Guest Lecturer, Abraham Ogbodo presenting his lecture during the occasion
By Freedom Okpubeku, Ughelli
The Ejiro and Otive Igbuzor Foundation has held its 16th Chief Demas Akpore annual memorial lecture with a call on all and sundry especially leaders to offer selfless services to humanity in contrast to leadership exploitation which, it was said, has become the order of the day in the present-day Nigeria particularly among many politicians.
The occasion which was held at Government College, Ughelli, Delta State, on Friday, December 15, 2023 witnessed a remarkable number of intellectuals and many prominent Urhobo sons and daughters in attendance.
In a presentation, the president of the Ejiro and Otive Igbuzor Foundation, Dr. Otive Igbuzor, said that the foundation decided to be organizing the memorial lecture every year in honour of Late Chief Demas Akpore because of the legacy of patriotism, commitment to human and community development as well as selfless service which the Orogun-born philanthropist bequeathed to his generation and beyond.
Igbuzor, who advocated a departure from the general notion among Nigerians that getting into the position of leadership is an opportunity to steal public money and enrich oneself at the expense of the masses, added that four facts to note in all the activities are consistency, being principled, participating in politics, and being oneself.
Explaining the four facts, Dr. Igbuzor said that the foundation has been organizing the memorial lecture consistently. He continued: “Be principled. The essence of politics is service. Participate in politics; participate actively. It is not to steal money but to serve.”
Speaking on the topic of the lecture, “Between Advocacy and Intervention: The Sacrifices of Chief Demas Akpore,” the guest lecturer, Mr. Abraham Ogbodo, a journalist and an entrepreneur, in a plethora of eulogy described the Late Chief Akpore as a great man who understood the purpose of God to be a builder of men and communities, a man whose good works would speak for ages.
Ogbodo, who was admitted as a student in 1975 to the Orogun Grammar School which Demas Akpore earlier established as a private school before the state government later took it over, opined that development is deliberate and intentional as things would remain where they are if nobody deliberately acts on them.
“Orogun Grammar School wouldn’t have germinated on its own if the platform of Akpore was not obliged … It would have remained a perpetual desire if Chief Demas Akpore did not act,” he stated.
On his part, HRH Oba (Barr.) Rufus Olarewaju Ajayi Arilewola II, the Oba of Gbomina Ekiti Tapa Kingdom, narrated how he knew Chief Demas Akpore when he started working at the tender age of 11 years as a houseboy to the Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the then Premier of Western Nigeria as both chiefs were friends who came together from time to time. He described him as a man who loved his people and would want to serve them selflessly. Said he: “I have made up my mind that every year that they do this programme, I will always make sure that I am around … Back then in the 1980s, when they came to Baba’s house in Apapa-Lagos, Chief Bola Ige, Onabanjo, Ajasin, all of them. I would open gate for them, I would greet them very well.”
The monarch added that one of the days Late Chief Akpore came to Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s house, he supported the idea of his travelling abroad with Awolowo and that was how he as a little boy went to England for the first time with Awolowo.
Earlier in a welcome address, the executive director of the Ejiro and Otive Igbuzor Foundation, Mr. Monday Osasah, informed that the foundation is a non-profit organization that is out to improve the quality of life of African communities through the execution of different empowerment programmes for communities, women, indigent students in institutions of higher learning, among others.
“Since its inception, the Foundation has implemented various impactful projects, including awarding scholarships and providing educational support to indigent students in tertiary institutions, establishing the Odeyovwi Cooperative Society to encourage savings and investments, organizing the annual widows support programme, offering IT training, and establishing the Niger Delta Resource Centre in 2009.
“The Chief Demand Akpore Annual Memorial Lecture instituted in 2008 had witnessed 15 remarkable lectures to date, each addressing diverse aspects of leadership and development,” he stated.
Expressing appreciation, Osasah thanked the President of the Foundation and his wife for initiating the annual memorial lecture, maintaining that “This annual event celebrates Chief Demas Akpore’s dynamic and visionary leadership, acknowledging his significant contributions to the development of Bendel State (now Edo/Delta states) and Nigeria at large. The unwavering commitment of the visionaries has made this lecture a highly anticipated year-end gathering to engage and explore contemporary leadership and development issues.”
Other speakers who spoke to eulogize the Late Chief Akpore during the event included Olorogun Jomo Akpore Idise, eldest son; Mrs. Stella Omu, daughter; Sir Kevwe Akpore, son; Evang. Godspower Odenema, former Principal of Government College, Ughelli; Barr. Godwin Odjegba; Chief (Dr.) Justin Uloho who represented Sen. Ede Dafinone, senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District in Delta State; Mr. Efe Agabi; and Ms. Ejovwokoghene Eguolo.
Late Chief Demas Akpore was one of the 16 pioneer students that started Government College. He later became the 7th Principal of the college after graduation with a degree in CLASSICS from the University College, lbadan and other qualifications overseas including a MASTER degree. He also became the Deputy Governor of the defunct Bendel State between 1979 and 1983.
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