Beloved family, dear friends, and cherished members of the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital community,

We gather today under the gentle weight of memory and gratitude to honour a woman who was far more than a name. She was our matriarch, our intercessor, and a quiet force to be reckoned with.

Today, we celebrate the extraordinary life of Mrs. Rebecca Aikhomu.
Many years ago, this hospital was born out of the vision of her beloved husband—our father, our benefactor, and a proud, distinguished son of Esan land. When he was called to glory, a profound question lingered: Who would guard the vision? Who would embody its heart?

The answer soon became clear. Mrs. Rebecca Aikhomu stepped forward—not with a title, but with purpose. She became the living bridge between her husband’s dream and our present reality. Through every season and every challenge, she stood as the unwavering custodian of the legacy entrusted to her care.

I speak today not only as the Chief Medical Director of Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, but also as a personal beneficiary of her faith. After her husband’s passing, and upon my assumption of office as CMD, the responsibility of leadership felt daunting. Steering this great institution amid its battles and burdens was no small task.

It was during one of those early, quiet moments at the helm that I received a handwritten letter from her. Those words, penned with grace and intention, became my compass. She wrote:

“The vision remains. My husband planted, but you must water. Do not lead with fear, but with faith. I am praying for you—for strength you did not know you had, for wisdom beyond your years, and for a peace that will guard your heart.”

These were the words of a woman who transformed grief into grace and memory into mission. She never sought the spotlight, yet she illuminated our path. She often reminded us, “This hospital is not a monument to the past; it is a living promise for the future. Treat it as such.” And she lived by that truth.
Her personality was a rare blend of quiet dignity and formidable resolve. She listened more than she spoke, but when she spoke, her words carried the weight of wisdom and the warmth of a mother’s heart. Her final visit to ISTH before her passing—when she was celebrated—was itself a silent sermon on faithfulness and endurance.

To her precious children, who so generously shared her with us after their father’s passing, we extend our deepest love and gratitude. You understand better than anyone the depth of her strength. You witnessed her walk through loss with unwavering faith, and you saw her channel her love for your father into an enduring commitment to this institution he cherished. In doing so, she taught us how to turn love into lasting action.
To you, her children, I offer this word of encouragement: your mother lived a life of dual legacies. She built a family anchored in love and a community founded on service.

The resilience that carried her through grief and guided this institution is now your inheritance.
When you miss her counsel, look to one another—you are her living testimony. When you wonder what she would say, listen to the quiet strength within you; it is her voice, woven into your spirit. Honour her by living with the same integrity, loving with the same fierceness, and holding firmly to the faith that anchored her life. She prepared you well. You carry not only her name, but her fortitude.
To the entire family, please know this: Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital is, and will always remain, part of your family’s story. We are the keepers of the promise your parents made. We mourn with you, we celebrate with you, and we solemnly pledge to uphold the legacy they jointly entrusted to us.

Late Mrs. Rebecca Aikhomu—our dear mother—your vigil is over. Your work, marked by faithfulness and love, is complete. You have been joyfully reunited with your beloved husband. We remain here, standing firmly on the foundation you both laid, forever grateful.
May her gentle and faithful soul rest in perfect and eternal peace.

Thank you.

Prof. Reuben Agbons Eifediyi
Chief Medical Director
Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital