The late Mr. Aloysius Nwankwo served as steward to Mrs. Alma Cockrell (then, Alma McKeithan) during her years of service to the Nigerian Ministry of Education at schools in Makurdi and Itobi.  Aloysius accepted employment with Alma in 1974 only a few years after the Nigerian-Biafran War, which occurred during the period 1967 to 1970.  Aloysius was from Ehume, a town near the center of the Igbo (Ibo) heartland.

Starvation was a "legitimate" weapon of war for the Nigerians against the Igbo tribe, which was a major part of Biafra.  One of the Nigerian leaders publicly stated, "I want to prevent even one Igbo having even one piece to eat before their capitulation.  We shoot at everything that moves, and when our forces move into the center of Igbo territory, we shoot at everything, even things that do not move."  Ehume was destroyed in this war.  Many of the educated children were murdered.  Aloysius lost two of his nine children as a result of this conflict.  Although there was limited reconstruction of the war damage after 1970, little was done in the Igbo territory and the public infrastructure, including educational institutions, is in ruins even today.

Alma hired Aloysius, previously a businessman, to be her steward.  By Nigerian standards, she paid him well, because she knew the needs of his family.  When he returned home from time-to-time, she would send extra money to help with the education of his children.  His daughter, Grace, wanted very much to study beyond secondary school.  Aloysius was not sure this was necessary for her.  Alma insisted and provided money for Grace's schooling.  His son, Lawrence, came to Makurdi, and Alma paid his tuition to attend a Catholic school in the area for five years.  Another son, Herbert, expressed his desire to study in the USA, but had no one to advise him.  Alma sponsored Herbert and recommended North Carolina A & T University in Greensboro, North Carolina.  Sponsorship meant that she assumed responsibility for any unpaid debts that he might incur as a student. Herbert worked his way through two universities and did not stop until he earned his Ph. D.  Now, he is a professor at North Carolina A & T University and is a member of the Ehume Foundation, USA.

According to Alma, Aloysius started each day in prayer at a chapel.  He was a wise gentleman, greatly respected by villagers near the school.  He slept near Alma's door at night to discourage thieves.  He helped her through three life-threatening bouts with malaria, and helped her care for sick students.  He went to the market and did all the shopping and prepared delicious meals with whatever was available.  He helped her survive three military coups.  He advised her to slow down when he sensed she was overworked.  He gave her wise counsel, which she needed and appreciated.

When Aloysius returned to Ehume to live out his remaining years after working for Alma, he was honored with a chieftaincy, holding the position of Cabinet Chief at the time of his death.