Prof John Ogene
By Francis Odupute in Benin
The Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) Edo State chapter, on Thursday, 2nd of September, 2021, paid a condolence visit to the family of late Sir Victor Uwaifo.
The immediate past governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole was also handy to mourn the departed music maestro.
Dr. kennedy Eweka, chairman of the Edo State SNA, led the delegation of excos and members of the association on the condolence visit.
Speaking during the SNA visit, the University of Benin Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC) Ekehuan campus, Professor John Ogene, said the maestro, Victor Uwaifo, a personal intimate friend of his, lived well and contributed immensely to Nigeria’s music and creative industry generally.
Prof. Ogene pointed out that if well managed, Nigeria could be earning a lot of foreign exchange incomes through late Prof. Victor Uwaifo’s legacies.
Below are excerpts from his speech:
“I happen to be so close to the family. First of all as being catholics, and secondly as having that drive to excel in what we believe in.
“Everybody has a story to tell about this great man. It’s unfortunate that in Africa here, we are not good in record keeping; we don’t keep records. Otherwise, in a few years from now, the earnings from the estate of this great man will yield millions to this country. He’s not different from the Presleys, the Michael Jacksons and those great people that, if you go to Hollywoood today, you’ll find their symbols on the paved streets, their stars, their names in gold. Unfortunately, we don’t take such things seriously. We don’t take art seriously in this country. We wave them aside; that ancient belief that musicians are never-do-wells is what is informing this kind of mental position.
“Everyone here has a story to tell about the Maestro. You see, musicians are great people. But when you have somebody who is a trail blazer, who is in front, then we begin to imagine the dimension and the proportion of blessedness God has endowed this country with. God has blessed this country with such great people like Sir, Doctor Victor Uwaifo. Music gives great joy…
“We should always remember that the world is about our legacies – leaving good legacies behind and what we can be remembered for. He has lived well he happens to be one of Africa’s greatest. He was my student, even though I could have been his son. One thing I want everybody to remember today is his humility and his desire to learn. He never took our friendship for granted. He paid his dues and earned his degrees meritoriously through hardwork”, Professor Ogene said.
The SNA (Edo State) members who were in the entourage included Professor John Ogene (DVC Ekehuan campus, UNIBEN); Dr. Kennedy Eweka (Chairman, SNA, Edo State); Dr. Albert E. Akhogba (Vice Chairman, SNA, Edo State); Dr. Kehinde H. Shobukonla (Secretary, SNA, Edo State); Dr. Mrs. Lovina E. Onwuakpa (Financial Secretary, SNA, Edo State); Miss Osaru Obaseki (Public Relations Officer, SNA, Edo State); Dr. Samson Ukweku (H.O.D., Department of Fine and Applied Arts, UNIBEN).
Others include Mr. Francis Odupute; Pa Ademola Williams; Mrs. Esther Esizimetor, among many others.
… Victor Uwaifo put Nigeria on world map says Oshiomhole
Meanwhile, the immediate past Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshomhole, has described the death of Nigeria’s music maestro, Victor Uwaifo, as a rude shock.
Oshiomhole who was accompanied to the home of the late musician by some political supporters and his APC party members, said the late Victor Uwaifo put Nigeria’s name on the world map through music.
According to the politician, “If someone says he was shocked when a man at his 80 passes, anybody would say “how can you be shocked?” But the truth is that most Nigerians were in shock when, around 5 pm or 6pm, I was at the airport when I just saw this social media stuff…Uwaifo is gone; and I called somebody, I said, did you see something on the social media? Because, these days, these guys can publish both social and anti-social, depending on who is pushing the story. But it turned out that it was true.
“I felt extremely bad because I had planned in my heart – and only God now can know I had that plan – that whenever I come to Benin to spend few days, there are a couple of persons I want to visit…Late Professor Uwaifo., my friend –there are many ways in which he affected and touched my life. First , as a young man in the typical rural Nigeria…I was around 12, 13 or 14 years… any time we want to listen to music we make requests through radio Nigeria using battery, the number one music we always chose would be Victor Uwaifo- the Guitar Boy; Joromi and so on. And we will wear our small knicker and do dengedenge, you know. And then we hear about exploits of Victor Uwaifo playing Guitar with his toes, and we’re like, how?
Oshiomhole continued: “There is a time to be born and there is a time to die. In this part of the world, and at that time, the man who forcefully put Nigeria on the world map –the face of Edo on the world map – was Prof. Victor Uwaifo, by his own creativity, his talent…you can’t resist his music.
“Two regrets I have – one is not being able to see him before he passed on, but also I think I told him, while I was in office, that I would do something about this road. Unfortunately, you know, when you make those promises you’re unaware that time is ticking, and you’re not able –even in the best of intention, sometimes – to carry them out. I deeply regretted that I wasn’t able to construct this road because, that would have been a befitting contribution to ensuring that it’s pliable…as people are coming here now, they ride with joy and all that”, Oshiomhole said.
About Author
