Deaconess Agnes John Udo

The Life of Deaconess Agnes John Udo

A Life Well Spent

On September 18, 1961, Chief Udo Akpan Ntuek and his wife, Affiong welcomed a girl child into the world. Though they had no formal education, they had a remarkable fondness for foreign names. They named their newborn daughter Agnes, just as they had named her older siblings with similar affection and vision.

Born in Ibiaku Ntok Okpo, Ikono Local Government Area, Agnes spent the first six years of her life in her native community. In 1967, during the Nigerian Civil War, she was taken along with other members of the family to Calabar. There, she lived with her eldest brother, Sir. Sunday Udo Akpan, KJW and his young family.

Despite the disruption caused by the war, especially in the education sector, Sir Akpan remained determined to see his youngest sister formally educated. Thanks to his unwavering support, Agnes completed her primary education at Edgerly Memorial Primary School, Calabar, and earned her First School Leaving Certificate in June 1974.

Still sponsored by her eldest brother, she was admitted into the boarding house of the prestigious Immaculate Conception Girls' Secondary School, Itak, in Ikono Locl Government Area. There, she was mentored by the renowned American educator and principal, Mrs. Geo-Jaja (of blessed memory), who admired Agnes for her good manners and dignified conduct. Agnes successfully completed the West African School Certificate Examination at record time in June 1979.

Determined not to remain idle, Agnes took up appointment as clerical officer with the State School Board in Calabar from 1980 to 1981. Encouraged by her passion for education and the influence of her scholarly brother, she secured admission into the University of Port Harcourt in 1981 and was placed in the then College of Education, Uyo which was at that time an affiliate of Uniport until the former became a fully fledged University in 1983. She enrolled in the Faculty of Education with English as her major teaching subject.

While at the university, Agnes encountered the Lord Jesus Christ in a life-transforming experience. This marked the beginning of her vibrant Christian journey. She joined the Evangelical Christian Union (ECU), later known as the Nigeria Fellowship of Evangelical Students (NIFES), where she later served as a member of the Executive Committee and the Prayer Band Leader.

On October 30th, 1985, Agnes graduated with a Bachelor of Education degree in English, becoming the first female graduate in her community—a milestone achievement for both her family and hometown.

Fondly known as Aggie, she moved to Kaduna State that same year to participate in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme. She served with the Children Evangelism Ministry (CEM), Zaria. There, she found her divine calling in children evangelism. Whether in the streets, in buses, classrooms, or homes, she passionately shared the gospel, particularly in Northern Nigeria where Christians are in the minority. Her zeal was furtther fired when she participated in a major soulwinning campaign and training by Bill Bright of the Campus Crusade held at Zaria in December 1985.

After her NYSC, Agnes returned home and began her teaching career at Tarbas Secondary School, a private institution located at Ibiaku Ntok Okpo. There, in 1987, Mr. John Ededet Udo, an academic planning officer of the then University of Cross River State, who at the time was a postgraduate student on staff development at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo), Ile Ife travelled down to Ibiaku Ntok Okpo and proposed marriage to her. This, he did after seeking the face of the LORD in prayer and fasting in Ife and was duly directed by the Holy Spirit in 1986 when Agnes was still serving in Zaria. He returned to Ife to await her response.

She was later in 1987 employed by the Akwa Ibom State Teaching Service Commission and posted to Ukpaubong Secondary School, Itam, in Itu Local Government Area. She taught English for two years. Her appointment was officially confirmed by the State Secondary Education Board on August 18, 1989.

In 1990, she was transferred to Uyo High School, where she served as Acting Head of Department.

That same year, 1990, Mr. John Ededet Udo—a fellow born-again Christian, a senior in NIFES and member of such faith-based organizations as the Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association (UUEA), and Nigeria Christian Graduate Fellowship (NCGF), after seeking God's guidance through prayer and counseling, got married to Agnes. Their traditional marriage took place on October 27, 1990, and the union was solemnized in church on November 17, 1990.

On June 6, 1991, the Pioneer Newspaper published the advertisement that Miss Agnes Udo Akpan would thenceforth be known, called and addressed as Mrs. Agnes John Udo.

Their marriage was blessed with four children—three boys and one girl—all born within the first eight years of their union. Despite her responsibilities at home, Mrs. Udo remained a committed and impactful educator. In 1994, she was transferred to Community Secondary School, Aka Offot, and subsequently posted to Community Comprehensive Secondary School, Four Towns, Uyo in 1996.

At Four Towns, she was appointed Head of Religious Affairs. In this role, she fought tirelessly against the menace of cultism by organizing student fellowship, staff fellowship, outreach events, and prayer sessions. There, at Four Towns, she composed and taught the School Anthem which was happily received by all the stakeholders. Her passion for youth ministry was evident both in school and in church. She raised many "Soldiers for Christ" through Sunday school classes, Bible clubs, and Christian fellowships. Many of the children she mentored are today Christian leaders, pastors, and professionals impacting society.

Mrs. Udo also led the children's departments in various churches, including Christ Foundation Evangelistic Mission, Redemption Gospel Mission, NCGF, Victory Chapel, and the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). She was ordained an Evangelist by the Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association in 2007 and a Deaconess by RCCG in 2022.

In 2007, she transferred from the State Education Board as Senior Mistress to the Akwa Ibom State Civil Service as an Assistant Director. For the 14 years following the transfer, she served in the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health (twice), Law Reforms Commission, Government Services Office, and Hotels and Tourism Board. She was a respected and respectful civil servant known for integrity, excellence, and genuine concern for her colleagues. She ensured timely promotions for deserving staff and rejected any form of corruption.

Her spiritual light continued to shine in the civil service. She organized prayer meetings, staff fellowships and even formed the first gospel choir within the Law Reforms Commission.

In 2015, she earned a Master's degree in Public Administration, demonstrating her lifelong love for education. She was promoted to Deputy Director in 2018 and retired on her 60th birthday, September 18, 2021, as Director in the Hotels and Tourism Board, Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Among her many recognitions were the Golden Service Award from the Institute of Human and Natural Resources (2007), and Fellow, Institute of Corporate Administration (2010).

Despite her professional and ministerial commitments, Mrs. Udo was the heartbeat of her home. Fiercely loyal to her husband, Elder John E. Udo, she supported him through an illustrious career that saw him serve as Registrar of three universities. Their marriage, spanning over three decades, was a shining example of unity, peace, and divine purpose.

She believed deeply in her children—Ndudu-Abasi, Joy Sharon, Obongodiong, and Shalom—always speaking life and faith into them. She fostered a loving, joyful, and God-centered home where everyone felt cherished and cared for.

Her love extended to her siblings, in-laws, and everyone she encountered. She raised and mentored many children beyond her biological own. Her hospitality was legendary. She was the Queen of Afia Efere, Ekpangnkukwo, friedrice, etc—a culinary icon in her own right. Guests, children's friends, staff, and even pets were never left hungry in her presence.

A memorable example of her visionary spirit was in 2002, when she guided her son, Ndudu, to compose the school anthem for his young secondary school—Topfaith International Secondary School, Mkpatak. That anthem, "Topfaith, Oh How Great You Are," is now sung across the primary, secondary, and university arms of the institution.

Two months before her demise, Mummy was diagnosed of stage 3 failure on one of her kidneys, a condition nephrologists did not consider acute or life threatening. Through it all, she remained faithful, strong, and uncomplaining. She passed peacefully in the early hours of December 6, 2024, in the arms of her beloved husband.

A Legacy of Love and Purpose

Every time you reflect on the noble virtues in Philippians 4:8, think of Deaconess Agnes John Udo—a woman whose life was not only lived with excellence but poured out in service, love, and truth.

A life not just well lived, but well put to use.
A life truly well spent.