Chief Okwukwe Oko Udu Ibiam Odere - Igbo Edda , known by “Chief Odere-Igbo Edda” or his last name, was born in Nigeria on September 28th, 1966 to Oko Udu Ibiam and Ola (Inya) Ibiam. The eldest of nine children, including Chimdi, Nonyerem, Lydia (d.2012), Ikechi, Okugi, Ugwumsinachi, Ephraim and Nnachi; Okwukwe spoke French along with English and Igbo, loved to run and exercise, valued his faith and appeared on the Nigerian television show Junior Opinion. He went to secondary school at Government College Umuahia, before attending the University of Calabar intending to study law but instead earned a Bachelor’s degree in Linguistics.
He then began the journey of immigrating to the United States and earning his Master’s Degree. It was there where he met his wife Zoe McAnulty (who he married in 1994) while working at a visiting Nurse’s association and it was suggested to him that he pursue a career and graduate degree in Speech Pathology, and he didn’t look back. He graduated with his MS (Master of Science) in Speech Pathology in May 1998, shortly after the birth of his first child, Chinedu Elizabeth Ola Ibiam, that February.
They then settled in Jamaica Plain before learning that their second child, Kelechi Jane Elem Ibiam was on the way and found a house in Randolph, Massachusetts. The family would go on to live there for 25 years and welcome one more member into their family, Michael Amarachi Okoudu Ibiam, in June 2003.
Okwukwe’s career as a speech pathologist would take him to early intervention centers, the Boston Public School system, and various Hospitals and nursing homes throughout the Greater Boston Area and Southeastern Massachusetts. He even ventured into Nigerian Politics, serving as the secretary for the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) USA, as well as National Publicity Secretary for APGA Worldwide from 2014-2015 under the leadership of Senator Victor Umeh, and as a member of the APGA Think Tank serving the Nigerian Intelligence in the U.S.
Okwukwe’s love of education, kindness, thirst for knowledge, and respect for others will be remembered by all who loved him. From always being there for his community, to coaching his children’s youth soccer games, to creating silly songs and watching 20th-century cartoons with his family, and ensuring that all of his clients felt fully cared for and seen, Okwukwe’s legacy will endure in all who he interacted with.
Visitation will be held at the Conley Funeral Home, 138 Belmont Street, Brockton, MA on Saturday, November 8, 2025 from 4 to 7 p.m. Interment will take place in Nigeria at a day and time to be announced.