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Gwendoline Tchatchua Samson Ihekona was born on September 02 1968, in Tiko, SW province Cameroon, to Mr. John Samson who was an Acting General Manager (AGM) for Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC), and his wife, Mrs. Mary Samson, a savvy Business woman. Gwen was the last of 8 children who was showered so much love by her family but grew up and developed the attitude and character of the mother of the family.
The Samsons lived in a little resort community called; Likomba Golf Club in Tiko, where Gwen grew through her Primary, and secondary school years. As a pretty little girl, Gwen already exhibited qualities of a leader, a care taker, and one with a definite purpose in life. Despite the fact that Gwen had everything she ever needed, she never waited for things to come her way but would work hard and go for them if she wanted them.
Gwen attended St Mary’s Primary School (Girls School) Tiko from 1974 – 1981 where she finished strong and passed her Government Common Entrance Exam in List A and her First School Leaving Exam in flying colors. This gave her the opportunity to attend any Government school she wanted to but coming from a strong Catholic family, a catholic education was her only option. She then interviewed for Queen of the Rosary College (QRC) Okoyong, Mamfe as her first choice where her elder sister Pamela was enrolled at the time and Our Lady of Lourdes secondary School Mankon, Bamenda as her second choice for her Secondary education. As intelligent as she was, Gwen passed the interview and gained automatic admission into QRC. However, Gwen chose to go to Our Lady of Lourdes secondary School instead, with her best friend, Claire Che Minang. Once again, exhibiting her assertion and determination.
Gwen graduated from Our Lady of Lourdes College in 1986 and passed her General Certificate of Education (GCE) Ordinary levels exam. She then enrolled in Government High school, Limbe from 1886 – 1988 where she again passed her GCE Advanced levels.
Gwen sought University admission in Nigeria and gained admission in the University of Oyo, Calabar, Nigeria. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communication in 1994. While in Nigeria, she found herself a partner, Bob Ihekona. They bonded from the very beginning and got married in December of 1996 which made headlines in Cameroon. Gwen and Bob have since resided in Nigeria and have been blessed with three beautiful daughters; Marvel Amaka 13, Pearl, 10 and Laurel 7. Together, Gwen and Bob built and own a very successful Oil company in Nigeria (Zales and Marvel International) of which Gwen was the Managing Director until her untimely death.
When you talk of Gwen, you talk of someone who had it all. Beauty, Elegance and hard work were the order of her day. When you saw Gwen, you saw a boisterous, beautiful, confident, intelligent, compassionate and bubbly daughter, mother, wife, sister and friend everyone would love to have. She walked with a peculiar bounce with her head high and with such Grace and confidence. She always had a smile on her face, rarely got upset, very calm and nonjudgmental. Gwen personified a complete package of fresh roses; a great wife, a beautiful mother, an adorable sister, a wonderful friend and a fantastic cook. Her Dad, Papa Samson was so fond of her little girl that she named her “Big” because as a little girl, Gwen did not want to be identified as the smallest in the house. The reason why, when the news of Gwen’s death reached Papa, he exclaimed “Oh no, not my “Big”.
Gwen was a lover of life and had a passion for travel. She travelled the world, built a beautiful family and ran a successful business in partnership with her Husband. Above all, Gwen remained very prayerful, humble, loving, full of humour, caring and stood out as the Care giver of her family who sacrificed her time, her own family, and her resources to be with her Parents or Siblings whenever they needed her. The most recent of such sacrifices is when she came to the United States from March 2012 to May 2012 to take care of her Sister, also known as her other mother, Dorothy Samson and her brother, Emmanuel Samson aka Boutique who were both hospitalized.
Gwen and her husband travelled to South Africa for a friend’s wedding. When they returned and landed at Lagos airport on Sunday June 24th. She went to use the bathroom and fell there unknown to her husband who was busy checking on their luggage and connecting flight. She was discovered by another bathroom guest who then helped her to the airport clinic where she was told it was nothing major, just tiredness and exhaustion. She was then stabilized and sent home. Meanwhile her husband was also looking for her and had been told that Gwen had been taken to the airport clinic. He met up with Gwen as she was walking back from the clinic, He inquired from her what happened which she explained. With all these happening, they missed their connecting flight to Port Harcourt and only took off the following morning. Having gone home, her condition worsened and she was rushed to the hospital where she was initially treated for Malaria +++ and typhoid. With no improvement, she was transferred to Catholic hospital in Enugu where the Doctors discovered that she had had a massive stroke which snatched her life on that fateful day of July 5th 2012 with her Husband, Bob and her sister, Pamela by her side who painfully watched her take that last breath. The shock of Gwen’s passing devastated the family and caused Papa Samson to pass out and was hospitalized for 4 days.
Gwen, leaves behind her husband, Bob Ihekona, her three beautiful daughters, Amaka Ihekona, Pearl Ihekona, and Laurel Ihekona, her step son, Henry Ihekona (BJ), her ailing Parents; Mama Mary and Papa John Samson her Siblings, Michael Samson, Janet Samson, Dorothy Samson, Emmanuel Samson aka Boutique, Roland Samson (Nomen), Pamela Samson Menyoli, Caroline Chambo Samson Taboh and their spouses, her in-laws, a number of nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, colleagues and a sea of friends and well-wishers to mourn her.
Gwen, we miss you dearly but we know that you are resting with the Lord and watching over us all. Your stay here with us was brief but very impactful. It is all still too fresh but we know the Lord will heal our pain. You were our rock and our strong hold and now you’ve gone too soon.
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