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Twelve years ago they were joined together in wedlock as husband and wife. And to put a divine seal to the union, the officiating man of God had pronounced thus: "What God has joined together, let nobody put asunder".
Twelve years ago they were joined together in wedlock as husband and wife. And to put a divine seal to the union, the officiating man of God had pronounced thus: "What God has joined together, let nobody put asunder". And indeed Kingsley Chimankpa Akor and his wife, Faith Onyeyirichi remained inseparable in their marriage until death came calling through the ill-fated Bellview flightB3-210 which crashed in Lisa village at Ifon, Ogun State on the night of Saturday October 22, 2005.
But even death could not separate them as they died together in the crash. Unfortunately by this tragic departure, they have left their four children Emmanuel(12), Ruth(10), Nehemiah(8) and Victory(6) orphans.
The wife, Mrs. Faith Akor(nee Okereke), who was passenger number 55 on that ill-fated flight has been variously described by relations and friends, especially her fellow church members at the Deeper Life Church as an evangelist, prayer warrior, jovial colleague, inspirational speaker, natural leader and affectionate sister.
She was born in November 1965 at Umuchukwu Eziama in Ngor Okpala LGA of Imo state to the late Mr Clifford Okereke and Mrs Martha Okereke, who as devout Christians gave their children a very solid moral foundation.
She began her primary school education at the Development Primary School Eziama and had her secondary education at Egbu Girls Secondary school, Egbu, Owerri. She proceeded to Auchi Polytechnic where she read Business Management and worked briefly with Royal Foam in Sharada, Kano before returning to the same school to complete her Higher National Diploma. She later obtained an MPA from Delta state University in 1998.
Sister Faith Kingsley Akor joined Oceanic Bank in 1992 where she worked until her death. She began her Oceanic Bank career as Personal Secretary to the MD/Chief Executive in Lagos and served in several branches later. She also attended several internal courses organised by the Bank.
She was a member of the Oceanic Bank Monitoring Team and rose to become the Assistant Administrative Manager with the Wuse Branch of the Bank in Abuja. She had just completed a three-day Middle Management Course organised by Oceanic Bank in Lagos and was flying back to Abuja with her husband when she met her untimely death.
Sister Faith was an extraordinarily prayerful and religious person; she lived her life completely devoted to the service of the Lord. She was a committed member of the Deeper Life Bible Church and although she worshiped at the Utako church, she and her husband were well known to the entire congregation in Abuja and beyond.
In fact it was their zeal to attend the Sunday Church Service that led them to take the fateful decision to board the same plane late Saturday from Lagos against their practice of travelling separately. All other colleagues of hers who attended the Banking Course were easily persuaded to stay the night but Sister Faith and her Husband were adamant they wanted to attend the church service in Abuja on Sunday.
She married Brother Kingsley Akor, a medical laboratory scientist with First Consultants Hospital in Abuja in April 1993 and they were blessed with four children Emmanuel (12) Ruth (10), Nehemiah (8) and Victory (6).
According to her brother, Dan Okereke: "We will never cease to mourn Sister Faith in this Life for we miss her strong sense of family, duty and most of all, total devotion to the service of God. Her Church members, colleagues and family will truly and deeply miss her and they would remain inconsolable because the sudden, tragic death of Sister Faith and Bro Kingsley is too grave for human comprehension".
The husband, Kingsley Akor was Passenger No 56 of the ill-fated Flight B3-210. Born March 1964 at Umuojinaka Ubomiri in Mbaitoli LGA of Imo State to Chief Victor Akor (Udo I of Ojinaka) and Lolo Lucy Akor who are committed Catholics.
Brother Kingsley, as he was popularly called began his primary and secondary education at Christian Missisory School Apapa Lagos. He later proceeded to the Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic Afikpo and later the University of Nigeria Nsukka where he read Medical Laboratory Sciences in 1989.
He won the Nigerian Award in the Federal Ministry of Health Katsina state during his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and later worked briefly with the Ministry before joining Iduna Hospital Apapa in 1991.
To improve his academic and professional standing, he was said to have obtained an MBA from the Delta State University in 2000 and MSc in Environmental Pollution from the Federal University of Technology Owerri. Before his death, he was preparing for his doctorate degree in environmental sciences.
Bro Kingsley joined First Consultants Medical Centre in 1992 as a General Laboratory Scientist and attended many internal courses and workshops. He later rose to become Head of Department and was deployed to the Abuja International Diagnostic Centre in charge of clinic and environment. It was here there he worked until his death.
He was dedicated and trustworthy and had the respect of his boss and colleagues. He was returning from Lagos to Abuja after consulting with his MD on the affairs of the Abuja Diagnostic Centre when he boarded the Bellview Flight with his wife, Faith, who was returning from a 3-day Course organised by Oceanic Bank, where both met their untimely deat
For a man who is popular among his friends and professional colleagues Kingsley would for a long time be remembered for his burning zeal for the Gospel and his passion to win more souls for Christ.
He was a consecrated and committed Christian, a humanist, an avid reader, a cheerful host, a focused and disciplined leader, a visionary, compassionate motivator. In his Charismatic approach to life and total devotion to Faith, he impacted positively upon many lives. In his brief stay on earth he remained committed to his wife and children, giving them a sound moral training and qualitative education. He was so fond of his wife that even death could not do them part.
The Deeper Life Bible Church in Utako and Abuja of which he was a fully dedicated member, worker and leader gravely miss Bro Kingsley and Sister Faith Akor. As a Zonal leader and fresh graduate of the International Bible Training centre, the Church had come to depend on Kingsley's honesty, commitment and Charisma as well as his quality and effective service.