Nicky Okoye mourns the passing of his mother, Barbara Okoye, a revered nurse, entrepreneur, and Royal family matriarch, aged 92
Nicky Okoye is in mourning following the passing of his mother, Her Royal Highness Barbara Okoye, who died on Tuesday, 11 November 2025, in London after a brief illness.
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She was 92 years old and is survived by numerous children and grandchildren, including Prince Chinedu Okoye and Princess Augustina Okoye.
Born in Jamaica, Barbara Okoye became a distinguished figure in Nigeria, marrying His Royal Majesty Igwe Augustine Ezechi Okoye, the Eze Dunu 1 of Ifite Dunu, Dunukofia LGA, Anambra State, now of blessed memory.
Together, they raised a family that has made significant contributions to Nigerian society.
Barbara Okoye had a celebrated career in nursing and healthcare, serving in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Nigeria.
She also built several successful entrepreneurial ventures, including the Clayton Lounge Hotel, the Gannet Concorde Hotel, an institution of higher learning, and the Mothercare brand, supporting mothers with essential products across eastern Nigeria.
Her youngest son, Dr Nicky Okoye, is renowned for his contributions to Nigeria’s financial and digital asset sectors.
As Chief Strategy Officer of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (now Nigerian Exchange Group), Co-Founder and first Group Executive Director of Transcorp Plc, and founder of ANABEL Group and ANABEL MOBILE, Nicky Okoye has played a pivotal role in shaping Nigeria’s investment landscape and driving digital innovation across Africa.
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The family will announce funeral arrangements in due course, as Nigeria and Jamaica prepare to honour the life of a remarkable matriarch whose legacy spans continents, industries, and generations.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
