Dr. Earnest Airhia

Dr. Earnest Airhia passed away on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at the age of 57. He was born in Nigeria to the late Pius Aletor AIrhia and the late Juliana O. Airhia. He is survived by his beloved wife of 29 years, Sari Airhia (daughter of Irja Salminen and the late Tauno Moilanen); his child, Nosa Airhia; Elder brother, Dr. Friday Airhia (wife, Dr. Bosede O. Airhia); immediate younger brother, Mr. Anthony A. Airhia (wife, Mrs. Rebecca Airhia); sisters: Mrs. Celestina Ukeoma (husband, Mr. Chike Ukeoma), Stella Airhia, and Mrs. Christabel Okoligbe (husband, Mr. Abel Okoligbe); brothers: Junior Ahade Airhia (wife, Belinda Airhia), Fidelis Airhia, and Emuan Airhia; brother-in-law, Marko Moilanen (wife, Mrs. Tina Moilanen); nieces: Ono Airhia, Millicent Asemota, Daisy Asemota, Faith Airhia, Thions Chidera Ukeoma, Favour Airhia, Alessia Airhia, Abigail Airhia, Adalia Airhia, and Mia Okoligbe; and nephews: Nelson Onyeka Ndidi, Macdonald Asemota, Marvis Airhia, Maris Airhia, Destiny Asemota, Andre Airhia, Ezekiel Okoligbe, Matteo Okoligbe, and Michael Moilanen.
Dr. Earnest Airhia was born on November 6, 1967, in Agbor, Delta State, Nigeria, to Mr. and Mrs. Pius Aletor Airhia of Idumu-Iyasele in Ewatto, Edo State, Nigeria. He earned the highest academic qualification of PhD in counselor education and supervision (CES). Dr. Earnest was the founder, President/CEO, and Clinical Director of Greenpath International Inc., a substance use disorder and mental health clinic in New Orleans, LA. Before becoming CEO of Greenpath, he worked with several organizations in New Orleans, including the New Orleans Criminal Court as a case manager for offenders with drug and mental health problems. The Governor appointed him to the Louisiana Professional Counseling Board of Examiners (LPCBE) in 2018.
Dr. Earnest Airhia was a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor (LPC-S); a Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC); an Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (AADC); a National Certified Counselor (NCC); a Certified Co-occurring Disorders Professional – Diplomat (CCDP-D), a Certified Mediator (CM), and an International Certified and Reciprocity Consortium (ICADC) in Louisiana. He was also a United States Soccer Federation License-A holder (USSF-A). He was a trustee with the Clifford Ojeriakhi Imudia Memorial Foundation, whose mission is to engage in Medical missions to Nigeria, supply medical apparatus, give scholarships to students, and supply medication and treatment to the elderly suffering from diabetes mellitus and high blood pressure in three communities in Delta and Edo states of Nigeria. In addition, Dr. Earnest Airhia was one of the tripod founders of Equity Learning Academy, a subsidiary of Schekinah Mentors International Initiative, a non-profit organization devoted to expanding access to free education in rural communities in Nigeria for marginalized children. As deputy chair of the Board of Directors and fundraiser/development director, he was very passionate about the school project.
Dr. Earnest Airhia was the immediate past president of the Association of Nigerians in New Orleans (ANNO), which promoted unity, solidarity, integrity, and the welfare of the Nigerian community. He actively gave back to the community, providing food to the homeless and veteran population, as well as education and training services to local and national providers. In addition to the Association for Assessment and Research in Counseling (AARC), Dr. Earnest Airhia was a member of the Louisiana Counseling Association (LCA), the Louisiana Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (LACES), the Louisiana Association of Substance Abuse Counselors & Trainers (LASACT), and the United States Soccer Federation Coaches Association. A passionate soccer player and lover, he provided free coaching services to young children and adolescents in the New Orleans area. Moreover, he received the Unsung Hero Award from the American Counseling Association (ACA) in 2016, the Minority Fellowship Program award from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) in 2014, and the Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (CADA) award for Excellence in Treatment in 2015.
Relatives, friends, and co-workers are invited to attend the services honoring and remembering Dr. Earnest Airhia at Garden of Memories Funeral Home, 4900 Airline Drive, Metairie, LA 70001. Visitation will be held on Friday, May 16, 2025, from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm and also on Saturday, May 17, 2025, starting at 10:00 am, followed by Mass officiated by Fr. Mike Mitchell at 12:00 noon and burial immediately following in Garden of Memories Cemetery. In place of flowers, the family requests contributions to the Schekinah Mentors International at https://schekiment.org. Online condolences may be offered at www.gardenofmemoriesmetairie.com.