Learning the hard and Realistic way was the only thing in your dictionary, as it molded and shaped us all the way reality made it to be so.... Receiving my first sanction from you made me feel it was all about wickedness but I grew to realise it was all part of training... hearing your demise was a shock to me as we already planned on paying a courtesy visit by December as usual, Only for us to find out that our next visit would be to say the last goodbye...Your popular quote "Either you are or you're not..No two ways about it'your two fingers shown on the air..
You left a very big legacy which would never be wiped as long as Discipline is concern in the Educational system...I will really miss you OKOMAN....
CBNATION

My self realization started right from Saint Teresa's College. A clime manned by Fr. JohnMartin. I am grateful for all those years. Farewell daddy

Your impact will forever remain fresh in our memories. Even though I didn't enjoy your leadership but the little I witnessed, you inculcated Discipline in me. May your soul rest in the bossom of the Lord. We love you Fr

Words fail me to aptly describe the type of being Rev. Fr. JohnMartins "Okoman" Chukwuemeka Chikani was. He was a disciplinarian, dedicated to an examplary leadership, training, guidance, firm yet compassionate fatherhood. And in all of these, he was a spiritual father and counselor as a priest, most of the order of mass in Latin that I know, I learnt from him.

He stood firmly against injustices, oppression, nepotism, favoritism and greed. His disciplinary principles made him stand out in Nsukka communities as was known to discipline not just his students, but any student he encounters outside their school during school hours.

He was a force to be reckoned with. He was selfless, very hard working, a proud farmer (he was very excited and encouraged me when he knew I studied Veterinary Medicine), a great philanthropist, empathetic and irrespective of the scary tough exterior, was really very kind and gentle on the inside.

I will hold on dear to the beautiful memories with him; the jovial meetings with us who resided in the dormitories at the start of each term, his warm hugs, always saying he missed us while we were on holidays, the hearty laughters, the held back tears when STOBA 2010 set had visited his school in Obollo after our graduation, how proud and happy he was about our growth during the most recent visit.

Like he would always say, Que sera sera. We can't change what will be. I'll miss you very much, Father. Rest in the bossom of God the father. You are greatly loved. We promise to carry on your legacy and pass it on too, as that would surely live on.

With my heart and with my soul, I love you John, In my prayers, I remember you always. Rest in peace my Okoman.

Your son, Dr. Raymond Ezugwu.
(STOBA '10 Set)

Tribute to an Iconic Headmaster and Father of Formation.
Rev. Fr. Dr. JohnMartins Chukwuemeka Chikani (Okoman)
Headmaster, St. Teresa’s College, Nsukka (1991–2009)

There are men who teach. There are men who lead. And then there are men who form generations, chisel character, and plant values so deeply that they grow into greatness across borders and time. Rev. Fr. Dr. JohnMartins Chukwuemeka Chikani, our beloved Okoman, was all of these and more.

Okoman who insisted on being called “Headmaster” because, as he always reminded us, God alone is the Principal of the College. That humility and reverence were not just words, they shaped the very soul of the school. He set a new standard for formation, discipline, and vision while in-charge.

Feared by many, yet deeply loved by all who truly knew him, Okoman was the definition of tough love. Students, parents, teachers, and even neighbors may have winced at his strict rules and uncompromising standards but behind that discipline was a profound love for human potential. In fact, no parent ever regretted having their child pass through his hands, because he formed boys into men.

To us, he was more than a headmaster. He was a formator, educator, disciplinarian, priest, mentor, father, and moral compass. He taught us that "Bonum - Eligere" - "aiming at the highest good" was not just the school motto, but a personal mission. He often reminded us that "the sky should always be our starting point, not our limit."

He embedded values in us that have remained for life:

i. To always walk the right path, not shortcuts.

ii. The basic Latin some of us know today and enjoy chanting at mass

iii. To pocket trash when no bin is nearby, because dignity is a discipline.

iv. To kneel upright in Mass, because reverence is non-negotiable.

v. To understand that pain can be instructive as I learned personally after receiving the famous “Ekwensu ra mu aka” cane, and still being forced to say, “Thank you, Father.”

I had two memorable encounters with him. The first was the day I met his discipline in its rawest form, his legendary cane left me struggling to walk upright for a few minutes, but I still had to say "thank you Fr." That was Okoman: discipline was not to be negotiated.

The second was after our Junior WAEC. That year, only about 15% of us passed both English and Mathematics. The policy was clear; fail one, and you’re expelled. Fearing mass dismissal, I wrote him a letter appealing for consideration. In typical Okoman fashion, he summoned me; not to change his mind, because when it was made, it was made but to defend what I wrote. We had a 30–45 minute conversation. He made it clear that even if only 20 students are in SO, he's good with it and “there’s nothing anyone can do about it.” True to form, he stood his ground. But fate intervened: over the holiday, he was transferred, and we all returned to school. Still, that meeting taught me something - he was immovable, not because he didn’t care, but because he believed in structure, in principle, and in the long-term good of every child under his care.

There are countless stories about Fr. Chikani that could fill volumes. Stories of laughter, of pain, of growth, of transformation. Stories that alumni across the globe still share with pride and gratitude.

Today, we mourn, but we also celebrate:

STOBITES across generations have lost a mentor.

Nsukka Diocese has lost a rare priestly gem.

Enugu State has lost a living legend.

And Owerre Eze Oba has lost a true son.

But what Okoman gave us can never be lost. He gave us values, vision, and a vocation to goodness. He built men. Strong men. Principled men. And now, everything he drilled into us, those early mornings, the hard knocks, the high expectations, they all make sense now.

I love you, John.
And when you go, come back again.
It’s now my (our) turn to pray for you.

Rest in peace, Headmaster. Rest in peace, Okoman. Rest in peace, my namesake, Chukwuemeka.

The legend bows with grace, and his watch has ended.


An icon who taught us that “Only the best is good enough.”
He set the sky as our starting point and refused to let us settle for less. He understood the storms and chaos of the world, yet he armed us with faith in God, belief in ourselves, and the strength to ignore the distractions and noise that seek to weaken men.

He transformed us from boys into steadfast men, reminding us that “If you can’t beat them, join them” is the anthem of the foolish. He spoke little, but his life was the loudest sermon. Leading not by words, but by example.

He is Rev. Fr. Dr. Johnmartins Chukwuemeka Chikani. One of the greatest gifts my beloved family gave me. Mentor, your sons are forever proud. We will live by the codes you instilled in us. We will make you proud.

You are not gone. You have simply passed the torch. Your impact on this world is carved in the lives you’ve touched. Your name and your legacy will endure. You are a hero, and I will tell my sons about you.

A Life Well Lived — A Shepherd of Souls

Today, we celebrate not just a man, but a legacy.
Rev. Fr. Dr. John Martin Chukwuemeka Chikeani was more than a principal — he was a mentor who shaped minds, a moulder of men whose discipline was firm yet fatherly, and a teacher whose lessons reached far beyond the classroom.
He led with wisdom, guided with compassion, and stood as a beacon of integrity. His life was a living homily — preaching through example, inspiring through service, and correcting with love.
Fr. Chikeani taught us that discipline is not punishment but preparation; that faith is not merely spoken but lived; that leadership is not about authority but about service to God and humanity.
As we remember him, we do not mourn like those without hope. We rejoice that we walked with a great man of God. His footprints remain in our hearts, his words echo in our minds, and his values continue to shape our paths.
Rest well, Father. Your race was well run, your faith kept, and your crown awaits you in glory.
Vincent Chikwado Ogbonna
(2008 STOBA )

Rev. Fr. Dr. John Martins Chikeani was a man of greatness, whose legacy will remain evergreen in the hearts of all who knew him. He was a leader, a mentor, and a father figure to many.

Looking back at the three years I spent at Saint Theresa’s College, Nsukka, I am filled with profound joy and gratitude that my parents chose to send me there during your tenure as principal.

Under your firm but loving discipline, I learned to stand strong, make wise decisions, and uphold values that have shaped my life ever since.

You never discriminated or showed favoritism. Regardless of background or economic status, you treated every student with fairness and dignity. Those of us privileged to pass through your leadership can truly say we were blessed.

Once a STOBA, always a STOBA. Bonum Father! Eligere my son!. Rest peacefully in the bosom of the Lord, dear Father. Your work lives on in us.

Rest in peace to a great man — the one who taught me the value of resilience and self-discipline. I am deeply grateful for all that you did. Though I am saddened by your departure, I find solace in the faith that your legacy and spirit live on with us. Rest in peace, Okoman.

Rip to the man that made me fearless in life
Truly,His legacy will never be forgotten