Veronica Hannah Agedah Sami was born on the 16th of April 1937 to Captain Oyenke Agedah BEM (the first African Senior Civil Servant in the then Nigeria Marine Department) from Amakiriebiama compound in Odi and Madam Sembesuboere Agedah from Abari in Kabou Clan both of the Izon tribe. She was the third child in the family and later became the only girl amidst her seven brothers. Although born in Odi, she was raised in Lagos and can fluently speak the Yoruba language. Her father however in order not to allow his children forget their roots insisted that they speak the izon dialect at home, thus Hannah is well versed in izon.
After her primary education, she proceeded to Methodist Girls High School for her secondary education from 1953- 1956 and obtained her Government Class IV as it was called at that time. She was trained at the Barclays Bank Training School in 1958 being a member of staff at that time. She gained admission into the Fielden Park College of further Education, Manchester, United Kingdom from 1961-62 and 1963-64 where she obtained her General Certificate of Examination. She subsequently attended the Burleigh Secretarial College in Manchester from 1964-65. In 1968 she obtained a certificate in Typewriting from the Royal Society of Arts Examinations Board. She also attended the Worthing College of Further Education, Sussex United Kingdom in 1975 where she obtained certificates in Secretarial Administration. Her Head of Department in Worthing- Mr. Smith- described her as being charming, co-operative and pleasant with an excellent record of attendance and punctuality. In 1976 she bagged the London Chamber of Commerce Private Secretary’s Certificate and Diploma. Her quest for knowledge prompted her undertaking a degree programme in Secretarial Administration being granted study leave by her employers. She graduated with a Second Class (Lower Division) in 1994. She successfully completed this degree effectively multi-tasking her roles of raising and nurturing her children and being the breadwinner. Her commitment to her studies and efficiency placed her in positions of leadership as she represented her course mates in most of the courses despite her age and the responsibilities of a family. In 1996 she was granted study fellowship to pursue a Post-Graduate Diploma in Educational Management. She was a conscientious and hard-working student.

Her professional career started in 1958 when she was employed by Barclays Bank of Nigeria. She worked for a few years and proceeded to the United Kingdom to further her education. On her return to Lagos, she was employed by the Nigerian Breweries in 1969. In 1973 she gained employment with College of Science and Technology Port Harcourt now Rivers State University of Science and Technology. This prompted her move to Port Harcourt where she lived till her death. She worked in different positions in the University and retired as an Assistant Chief Executive Officer on the 30th of April 1997. She had a penchant for record keeping, every document, every detail was filed, important dates recorded in her diary and calendars marked for reminders.
A hospitable person in all respect, Hannah exuded warmth to all she came across. Her characteristic smile made everyone feel relaxed and welcome. She accommodated people at her home at all times. Hannah gave sacrificially to all around her even when she didn’t have so much. She thus has numerous children to whom she was a role model and celebrate her life today.
Hannah though a devout Catholic, gave her life to the lord Jesus Christ in August 1982 when one of her colleagues Dr Ernest Fubara invited her for a programme at the Christ Apostolic Church in UST. She served the lord with great passion and commitment till her death. She was an ardent sanctuary cleaner, cleaning the church at all times with excitement. She was ordained a Deaconess in the Christ Apostolic Church in December 2000. She served as the Assistant Financial Secretary of the Royal Women Fellowship for the 2005/2007 service year. She was ordained as a Deaconess into the Board of Deacons in the Royal House of Grace International Church in 2007 and subsequently as an Elder. She taught in Sunday school and House Church. She was an active member of the Winners Satellite Fellowship and served in the Hospitality Department of the Living Faith Church, Agip-Ada-George Branch till her death. While in the hospital during the Shiloh week, her request card was filled with the requests for others. Her last instruction was to ensure her Shiloh sacrifice and tithe were paid. She loved and served the Lord with everything.
Her intense desire to have an in-depth knowledge of God caused her to seize every opportunity to achieve this goal. Her library had an array of different versions of the Bible; books and cds by seasoned men of God. She attended the Royal Bible Academy from January to December 2004 and obtained a Diploma in Intensive Bible Training. She completed with distinction the Basic Certificate Course of the Word of Faith Bible Institute in 2012. In August 2014 she completed the Leadership Certificate Course of the same institute with distinction. She stated her reason for wanting to attend the Institute as follows: ‘To enable me achieve divine destiny’. Her bible was her constant companion and she always made out time to study it even at night. In fact during her last days in the hospital she requested to be discharged as the environment was too noisy to study the bible.
Hannah enjoyed good health as she had never been admitted in the hospital for any reason save child birth. She was active, strong, took walks was in good health. The scripture in Exodus 23:25 that says ‘You shall serve the lord your God and He shall bless your bread and water and take sickness away from you’ was a reality in her life. Her admission to the hospital on the 3rd of December 2015 was the first based on ill-health. She lived a fulfilled life. Indeed precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants.