An emotional funeral service was held in St. Albans, Queens, New York on Sunday, December 4, 2011, for Uko Moses Akpan Okpok, MD.
Representatives of Prisons Health Services, Rikers Island, where Dr. Okpok worked before his death, Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio, USA, Inc., New York Chapter of Akwa Ibom State Association of Nigeria, Mboho Ndito Nsit Attai, USA, Inc. were among those who gathered in Roy L. Gilmore Chapel to pay their last respect to Dr. Okpok, 55.
There were also mourners, sympathizers, and friends who came all the way from Texas, Washington D.C, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and New Jersey, including the publisher of the Diasporan Star, Mr. E. Udoh.
Ibibio People’s Union (IPU), Ibom Peoples’ Congress (IPC), and other Akwa Ibom Organizations, whose representatives could not attend in person, sent messages of condolence. Buffer Eyo, National President, Akwa Ibom State Association of Nigeria, USA, Inc., in a telephone message, regretted his inability to attend in person, but indicated that he would reach out to the burial committee in due course.
Dr. Okpok died after a prolonged illness November 10 at a hospital in New York.
Pastor Asuanana Etuk of Blessed Assurance Church of God, Brooklyn, New York, officiating, extolled the virtues of Dr. Okpok.
Stating that he did not “come to preach to the deceased or the dead”, Pastor Etuk urged the living to know God and to accept Jesus Christ as their lord and savior, because “salvation is not obtainable by any other name.”
Organist for the service, a fellow medical practitioner, Dr. Homer Smith, played to the familiar Christians Hymns, “Great is Thy Faithfulness, All Hail the Power of Jesus Name, and Rock of Ages. “ The diverse crowd that gathered for the service was moved when he played the Efik-Ibibio Hymn, “Se Akwa Usen Ekpere.”
Affiong Asang, a cousin, who read the obituary, summarized that, “Dr. Okpok never shied away from doing what was good for others.”
Ms. Mary Legg, Director of Human Resources, Prisons Health Services, Rikers Island, who spoke fondly of Dr. Okpok with tears in her eyes, read a poem as a tribute to the deceased. Paul Robinson, Administrator, Rikers Island, also paid tribute to Dr. Okpok.
Imeh Akpan, a Houston based business man, said, Dr. Okpok is remembered for, among other things, the numerous times he made generous donation towards the burial of a fellow Akwa Ibom man who had no family and community based projects initiated by Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio, as well as the Asan Ibibio, a traditional meeting place of the Ibibios in Akwa Ibom State.
Akparawa Sylvanus Okon, National President, Mbobo Mkparawa Ibibio, USA, Inc, and his Vice, Prof. Phillip Udo-Inyang, who read a condolence message from Mboho, extolled the virtues of the late Dr. Uko Okpok, and recounted his numerous contributions to on-going projects of the USA based group.
Celestine Akpan, President, New York Chapter of Akwa Ibom State Association of Nigeria, USA, Inc. and Dr. Godwin Umoh, President, Mboho Ndito Nsit, USA, Inc., who spoke in turns, appreciated the contributions of Dr. Okpok to the advancement of Ibibio cause, and urged every Akwa Ibomite in the Diaspora to identify themselves with a group of their choice.
Burial will be held in the family compound of the deceased in Ikot Asat, Nsit Ibom LGA, with full honor in keeping with the customs and tradition of the Ibibios.
Hon Nsikan Inokon, a former State Electoral Commissioner and former editor of the defunct Nigerian Chronicle, has been assigned by the Burial Committee to accompany the remains of Dr. Okpok home for burial. Hon Inokon, who is also a former member of the Board of Trustess of AKISAN, was presented with four giant bill board posters of the deceased for delivery to the extended family at the burial.
The burial committee comprises representatives of various Diaspora Organizations of Ibibio and Akwa Ibom State, namely, Ibibio People’s Union, Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio, USA, Inc. Ibom People’s Congress (IPC), New York Chapter, Akwa Ibom State Association of Nigeria, USA, Inc. (AKISANY), Mboho Ndito Nsit, USA, and Prisons Health Services, as well as non-members, friends, and sympathizers.
The committee, which has so far raised approximately $13,000.00, including $4000.00 from and anonymous donor, was constituted to, among other goals, raise money needed to cover the funeral expenses and to transport the remains home.
Reported by Samuel E, New York
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