Felix Nnaka Nwosu
Obituary
Felix Nnaka Nwosu was born on November 26th, 1946. He was a proud Nigerian Igbo man who valued his Igbo heritage and cultural identity. He lived through the challenging times of the Biafra era in Nigeria and often recounted his experiences from that period. Throughout his life, Felix was known for his kindness, generosity, strength, bravery and empathy, leaving a legacy in the hearts of those who knew him.
Felix had a wide range of interests, including following the news, engaging in debates, playing football, reading poetry, and performing in theatre productions such as "Julius Caesar," when he was younger living in Nigeria, which earned him the nickname Caesar. He passed down his love for theatre and his favourite poem, "If" by Rudyard Kipling, to his children and ensured they received a good education.
Felix married Rose Nwosu in Benin City, Nigeria, where they raised four children. A devoted Seventh Day Adventist Christian, he served as an Elder at North Bristol Seventh Day Adventist Church and consistently prioritized his strong belief in God. His intelligence, kindness, and generosity were admired by many. Felix was passionate about engaging in debates and sharing his views on the world, and his academic achievements were a source of great pride.
He was a uniquely intelligent individual who exuded excellence. Felix completed his Certificate in Hospital Administration (C.H.A.) at the College of Commerce, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada, between 1975 and 1977. He furthered his education at the University of Dublin, obtaining an M.Sc. in Healthcare Management & International Development from Trinity College, University of Dublin, Ireland. He excelled in subjects such as Public Health and Social Medicine, Medical Ethics, and International Development Administration, earning distinctions in several areas.
Between 1989 and 1991, Felix Nnaka Nwosu served as the Head of Personnel & Human Resources Department at University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) in Benin City. He then left in June 1991 to pursue a position as a Quality Assurance Officer and department head at Midnab General Hospital in Saudi Arabia. He went on to work as a Quality Assurance Consultant & Head of Department at a hospital in the Hail region of Saudi Arabia from 1992 to 1995. In February 1995, he relocated with his family to Medina where he continued his work as the Total Quality Improvement Manager & Head of Department at King Fahd Hospital.
From 1996 to 1999, Felix Nnaka Nwosu resided in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and was employed by GAMA Medical Services, a consulting company that oversaw the management of Ministry of Health hospitals in the country. In 1999, Felix relocated from Saudi Arabia to the UK to join his wife and children, who had been residing there since 1997. During the years 2011 to 2013, Felix and his wife Rose Nwosu temporarily left the UK and worked in Oman. He worked as an Advisor to the Minister for Health in Muscat, and their children visited them during their time in the country. The family had a great time exploring Oman together.
Felix was a lifelong learner, earning an LL.M. Master’s degree in Law (Criminal Justice) from Oxford Brookes University in Oxford, England. His thirst for knowledge continued, leading him to also obtain a B.Sc. in Drug Addiction from the Faculty of Health & Social Care at the University of West of England in Bristol, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Policy Studies from the School for Policy Studies at Bristol University in England.
Felix Nnaka Nwosu’s memory will be cherished. His legacy is solidified through his unwavering sacrifices, devotion, kindness, and wisdom.
May he rest in peace.
A personal take on Felix’s life, by his last-born daughter, Elemchi Janet Nwosu
My Dad, Felix Nnaka Nwosu, is someone you meet once and never forget. His presence was powerful and unique, naturally acquiring the attention of others in spaces he entered. He lived a beautiful, eclectic life long before I was even born which always fascinated me. He survived a civil war, travelled the world, took unconventional risks, defied classist, and racial stereotypes of his time, built beautiful relationships, made sacrifices for those he loved, embraced wide-ranging jobs—there’s too much to list. In everything, he upheld a warrior spirit.
My Dad had a passion for learning—both in a traditional and self-taught capacity. He never stopped reading and discovering even as he grew older. Some of his fondest memories were during primary and secondary school in Nigeria, where he developed his love for drama and performing arts, leading theatrical acts such as Julius Caesar. His passion to learn intensified when he left Nigeria to pursue higher education across countries such as Ireland, Canada, America, and the UK. Some of his favourite memories stemmed from his time at Trinity College Dublin—which he took us to revisit with him as children. He is the smartest person I’ve ever known.
He always encouraged us to aim high, no matter the circumstances, no matter the odds. As a child, he instilled in me a quiet confidence that teachers and other adults would curiously observe. As an adult today this same confidence has been my superpower; enabling me to thrive. His role in my academic life was invaluable. For example, when I started secondary school, my Dad would give me a lift in the mornings. One morning he handed me a folded white piece of paper which he’d printed. On it was the poem ‘If’ by Rudyard Kipling, he said, “this is a poem you should know. I want you to learn and recite it by heart,” so for a while after that every morning in the car on my way to school, I would read the poem to him, learning to recite it by memory. I hated doing this at the time, as I didn’t understand the point of it all. Today I can say that this is truly the best poem I have ever read, and it stands as my absolute favourite. This experience also inspired me to experiment with words and write my own poems—one of which was published in a nationwide poetry anthology at just 12 years old.
When I reached university, he would often stay awake until early hours of the morning reading my undergraduate Plymouth University thesis from start to finish, just to ensure it was right. At master’s level, he was the sole driving force behind my decision to apply to the University of Oxford, which I had never initially considered. When I gained admission, he was the first person I told, as I knew he’d be proud. He also pushed me to aim for the best in my career, encouraging me to seek competitive roles and advising that I don’t shy away from entrepreneurship as there’s value in creating opportunities for myself and others—a path which I have always felt empowered to experiment with. All my success today is truly owed to him.
Beyond education and career, my Dad instilled family values through his teachings of God, as he raised us to be proud Seventh-day Adventist Christians. He would frequently gather us as a family in the living room to pray and encouraged us to build personal relationships with God. Ironically, his gift of faith has been my primary source of strength during this difficult time. I remember being as young as 6 years old when he’d say, “God knows everything about you, he even knows the number of hairs you have on your head,” as I looked up at him in wonder and curiosity. My Dad was a child of God and always sought to do right by Him the best he knew how. I greatly admired his diligence when studying the Bible and sense of duty when teaching it to others.
My Dad was a provider and a protector of the family. Growing up, we lacked nothing, and he sacrificed where needed to obtain whatever we needed. Even during retirement, my Dad went out of his way to support his family via any means he could. He took great pleasure in giving so generously to others. In retirement, he maintained interests such as his love for film, theatre, classical music, and admired beautiful, majestic animals, all of which I have grown to appreciate too.
My Dad instilled immeasurable qualities in me, gifts which I am still ‘unwrapping’ today. Through watching him, I have learned what it means to be courageous, outspoken, generous, loyal, principled, adventurous, ambitious, and so much more. His teachings continue to guide me as I navigate life, and his legacy is a generational gem that will be passed on for years to come and celebrated. Through us, he lives on.
Thank you, Daddy, I love you deeply and I honour you.
Elemchi Janet Nwosu
Here is a link to my BBC documentary which briefly features my Dad: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0021m7s/new-voices-from-wales-series-7-2-i-am-igbo