BIOGRAPHY OF CHINYERE EMETU AWA (NEE KALU UDONSI)BIRTHPLACE AND PARENTAGEChinyere Emetu Awa (nee Kalu Udonsi) was born into the Umunaya Dynasty of Elu Ohafia on October 31st 1970 in Elu Ohafia. She was the youngest child of Late Chief Kalu Udonsi Mba, the Ezeogo of Elu Ohafia and his wife, Nnenna Udonsi. Chinyere grew up with her uncle, Mr. K.K. Oyeoku.EDUCATIONChinyere attended Imo State University primary school Etiti, and Ezeoke girls' secondary school, Nsu, Imo State. There after, she went to Abia State University Uturu where she studied Library Science and graduated with honors. At her time of death, Chinyere was pursuing a Masters' degree in Public Health from the University of Liverpool, United Kingdom.CHRISTIAN LIFEChinyere was a strong believer and a good christrian. She was at various times the youth leader and praise and worship leader at the Presbyterian Churches in Okokomaiko Lagos as well as Abuja.PROFESSIONAL LIFEChinyere started her career with Nigeria Youth AIDS Programme (NYAP) as a volunteer. She became a full time staff of the Nigeria youth Aid Programme (NYAP) in 1995 as a Liberian during which assisted in setting up the Youth Resource and Training Center of the organization. After this position, she became Project Manager of NYAP's School Based Project (SPB): a project which she initiated in 1996. In 1997, Chinyere was promoted to the position of Head, Programme Planning and Implementation (PPI) Unit of NYAP. Within the same year she became the Project Coordinator of NYAP during which she consolidated the position of NYAP as a Leading HIV/AIDS Orgnaization for youth in Nigeria.
In 2002, she moved to the position of Team Leader, HIV programmes in ActionAID Nigeria (AAN) as a pioneer staff. In recognition of her outstanding work and stellar qualities, Chinyere was appointed into an international position for ACTIONAID UK, as the Coordinator for International Partnership Development, West and Central Africa. In this position, she supported countries in West and Central Africa to develop their capacity in establishing, developing and managing donor relations.
Chinyere authored and co-authored several publications on HIV/AIDS Policy, Human Rights and Youth Involvement and contributed to the evolution of Nigeria's response to HIV/AIDS among youth in the country. She was greatly loved by colleagues, friends and clients, she was easy to work with, and her collegial nature is exemplified by the outpouring of love from her colleagues around the globe.
MARITAL LIFEChinyere was happily married to Mr. Agwu Emetu Awa. They made a great couple and she will be missed by her husband.LEGACYChinyere's mother, Mrs Nnenna Kalu Udonsi, siblings and entire family have lost a rare gem, but are comforted by the fact that she did not die in vain, as she left a legacy of respect for human dignity and sincere service in all her dealings within her short stay in life. The family is grateful to God for allowing Chinyere to be with them for the period of time she was on this side of the veil and we know that she is watching over us. The family is also grateful to God for the hope of eternal life and resurrection and will cherish the memories of her kindness, love, genuine affection and comfort to others in their time of need. Job 19:25 "as for us we know that our Redeemer Lives"; Romans 8:37 "in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For we are convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
