Final Farewell Held for Late Mrs. Priscilla Queen Nwanediye Mark as Family, Dignitaries Gather in Omagwa

Family members, friends, associates and top government officials from across the country gathered in Omagwa, Rivers State, to bid farewell to Late Mrs. Priscilla Queen Nwanediye Mark, fondly known as Mama Lolo and Da Kweni, whose life of faith, service and unity left a lasting imprint on generations.

Late Mrs. Priscilla Queen Nwanediye Mark passed on November 16, 2025, at the grand age of 95, having been born in 1930. Funeral and burial rites were held at St. Martin’s Anglican Church, Omagwa, after which she was laid to rest at Ihunda Castle, Omuchetu-Omagwa, amid prayers, tributes and solemn reflections.

Born in Rukpakwolusi Kingdom, Obio, she hailed from the families of Late Jeremiah K. Ukpabi, Late Wokocha Worhorti and Late Mark A. Kanu, Her father, Jeremiah K. Ukpabi, was a warrant chief who presided over a native court, while her mother, Agnes Hunda Ukpabi (née Okocha), was of the ruling house of Rukpakwolusi. Her lineage remains notable, with HRH Chibuzor Okocha currently serving as the paramount ruler of the kingdom.

Mrs. Mark attended Holy Trinity Primary School, Rumuigbo, but could not complete her education beyond Primary Four due to early marriage. Despite this, she became a strong advocate for education, ensuring her children had access to schooling and personally following up on their welfare and academic progress.

She was married in a polygamous setting as the second wife to Mark A. Kanu, a respected community leader and the first councillor representing Omagwa, Ozuoha, Ipo and Omademe during the early days of local government administration under British colonial rule. He was re-elected in 1962. Together, they combined farming with public service.

A dutiful wife and hardworking farmer, Mrs. Mark had eight children, five of whom are still alive, and was blessed with two sets of twins. After the Nigerian Civil War, she engaged in trading, dealing in vegetables, garri and dry fish, where she excelled through diligence and honesty.

An unwavering member of the Anglican Communion, she remained devoted to her faith from beginning to end, instilling Christian values, respect for tradition and noble conduct in her children and step-children. She was widely known for her hospitality and exceptional cooking, welcoming friends, relatives and visitors with warmth and generosity.

In her later years, particularly the last 25 years of her life, Mrs. Mark devoted herself to preaching peace and unity, often mediating disputes within the three families that defined her life. Known for her truthfulness, gentle spirit and strong interpersonal relationships, she lived peacefully with all who came her way.

Described as a virtuous woman who believed deeply in the institution of marriage, she stood by her husband through both challenging and prosperous times. A lover of children, she was a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, affectionately calling children “Omu-Chineke,” reflecting her deep faith in God.

The funeral service drew top government officials, legal luminaries, traditional rulers, clergy and community leaders from across Nigeria, underscoring the wide respect she commanded through her family and legacy.

Speaking on behalf of the family, her first son, High Chief Ibrahim Eddy Mark, a Life Bencher and President of the African Bar Association, expressed gratitude to God for her long, fulfilled life, noting that she “ran a good race” and completed her earthly purpose.

Late Mrs. Priscilla Queen Nwanediye Mark is remembered as a woman of beauty, strength, peace and truth, whose legacy of faith, unity and love will continue to resonate within her family, church and the wider Omagwa community.