My father is indisputably the best Father anyone can hope for.

None of you can ever be proud enough of being the child of such a Father who has not his equal in this world – so great, so good, so faultless.

It occurred to me today that my father is the Rock of my life!

My father, the man I will always look up to.

Now I look back I remember how I probably was the love of his life. Sorry Mum!

My parents didn’t have kids for six years, My father the Gentleman he is never gave my mum any headaches about it, despite being raised in a culture where the woman is blamed for such an occurrence.

My father always Gentle always teaching always correcting.

There were four of us back to back,

He spared no expense on us as we grew up.

I remember the holidays every summer like clock work a different place a different country every time.

The summer camps in the most prestigious of places.

I remember leaving for these camps and feeling like bawling my eyes out.

I remember how he never let us rest.

From such a young age, we had to all wake up early and pray. We hated it but now I’m grateful.

We had to exercise with him at the stadium every Saturday morning, I was barely five.

Why are you watching TV he would say? Read a book do something productive.

Yes he was all about being productive

Write about your day, write a proposal on why I should listen to you, write write write everyday write.

Stop walking like a penguin, don’t eat with your mouth open, say thank you to the staff, sit up straight and on and on.

Today I can’t thank him enough for the woman I am. I am who I am because of my Father. Some days I feel like he is not the Man I remember and then I remember it all , everything he did for us as we were growing up and REMEMBER I am who I am because of my Father.

I remember the day I was acquainted with darkness.

I remember my father swooping In taking charge….

I look at my eight year old daughter and I wonder will I measure up? Will I give her the upbringing that moulded me and shaped my future?

I hope so …I Pray so…

Suffice to say My father emptied himself for us and for the Igbo People and we will forever be indebted to him for everything.

Success is not measured by Monetary gain Success is measured by impact on society!

The greater good is more important than the immediate good and no one I know renacts this Like My Dear Father.

I look at Chris and I am Gobsmakingly impressed at his drive and his ability to take failure and success in stride.

I look at Chudi and I again am Gobsmacked at the knowledge that spills out of him, his level of intellect literally is second to none.

I look at Chinny and I am beyond impressed at her ability to leverage on her network and create what most cannot.

I look at Myself and I know indeed that only my father could have created the super Alien I have become achieving what people believe to be impossible quietly like our father did!

Dad you did it you created the magical children you wanted to have. All those years of boot camp created exactly what you imagined dogged individuals that will no doubt impact society.

Today I raise a glass to the Man of all Men to the best Father of all Fathers

Christopher Okechukwu Okoye

We salute you!

Happy 70th Bday!

The next years of your life will be greater than great we have no doubt

God bless you more!