BASIL U. MBAH
February 11, 1932 ~ October 17, 2020
Basil Ukachukwu Mbah, Nzedịasọ, (11th Feb 1932 – 17th October 2020) was, excuse the tautology, an upright Christian gentleman. A man of few words, good sense of humour and great insight, he brought his intelligence to bear in all his dealings. His dealings were however suffused with practical Christian sense.
He studied at St. Thomas' Training College Ibusa, University of Ibadan and Universal of Reading, England, United Kingdom.. He remains in the field of education, retiring as an Inspector of Education.
His was married to Victoria Nworah for 55 years. Their 7 children remain a great testimony to their sense of the divine mission of parenthood.
Nzedịasọ was committed in all his family, social and spiritual communities. His title name bears eloquent witness to his conviction of sacred trust in traditional institutions. He was a Knight of the Church. He had a preferential love for the downtrodden. He was for over 50years a member of St. Vincent de Paul society, a society that caters to the hopelessly poor. He brought about the establishment of this society in so many communities.
Nzedịasọ will be missed by very many people beyond his family. We pray for him, and ask him to remember us also.
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MY FRIEND, BASIL, REST IN THE PEACE OF CHRIST
  It is with great sorrow that I receive news of the departure from this valley of tears of my friend, Basil Ukachukwu Mbah. Divine Providence has brought the two of us together at some milestones in life, such as our first year in the Junior Seminary at Nnewi in 1947, when I officiated as a young priest at the Holy Mass of his wedding in 1965 and in older age when I celebrated the Mass of his Wedding Golden Jubilee in 1990.
  His death is a major cross for his dear wife Victoria and for Dr. Nonso and his brothers and sisters and indeed also for all Achina citizens and for friends like me. I offer to the family my heartfelt condolences and my promise of a continued remembrance of Basil at Holy Mass for his eternal rest. Although I shall not be able to be physically present at his burial, I have celebrated a Mass for him and will continue to pray for him.
  May God give the soul of Basil eternal rest and may the Blessed Virgin Mary, mother of those that mourn, intercede for all the members of the Mbah family and obtain for them the grace to bear this cross.Â
 + Francis Card. Arinze, Vatican City, 29 October, 2020.Â
TRIBUTE TO A SEASONED UNCLE/MENTOR
Papa Nonso, Nzediaso, Basil Mbah KSM
My maternal uncle, my earliest mentor, my first friend and confidant has just quit the stage – just as
the ovation got loudest. His profile in the minds of his protegees and society in general grew in leaps
and bounds over the last ten years and had just hit an all-time high when he was suddenly called to
higher glory, a situation that calls for thanksgiving even with the pain that came with it. It is therefore
with mixed feelings of pain and thanksgiving that I write this tribute to Nzediaso.
On receiving the invitation to write this tribute, my mind went back to my childhood and adolescent
years. As a primary school child aspiring to get admission to one of the few Federal Government
Colleges in Nigeria, Nzediaso was the most optimistic of my success in the National Entrance
examinations where children from all over Nigeria came to compete for the few available spaces in
these schools, precisely two (2) schools only in each of the twelve (12) states of Nigeria in 1974. His
words saw me through. Five years after, I was in competition again with other Nigerians for a place in
one of the thirteen (13) universities in Nigeria. My parents were not convinced that I would be able to
withstand that competition, but Nzediaso once more, came up with his minority opinion. I owe my
success in the JAMB exam of 1979 to him. The rest is history.
In my adult years as a professional, Nzediaso’s mentorship still came on strongly. He never failed to
encourage me to be the best I could be in all circumstances. He followed my career as a Teacher to
my present situation and always congratulated me whenever I hit a new milestone. He made me walk
tall even in my most modest achievements.
In my personal life, he did not relent in encouraging me. His role in my marriage remains evergreen in
my memory and I remain thankful for that. As the go-between, he saw to it that traditional aspects of
my marriage ceremony were completed without any hitch. Nzediaso in addition, showed concern in
all other things that concerned my personal life. He remains undoubtedly the only relation of mine
who constantly asked after my retirement home project in Port Harcourt. Unfortunately, he will not
be physically present to witness the blessing of that house early next year.
Nzediaso’s life and times also made a lot of impact in the lives of other people in my generation. This
became evident in the reaction of people I have met in the past each time they discovered the
relationship between me and Nzediaso. They all betrayed that feeling of pleasant surprise and even
many of them could not help being nice to me in appreciation of their relationship with Nzediaso.
Looking back, I continue to remember his various contributions in my life and this tribute will never
be enough to express my feelings of gratitude for these contributions. All I can say is that I have lost a
mentor, a friend and a close confidant.
May the mercy and blessings of God accompany him as he transits from this sinful world onto higher
glory.
Fare thee well, Nzediaso!
Engr. Francis Ezeokeke
FOR A DAD WHO WAS ALWAYS THERE:
I’LL always remember a man who stood tall and sure
I’ll always remember a devout Christian
I’ll always remember a man whose strength and love for family and friends will remain a part of his legacy
I’ll always remember a just man who despises lies
I’ll always remember a man of few words but many quality actions
I don’t even know how you did it, but I’ll always remember a man who was always the first to wake my husband, children and I up on our birthdays to wish us well
I’ll always remember your facial expressions each time you’re disgusted with a negative behavior or actions
I’ll equally remember your radiant smiles whenever something or someone makes you proud
I’ll always remember you my beloved father in-law Sir Basil Ukachukwu Mbah.
One thing I’ll never forget about grandpa
Was how he always called for my birthday
To pour wishes and blessings and laughter
Nzediaso was thoughtful that way
He always urged me to be more prayerful
More studious, in general, to be a good girl
For Mass, he would abandon his sweet sweet sleep
Because his hunger(love) for God no one could quell
He stood firm for his Faith
Something few can do
He was spiritual and devout
A Catholic example for me and you
Nzediaso wasn’t just my mother’s Father,
He was a grandfather I looked up to
He was my special grandfather
A man whose ears truly listened
No matter how large my stories grew
There’s one thing we all needÂ
And it’s undivided attention
Something Nzediaso would always give
His complete focus was worth a ton
He was caring
Compassionate and patient
I remember when we told him we don’t eat garri
He thought we were from another planet
But that didn’t keep him from adjusting, he put us first and bought some semo
that act alone showed he was full of love
Made me see he truly cared
God saw him get tiredÂ
And a cure was not to be
So he put his arms around him
And whispered
“My child, Come to me”
It’s hard to believe you’re gone
But I know you’re someplace better now
Your glory shall shine like the sun
Like your heavenly robes and glorious crown
I will always miss your voice and your smile
And the memories we have, I’ll forever cherish
And when I think of you more than once in a while
I’ll be glad to know that you lived with a flourish
I had an awesome grandpa
Who’s laugh never grew old
His smile was full of sunshine
And his heart was full of gold
Lots of love grandpa
Jee nke oma
I’ll love you forever