Kenneth Oghenerobor Ogu

In Loving Memory of Dr. Kenneth O. Ogu, MD (1965-2026)

Dr. Kenneth O. Ogu, MD, age 60, passed away peacefully at his home in Minnesota on January 28, 2026, with his beloved wife, Sophia Williams-Ogu, by his side. They shared 23 years of marriage marked by commitment, devotion, and love.

Born on November 21, 1965, in Delta State, Nigeria, Kenneth was the firstborn of Andrew Ogu and Elizabeth Anwoh, both of whom preceded him in death. He grew up alongside his siblings Nelson Ogu, Robina Simire, Linda Oyana, Peter Ukhurebor, and Kelvin Ogu, with Kelvin preceding him in death. From an early age, Kenneth was strong-willed, deeply curious, and unmistakably funny, a man whose infectious laughter could light up any room.

Kenneth dedicated his life to medicine and mental health. He completed medical school at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, in Nigeria. At 26, Kenneth moved to Trinidad, where he lived for 15 years. He threw himself into life on the island, enjoying Carnival celebrations and immersing himself in the vibrant culture and energy of the community. He made a meaningful impact as a psychiatrist at St. Ann's Psychiatric Hospital and Seventh Day Adventist Hospital, while also running a small private practice where he treated prison officers and a variety of patients. About eight years into his time in Trinidad, Kenneth met Sophia, who would become his wife and life partner. Together, they built a life filled with laughter, love, and partnership. During these years, he also taught as a guest lecturer at the University of the West Indies, sharing his knowledge, humor, and care with students. A lifelong scholar, Kenneth wrote and published on the effects of father absence on children's mental health, reflecting his deep concern for family systems and child development.

Outside of medicine, Kenneth lived boldly and joyfully. He was an avid party promoter, known for themed events and lively, welcoming atmospheres in Trinidad. His party moniker was Odafee and Freinds and his events were well attended and sought after. He appreciated fine art, loved to paint, and believed creativity was essential to well-being. He loved playing Scrabble with his close friend Dr. A. Akpan, and after he became ill, he continued to play on his iPad, showing his resilience and devotion to the game. Kenneth also loved cars, especially his Mercedes-Benz convertible, he use love driving with the top down, soaking up the sun and that sense of freedom you feel when driving a convertible.

During his time in Trinidad Kenneth made many friends and one of his favorite spots to "lime" (Trini term for hanging out) was a sports bar called Smokey and Bunty, he use to jokingly called it his second office. There Kenneth use to love meeting with friends to shoot the breeze , plan his next party or just relax and take in the scenes.

Now, one cannot speak of Kenneth without mentioning how much he loved his African food, some of his favorites were Egusi soup, Ogbona soup, Pepper soup, Vegetable soup all eaten with Pounded Yam, Starch, Amala to name a few. We cannot stress how much Kenneth loved his cultural food, he indulged in Trinidad Cuisine but always favored African food. He use to say, Trini's like to season everything, if you stood too long in front of a Trini they will season you too! LOL. He even taught his wife how to cook some of these dishes, which she made for him throughout the years.

His wife rembered the first time he taught her how to cook stew, he didn't season the chicken, just threw it in the stew, she could not believed her eyes and refused to eat it. He joked and said the seasoning is in the stew! He appreciated a healthy appetite and loved to entertain always encouraging his guest to " please have some more..eat up" .

He always spoke of his time in Trinidad and Tobago as some of the best years of his life, having not known anything about the country before responding to an ad in the paper back in Nigeria all those years ago, he stated he'd never heard of these islands. The culture shock was instant, the moment he stepped off the plane he was hit with the Trini accent and the way Trini's prounce words. He would have us laughing when he recounted getting into a taxi at the airport and trying to explain to the taxi driver where he was going, needless to say the taxi driver didn't understand him and vice versa; the address he was going to was in a town called San Juan and Kenneth prounced it just like its written in his deep voice and thick clipped Nigerian accent, the taxi driver was clueless, until he showed the driver the piece of paper on which the address was written and the taxi driver exclaimed " Orrr you going Sah Wah, well say that nah man" LOL he loved telling that story.

After leaving Trinidad, Kenneth moved to the United States, where he completed residency training in psychiatry at North General Hospital in Manhattan, New York. Guided by a deep belief in early intervention, he specialized in child and adolescent psychiatry, having completed his fellowship at New York medical College. He would often say that helping children overcome mental health challenges leads to better-adjusted adults. He later served as Medical Director at the Bowen Center in Warsaw, Indiana, continuing his unwavering commitment to improving mental health care. He and his wife spent 4 years in Indiana where they became members of the Nigerian Association of Fort Wayne (NAFW), there he made many friends and him and his wife were embraced by the community where they attended and participated in many cultural events and family functions. Although life in Indiana wasn't as busy as New York or as lively as Trinidad he and his wife got use to the small town life that was Warsaw IN, often going for walks or visiting the Amish Acres for fresh produce, attending events on the lake and going to the town fair. At that time in their lives they came to appreciate the slower paced lifestyle . He and his wife would do countless road trips across the US over the years sometimes with friends and family, reconting fun times with the Odulaja's on a road trip from New York to Atlanta, with the Agunnne's and family and a road trip from Indiana to Texas. After moving to Minnesota in 2014 , him and his wife continued doing fun road trips frequenting Chicago, New York and Georgia, before his health declined. He loved the adventure, playing lively soca music or afro beats,or sitting at the back of the van watching a movie on the built in dvd screen,taking pictures of the sites they encountered along the way,stopping at restaurants to sample different meals and would always seek out the the nearest african restaurant when they have reached their destination :) Yes he loved his food!

Above all, Kenneth will be remembered for his infectious laugh, sharp wit, strong will, and generous spirit. His sister Robina would always describe him as a "free thinker" meaning he lived life on his own terms and stood on his convictions. His legacy lives on through the patients he healed, the students he inspired, and the love he shared so freely with family, friends, and colleagues.

May his memory be a blessing and a source of comfort to all who knew and loved him.