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Cate. T. J. A. Ogbonna. |
Birth
Catechist
Josiah Taylor Azubuike Ogbonna (a.k.a. Dee Taylor) of St.
Benedict’s Catholic Parish Ntigha, Aba Diocese Nigeria was born on July 25,
1935, in the present Umu Uwa-oma Ugaa, Oria na Ugaa Autonomous Community,
Ntigha Ancient Kingdom in Isiala Ngwa North LGA, Abia State Nigeria.
Education
He
attended the following schools: Group School Eziama Ntigha (1946-1949) and
Community School Amapu Ntigha (1950-1953), both in Isiala Ngwa North LGA, Abia
State Nigeria. County Teachers' Training College Ogoja, Cross River State
Nigeria (1962-1965), and Teachers' Training College Ihie, Isiala Ngwa North
LGA, Abia State Nigeria (1973-1974).
Marriage
He got
married to Mrs. Cordelia Mmaweze Ogbonna (nee Chikwendu) in
December 1969. The marriage is blessed with five surviving sons. His second
son, Master Chibueze Eusebius Nwokeukwu died in 1989 at the age of 17.
Occupation
He was a
teacher from 1956 to 1992. His first teaching appointment was with the school
authorities of St. Paul’s Catholic Parish Wanokom, in the present Cross River
State of Nigeria, from 1956 till the Nigerian-Biafran Civil War. After the war,
he was re-absorbed by the then Ministry of Education, East-Central State of
Nigeria in 1970. He taught in many primary schools in Ntigha and Nsulu in the
present Isiala Ngwa North LGA, Abia State Nigeria. He retired at the rank of
Headmaster Special Class in 1992.
Ecclesiastical Service
Before
his retirement from Civil Service in 1992, he joined the services of Catechists
in the Catholic Diocese of Aba Nigeria in 1986. He served as a Catechist in the
then Ngwa-ukwu Zone under St. Anthony’s Catholic Parish Nbawsi, Aba Diocese
Nigeria (St. Bernadine’s Ihie, St. John’s Abayi, and St. Theresa’s Amoji) from
1986 to 1990. He returned to his home parish, St. Benedict’s Catholic Parish
Ntigha, Aba Diocese Nigeria as the second Parish Catechist in 1990. He was
later transferred to CKC Eziama Central, St. Peter’s Umuekpe, and St.
Augustine’s Avo, all in St. Benedict’s Catholic Parish Ntigha. He was serving
his second tenure in CKC Eziama Central till his death.
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Death
Catechist
Ogbonna died on January 1, 2014, the first day of his 79th year of age and 28th
year as a Catholic Catechist.
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Ichie T. J. A. Ogbonna (Dee Taylor) |
Personal and Social Life
Catechist
Josiah T. A. Ogbonna was popularly known as J. A. by his fellow teachers, as Taylor
by his elders and age mates, and as Dee Taylor by the younger
ones. He was a Choirmaster in the old Nbawsi Parish in the 1970s. He served
mostly as a secretary and financial secretary in many secular and
ecclesiastical organisations. Till death, he was the Welfare Secretary of the
Aba Catholic Diocesan Catechists, Nbawsi Vicariate, and also the pioneer Ichie (King-maker)
representing Umu Uwa-oma Ugaa, in Oria na Ugaa Autonomous Community, Isiala
Ngwa North LGA, Abia State Nigeria. He would always be remembered as a teacher
to the core in academics, faith and morals. He would be missed for his
serious-mindedness in public and private affairs, and for his ancient proverbs
and humorous jokes.
