Although his exit marks the beginning of a journey into eternity, it also marked the end to one that began 78 years ago in the town of Eziowelle, Anambra State, Nigeria. Iche Augustine Francis Chukwuemeka Ikemelu (Agbogidi of Eziowelle, Augu, Austin Seventy) was born on 27th July, 1933. He was the first son of Late Edward Nwamma Ikemeludike of Odida Village, Eziowelle and late Mrs Esther Ndubuaku Ikemelu(nee Okeke Egwu) of Umunnama Eziowelle. He spent most of his growing up and bachelor years with his maternal grandparents at Umunnama. His late Uncles, Ben Okekegwuand Gilbert Okeke Egwu played prominent roles in his upbringing. EDUCATION: Augu (as he was fondly called in eziowelle) started his primary education at St Edward primary school, eziowelle in 1942. He did both infant I and II in 1942 because his teachers said he was over intelligent and over-height. His prowess at secretary ship started manifesting quite early in his life because while in standard One in 1944, people began coming to him to write letters for them in igbo and English ; a no mean feat for a boy of his age then. He remembered those letters as being full of “ I hold in hand your work is going well; let me see you in eye face to face”. Papa also studied at St Patrick’s Primary School Ogbete Enugu and Preliminary Teacher Training College, Eke before proceeding to St. Charles college, Onitsha in 1953 for his Higher Elementary. As a student in St Charles, he was the special assistant to the famous principal of the school, Bro. Malachy Touhy and was also greatly popular for his goalkeeping, neatness, handwriting and fluency in the English Language. After graduating, he taught at PTC Iwollo and then, St Charles, Onitsha from where he went to the University of Ibadan to study Economics. After his first session in the University, Augu became a recipient of the University Scholarship alongside his friends Professors Ginigeme Mbanefo and Nnaemeka Ikpeze. The scholarship was God-sent as papa was then finding it extremely difficult sponsoring himself in the school. He graduated in 1967. WORK EXPERIENCE: Agbogidi was a school administrator par excellence. He worked in the following places Tutor, St Charles TTC, Onitsha, 1970 – 1975 Tutor, Ngwa High School, Ngwa Vice principal, Christ the King College, Onitsha, 1976 – 1980 Principal, St Jude’s College, Ihiala, 1980 – 1985 Principal, St Charles TTC, Onitsha, 1985 - 1988 Principal, St Charles secondary school; Onitsha, 1988 – 1992 President, customary court, Ogidi, 1993 – 1996 Incidentally, Agbogidi composed the ever green St Charles anthem, ”A Song for SCC” in 1978 as part of the Golden jubilee celebration. The height of his school administratorship was also at St Charles, as its Principal. There, he left behind a yet- to – be surmounted legacy. FAMILY LIFE: Agbogidi met his soul mate in the well- groomed Agnes Okwunna Okeke, the last daughter of Late Patrick and Late Mary Okeke Adimmaonye of Eziogidi village, Ogidi. They were wedded by Francis Cardinal Arinze, then Archbishop of Onitsha, in December 1970 at St Edwards’s, church Eziowelle. The marriage is blessed with seven children. Austin and Agnes celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on January 1st, 2011. CHRISTIAN LIFE: In his yet to be published memoir, Agbogidi wrote “ Christianity in Eziowelle was one of my vital experiences in life…….. Having spent the first eight or nine years of my life in the Salvation Army Church, Eziowelle, I embraced the Roman Catholic Mission Of Jesus Christ, with all the attributes and power of Jesus Christ. I have remained and shall remain a catholic all my life”. As young as Augu was then (9yrs), his parents could not dissuade him from leaving them in the Salvation Army for the Catholic Church; most of his playmates then were “ndi uka father”. Full of zeal for his faith, Augu started playing very active roles in the church quite early in life. Worthy of mention is his role in the building of St Edward catholic church, eziowelle. Having discovered that his people were being penalized for failing to go to the periodic clearing work at Most Holy Name, Abatete (St Edward was an out station of the parish), Augu reasoned “after all of us joined hands to build Dunukofia and Abatete Churches, who was going to help us build our own church in Eziowelle”. So, at the St Edward Church Home and Abroad meeting of August 1957, augu moved a motion that the Eziowelle Catholic community start building it’s own church. This was unanimously supported. There and then, Alex Obiora Snr. was appointed the chairman of the church building committee, Agbogidi, secretary while a letter was drafted to Jeremiah Okon Obiora to transfer his posting from Umunze to Eziowelle, so as to help collect and keep the levy for the proposed church. The white parish priest labeled Augu ‘a revolutionary’ and had him reported to the authorities at Onitsha but the latter eventually saw reason with them and so started the building of what is today known as St Edward Catholic Church . Papa’s love for true church music was unalloyed. Having been nurtured in the reading, writing and singing of music by Late Sir Fred Okafor, Agbogidi became a member and later Secretary of Onitsha Archdiocesan Liturgical Music Commission (OALMC). Rev. Msgr. Cyril Ezenduka was its chairman then. It was during their tenure that the Catholic Choirs Association of Onitsha Archdiocese was formed. Prior to this membership, in the fifties, Augu used to organize, alongside Augustine Okafor, Josephat Anizoba, etc regular choir and singing in St Edwards, Eziowelle. From Augu’s personal handwritten singing notebook which contained many rare church hymns, he lifted some hymns which the OALMC complied into the popular “Sing and Pray” hymn book. He also played a major role in the coming into existence of “The Catholic Igbo Hymn Book. He personally, edited the manuscript of the Hymn book. Iche Agbogidi was called into the Knighthood of St Mulumba (KSM) in 1975. He was for several years the Deputy Grand Knight of Onitsha Sub-Council. In 1979, Austin and his wife, our mother, Agnes became members of Worldwide Marriage Encounter, a movement for catholic married couples and priests. They later rose to become the Team Leaders of the movement in Nigeria together with Late Rev. Fr. Aaron Ekwu. This outside the shores of Nigeria . COMMUNITY LIFE: In 1976, Papa was chosen by Odida village to represent it at the Owelle-in-Council consequently, he took the title name “AGBOGIDI” a name that means “greatest, highest and deepest, in power, goodness and dignity”. He was also an ex-officio member of the Executive of Eziowelle Improvement Union, Nigeria. He Co-authored the book “Uzubi Kwenu” which is a concise history of the origin of Eziowelle and all families therein. Papa was a lover of poetry and had many unpublished poems to his credit. During the war at the request of Joseph Onuora Nzekwu, papa wrote the wordings for the popular Igbo song “Enenebe Ejeolu” which Nzekwu composed into a song with which they toured places soliciting alms for Biafra. In everything Agbogidi did, he endeavored to bring the light of Christ to bear on it. He was a peace-loving man and would readily do anything possible to restore peace to a warring situation. Papa always took an active part in whatever group he belonged to. He had never aspired to any leadership position, but always had leadership thrust upon him by circumstances and to our eternal pride and joy, he would always leave behind an enviable record and legacy in such positions because he believed strongly in “ezi afa ka ego” (a good name is better than riches.) Agbogidi took ill in Febuary 2011 and on the 17th of March, 2011, the all-knowing God decided to call him to Himself.