Ime Kuku

Ime Kuku was born Ime Efiong Akan on October 06, 1975 in Lagos, Nigeria. She hailed from Utit Uruan, Uruan Local Government Area of Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria. She is the first daughter (Adiaha) of Elder Efiong Daniel Akan and late Rev. Deborah Emem Akan of the Nung Oto Ndua chieftaincy family of Utit Obio, Akpe Iboku clan in Uruan Akwa Akpa, Akwa-Ibom State.

Ime was educated at St Mary’s Private School in Lagos from where she proceeded to the acclaimed Queen’s College in Yaba, Lagos where she obtained the Senior School Leaving Certificate in 1992. She was admitted to the University of Benin, Edo State, Nigeria (UniBen) where she graduated with honours and earned a Bachelor of Science (B. Sc) degree in Business Administration. While at UniBen, she was awarded the VP Award and Departmental scholarship for the most outstanding performance in 2 consecutive academic sessions. Thereafter she proceeded on the mandatory national youth service and served in Bauchi State in Northeastern Nigeria.

Ime commenced her professional career with Zenith Bank PC in 1999 and rose to become a Senior Manager before exiting the organisation due to her health challenge. She received numerous accolades throughout her academic and professional journey. Zenith Bank Plc recognized her professional excellence, honouring her with awards for operational excellence in 2001, the highest fixed deposit in the Marina Zone in 2007, and the highest profitability in the same zone in 2008.

Ever committed to improving herself, she sought and obtained her Executive Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from the Lagos Business School in 2012.

Of all her accomplishments, her greatest pride and joy were her two children, Simisola and Damilola. She was a wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, niece, friend, and devout Christian. She had a fantastic sense of humour and a deep sense of commitment and responsibility to her family whom she valued greatly. She was brilliant, kind, altruistic and generous to a fault, and a fantastic role model, setting high standards for her younger siblings to follow.

A very practical person, she bore the numerous challenges brought on by her ill health with equanimity and was often deadpan in her views concerning her illness. An extremely hard-working person, she abhorred being idle and through the nine years of her illness, even up to the time of her passing, remained committed to her personal development with plans for additional qualifications as she looked forward to rejoining the workforce someday.

Surrounded by family, Ime passed away at the age of 49 years on December 20, 2024 at the University of Tennessee Medical Centre in Knoxville, Tennessee and was preceded in death by her mother, late Reverend Deborah Emem Akan. She is survived by her aged father, her husband, her 2 children, 4 sisters and 2 brothers, and several cousins, aunts, uncles, relatives and friends who loved her dearly.

Receiving of friends will be held Saturday, January 11, 2025 at 12pm at Berry Highland West Funeral Home with a funeral service to follow at 1:30pm. Ime will be laid to rest at Berry Highland West Cemetery following services at 3pm.

Memorials/Donations may be made (or in lieu of flowers) to: Leukemia Lymphoma Society (in honor of Ime Kuku)