Nkechi Colwell: The British nurse who dedicated 35 years of her life to serving mentally ill patients in Abia village
Three weeks ago, after a church service in London, an elderly lady in a wheelchair tapped me on the back. She asked me in Igbo, “Are you Igbo?” I was surprised but nodded in affirmation. She smiled and asked, “Which part of Igbo land are you from?”
I told her, and she smiled again, saying, “M ruru ọrụ na Steeti gị for more than 35 years,” which loosely translates to, “I worked in your state for more than 35 years.”
As she shared her story, I realized that she was Nkechi Rosalind Colwell. Overcome with emotion, I knelt down and hugged her in tears.
Nkechi had come to Uzuakoli in Abia State as a young nurse and served in the Leper Colony there. She was deeply touched by our lackadaisical attitude towards mental health, especially the plight of our mentally-challenged siblings roaming the streets.
To address this issue, Nkechi opened a home for the mentally ill at Amaudo, Itumbauzo. She went around the whole of Abia State, picking up and admitting our siblings to this home, where they received medical care, learned a skill, and some were rehabilitated and reintegrated into society.
Nkechi left the comfort of her home in the United Kingdom and dedicated her entire life to serving the most deprived in forgotten corners of our homeland.
As her sister later told me, “She is Nigerian and hardly identifies as British. She still eats your food and desires to return home back to you someday…”
Her fluency in Igbo language thrilled us all, and we spoke for almost an hour.
She was given the name Nkechi by Late Pa Herbert Osoka. The community she served gave her a chieftaincy title, and she was also knighted by the Methodist Church.
Unfortunately, Nkechi suffered a massive stroke attack at Itumbauzo, which left her partially paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair. She had to go back to the United Kingdom, against her personal desire due to the poor state of our healthcare.
People like Nkechi Colwell deserve sainthood. In a country where national honours are bestowed on undeserving politicians and highest-bidding business men, Nkechi’s name can be easily forgotten. In a state where selective amnesia rules her political class, Nkechi won’t be found fit for the “Enyi (Elephant) Abia” state honours and their likes.
I thanked Nkechi for her service to an ungrateful people like us. I told her that her breed is rare, and when the roll is called, I believe she will be counted as the Righteous Among The Nations.
Thank you, Ms. Nkechi Colwell.
Credit: Uche Anyanwagu
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