The African Languages Week Coordinating Committee (ALWCC) of ACALAN the language agency of the Africa Union has joined family, friends, and well-wishers in mourning the passing of Chief Ogbuefi Clement Nwagbogu Ilobanafor, father of Prince Cletus Ilobanafor, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of CEOAFRICA.

Chief Ogbuefi Ilobanafor, a respected community leader and a lover of peace, passed away in June 22, 2025, at the age of 93, leaving behind a legacy of integrity, service, and dedication to humanity.

In a condolence message signed by Mrs. Margaret Nankinga, Coordinator of the ALWCC, where she expressed heartfelt sympathy to Prince Cletus Ilobanafor and his family, describing the news of the patriarch’s passing as a painful loss not only to his immediate family but also to the larger African community.

“We have learnt with sadness of the passing on of your father, the late Ogbuefi Clement Nwagbogu Ilobanafor,” the letter read. “The African Languages Week Coordinating Committee sends you love and strength during this difficult time. We thank God for the life He gave your father and pray that He grants you and your family the strength to continue his legacy. May Chief Ogbuefi Clement Ilobanafor rest in peace.”

Prince Ilobanafor, who is also an active member of the African Languages Week Coordinating Committee, has been a strong advocate for the promotion and preservation of African languages and cultures through his leadership at CEOAFRICA.

The Committee, in its message, highlighted the late Chief Ogbuefi Ilobanafor’s role in nurturing values of discipline and cultural pride — virtues reflected in his son’s professional and humanitarian pursuits.

As tributes continue to pour in from across Africa and beyond, the African Languages Week Committee reaffirmed its solidarity with Prince Ilobanafor and his family, praying for divine comfort and the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.