SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 25, 2015
— Page 13
GAMALIEL ONOSODE LAID TO REST AT UGHELLI
Prof. Rahaman Bello, Vice Chancellor of University of Lagos,UNILAG (second from left), Prof. Duro Oni, Deputy Vice Chancellor Academics, and Prof.(Mrs.)Folasade Ogunsola, Provost College of Medicine, UNILAG.
From right: Prof. Ayo Ogunkunle, Bowen University Council Member, Dr. John Dara, Prof.M.A.Ojo, Vice Chancellor of Bowen University, Iwo; wife; and Rev.(Dr.)Moses.B. Adebayo.
From left: Dr.(Mrs.) Cecilia Ibru, Deacon(Dr.) Daniel D.Iwhawo and Prof. Uvie.A.Igun, Vice Chancellor of Michael and Cecilia University,Ughelli, Delta State.
Prince Nduka Obaigbena, Publisher of ThisDay Newspaper(left), chatting with Sen. Ighoyota Amori.
The Onosode we knew – Christopher Kolade, Omolayole, Ajekigbe, Ijaw By Peter Egwuatu, Tony Nwankwo & Godwin Oritse
N
IGERIAN Institute of Management, NIM, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, CIS, and eminent personalities, yesterday, continued to pour encomium on the late Deacon (Dr) Gamaliel Onosode, whom they described as a mentor and having am impeccable character worthy to emulate. Speaking at a commemoration service organized by NIM, Dr. Christopher Kolade said that the late board room guru commanded universal respect Kolade explained that as a standard bearer, Onosode left the world better than he met it, calling on members of the institute to emulate the late clergy to make the society better than they met it. Kolade, a former Cadbury Nigeria Plc Chairman and Ambassador to United Kingdom, also noted that, as a man of integrity, Onosode avoided any act that could bring his integrity to question. The President of NIM, Dr. U.N.O Uwaga, in his own tribute, said: “Onosode was the 5th President of the institute and very active member who contribution would for ever be remembered. He is an accomplished author and publisher of many books. He lived a better life having lifted others”. Acting President, CIS, Mr. Oluwaseyi Abe, said
C M Y K
the deceased was best known for his u p r i g h t n e s s , steadfastness, dedication to service and integrity. Abe’s words: “Deacon (Dr) Gamaliel Oforitsenere Onosode was an embodiment of positive virtues and values which endeared many of us to him. Pa Onosode was a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, and indeed was the number one member of the institute with membership number FCS001. He was the inaugural President & Chairman of Council of the Institute from 1995 to 2001, and was elected a life member of the Governing Council of the Institute. He was a major driver of the Governing Council until he voluntarily retired in 2013 upon attaining the ripeage of 80 years”. Chief Michael Omolayole, a former NIM President and a captain of industry like Onosode, described the deceased as a man who hated giving bribe and always stood against corruption and lower standard. “I have never seen anyone like him or even bear his name, Gamaliel, but I have read his name in the Bible. We thank God for his life . He was such a simple, hospitable , sincere and easy going human being”, Omolayole said. “He was also an impeccable character, the institute will miss him”. Chairman of Keystone Bank, Mr Jacob Ajekigbe, said Onosode meant many things to many people but was a
balanced person. “He was a mentor to many and a friend. He never discriminated in anything he does. He understood how importance education is in transforming the lives of people as he was concern about the decay in the education sector. He did not like how the standard of teaching was falling and also the learning standard. So, he decided to set up an Education Foundation called , Gabriel and Susan Fundation, GAMSU. The vision of the Foundation is that it is committed to
contributing consistently to the promotion of quality education in the country. We will miss him”, Ajekigbe said. Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, representative, Mr. Isaac Agoye, said Onosode made an impression on everybody that came across him. “He was a man of uncommon sense of morality, his death is an irredeemable loss to the manufacturing sector,”Agoye said. Ijaw Monitoring Group described the late boardroom guru as a
global icon by all standards. In a tribute by Comrade Joseph Evah, on behalf of the Ijaw, the group stated that Onosode’s death was painful because he was one of the stars that gave hope to the Niger Delta in particular and Nigeria at large. “We are proud that Urhobos gave us a son that no president or head of state in Africa ever ignored in his lifetime. The history of Africa industrial growth is not complete without mentioning the name of Deacon Gamaliel Onosode,”it said. “Despite the harsh
environment, Deacon Onosode, born in the Niger Delta, did not allow the environment to slow down his fertile mind, becoming a world-class citizen to further prove to the world that Niger Delta is blessed with both oil and human resources”. The Niger Delta activist added, “We urge the Delta State government to name the Industrial Park, Warri as `Gamaliel Onosode Industrial Park’, while we also demand that the Federal Government name Abuja Stock Exchange building after the Urhobo born Mr. Integrity in Business” for his selfless service to the nation.
‘We are preparing Ijaw for Niger Delta beyond oil’
I
n this interview, the President of Ijaw Boyz Vision, Badoukumor Prince Johnny, disclosed how Ijaw youths are being prepared for Niger Delta beyond oil. He spoke in Bomadi, Delta State. What are the aims and objectives of your organization? The Ijaw Boyz Vision aims at engaging Niger Delta youths, particularly of Ijaw origin, for a purposeful future through seminars and workshops, where professionals from various endeavours are the engaged to lecture on the necessity of formal education, vocational training and craft works in order for youths to contribute meaningfully to the society. Can you tell us some of the achievements of this vision? The vision was actually born to give succor to Ijaw sons and daughters
because there are no higher against engaging in institutions in the riverine violence and hooliganism. area, and we conceived the Meanwhile, since the vision to help youths who granting of amnesty to are not opportune to go to Niger Delta militants by school, sensitizing them on the Federal Government, the need to go to school, as youth awareness has well as the essence of increased because a good equipping them with number of them were vocational training for a opportune to go out of the purposeful future. We have, region for training however, recorded some programmes. Our target is achievements as many to ensure that those who youths have benefited from had gone through such our seminars and education and training workshops. For example, should serve as veritable six students from various tools to reach to all nooks schools, who excelled and crannies of the Ijaw during the quiz nation to actualize the competition session of the Ijaw Boyz Vision. last programme, held in October, were How do you a w a r d e d think you can scholarship by sustain this an ex-militant vision? leader, Mr. The vision has Preye Ekpebide. come to stay. I Again, many urge leaders of youths have new Ijaw to support it orientation morally and through this financially so vision and are that we can focused on the sensitize, •Johnny future as educate and
engage the Ijaw child for a brighter future. How have you been able to carry out this vision considering its financial involvement? I would like to use this opportunity to express gratitude to patrons of this vision for their goodwill and efforts. I want to specifically thank the Delta State Chairman, Phase 2 Ex-militants, Mr. Kingsley Muturu, for his relentless financial and moral support. I want to say that his good works for the Ijaw nation has gone down the history of the Niger Delta struggle for a better future for youths. Muturu has committed himself to sponsoring this vision by all means, as he strains himself to finance our programmes even if things are rough. I also thank High Chief Mike Loyibo, Justice Ebiyerin Omukoro, Mr. Preye Ekpebide and others for their support so far.