Daily Sun: “Chike was a very nice person. He never kept malice and he was a cheerful giver. He could part with seven naira even if all he had was just ten naira. He was very accommodating.
“On insurance, he was a good marketer. He knew Abuja market very well with all the necessary information on insurance. He was very proactive and dedicated. We are going to miss him for his experience and his jokes. As a breadwinner, he took care of his family including his in-laws. He was a social person.”
Barely a week after the bomb blast, friends, family members and colleagues of the deceased gathered at his residence, Magic Pond Street, Phase I, Opposite Aso Savings, Jikwoyi, Abuja, where they did a service of songs for him on Thursday October 7.
His remains left the Maitama Hospital, Abuja for his hometown in Umuokoro, Umuihi in Ihitte Uboma Local Government area of Imo State the following day. Later that day, there was a lying in state as well as an all-night wake at his home in Umuokoro. The corpse was interred on Saturday October 9 at Umuokoro.
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