Joseph Onyebuchi Enwerekowe, 82, of Ottawa, passed away on Thursday, September 23rd, 2021 after a valiant battle with cancer.
Joseph was born on May 5th 1939 to Jacob and Virgina Enwerekowe in Enugu, Nigeria. After graduating from the Iheme Memorial Grammar School in Arondizuogu, Nigeria, he worked for Barclay’s Bank in Abakaliki and Onitsha, before joining the Bank of America in Lagos. Moved by his concern for fair treatment in the workplace, he then joined NUBIFE. He was then offered a Commonwealth scholarship to further his studies in Industrial Relations at a joint program administered by the University of Montreal and McGill University.went on to earn an Honours Degree in Mass Communications at the University of Ottawa.
After completing the program, he moved to Ottawa to take up a position with the Canadian Labour Congress. In Ottawa, he met and married his devoted and loving wife Catherine in December 1971. After the end of his appointment with the Canadian Labour Congress, he joined the federal Department of Labour where he worked until NUBIFE offered him the position of Deputy Secretary-General in Lagos. He and Catherine moved to Lagos in October 1972. They returned to Ottawa in 1975, where he pursued a career as a consultant in Labour and Race Relations under his company Gemini Enterprises. Their son Paul Chima was born in August 1978, and two years later Joe obtained a position of Camp Manager for the Jebba Dam Project in Nigeria, where he worked two years before taking the decision to finally return to Ottawa.
Joe was a force of nature, determined to provide for his family and to give them the life he felt they deserved. His family meant more to him than anything else in the world, something he often mentioned, and as the family elder he felt a tremendous responsibility for his extended family in Nigeria. He was unendingly proud of Paul and always did his best to support him and his grandson Tristan Jacob.
Joe was also passionate about politics and was widely travelled.
Joe was predeceased by his father Jacob and his mother Virginia, and his brothers Joshua, Josiah and Anthony. He is survived by his wife Catherine, son Paul and his wife Stephanie, and grandson Tristan, brother Chike and sisters Philomena, Chioma, Nneka, Onukwue and Obiageli.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Bruyere Foundation or the Canadian Cancer Society would be appreciated. There will be a funeral service at the Christ Church Cathedral in Ottawa on October 1st at 3:00 PM. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, attendees will need to register for the funeral service at the following link: Funeral RSVP link , and a reception will be held at a later date when conditions permit.