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THE ESAMA OF BENIN KINGDOM

 


 

 

The Great Life of A Pioneer

Igbinedion as a Benin family name is now a household word. It has become synonymous with Aviation, Industry, Education, Finance, Medical Care and Rural Development at local, national and international levels. The man who has made this possible in Africa is Sir (Dr.) Chief Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin Kingdom.

Chief Igbinedion has attained great heights in life reminiscent of great achievers. He is a philanthropist and and a humanist of national dimensions and an industrialist of international fame...read on

 


GABRIEL OSAWARU IGBINEDION: FROM CRADLE TO BOYHOOD AND EARLY PUBLIC LIFE


EARLY LIFE AT OKADA

Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion was born on the 11th of September 1934, to the humble family of Chief Josiah Oviawe Igbinedion and Madam Okunozee Igbinedion at Okada Village, in the present Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State. He is the only surviving child of both parents. His mother Okunozee Igbinedion was the daughter of the Ihaza of Usen, a descendant of the Usen Royal family with a proud history.

The young Igbinedion had some philosophical interpretations for his name leaving positive impressions of what life had in store for him right from the beginning. He likened his name Gabriel to Angel Gabriel of the Holy Bible fame and interpreted Osawaru, as the messenger of God.

The relevance of these philosophical interpretations is not as much in the meaning of his names, as it is in the positive impact they had on the thinking of the young Igbinedion. Indeed, the name Gabriel was given to him by T.J. Akagbosu, his former school teacher, who likened the young Osawaru to Angel Gabriel.

Osawaru's family, humble as it was, exhibited rare leadership qualities which comprised the foundation stone upon which Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion eventually developed. Osawaru's father, Chief Josiah Agharagbon Oviawe Igbinedion was the founder of the present Okada when he initiated the movement from the old Okada with his friends and relatives to establish the new settlement in 1929.

The shifting of base from the old to the new Okada some five kilometers away was motivated by the desire to settle near the new road being constructed at that time.

Chief Josiah Igbinedion seemed to have bestowed upon the young Osawaru the qualities of leadership that had driven him to begin the establishment of the new Okada Village before he died.

The young Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion took after his father making the development of the new Okada community his primary objective. His love for his people and the desire to actualise his dreams were paramount in his decision to move to Benin City, to continue his education which was cut short as a result of his father's death. Moreover, his movement to Benin was necessitated by the fact that at that time Okada Primary School offered tuition up to class three only.

Thus most pupils who began school at Okada eventually ended up in Benin. He was one of them. He had began his primary education at the Roman Catholic School, Okada, now known as St. Gabriel's Primary School Okada, and when he moved to Benin, he enrolled finally at the Benin Baptist School, now known as Emokpae Primary School on Mission Road in Benin City, after short periods at Ezomo Baptist School and Ore Oghene Primary School all located in Benin City.

His movement to Benin was motivated by a number of factors, fundamental amongst which was the death of his father. Being of a humble home he was not in the position to continue his education without his father and had to seek the support of others. This was why he came to live in Benin City as a househelp to among others, Mr. Samson Aiwekhoe Idahosa, a Forest Guard at Okada who enrolled him at the Benin Baptist School.

In an interview, Mr. Idahosa disclosed that he brought the young Osawaru to settle in Benin City and that all he brought along with him were a few clothes purchased partly with the reclaimed bride price of twelve pounds which his father had paid on a young wife who was yet to join him before he died.

:: EARLY LIFE AT OKADA

 

:: LIFE AT SCHOOL

 

:: IGBINEDION THE MESSENGER

 

:: IGBINEDION THE POLICEMAN

 

 


 
   
THE BIOGRAPHY OF CHIEF GABRIEL OSAWARU IGBINEDION

 
IGBINEDION AS TRADITIONAL CHIEF AND FAMILY MAN

   
IGBINEDION AND PHILANTHROPISM

   
HONOURING THE HONOURABLE- CHIEF IGBINEDION WINS AWARDS

   
IGBINEDION AND SOCIETY AT LARGE

   
IGBINEDION- THE PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVE

 
CHIEF IGBINEDION'S PICTURE GALLERY

 
CHIEF IGBINEDION'S APPOINTMENT AS PATRON AND GRAND PATRON

 

A great son of Africa who has become a towering international success. This is the powerful moving biography of one man's determination to win- H. R. H. Oba Lamidi Adeyemi lll, The Alaafin of Oyo
 
 
 
 
This remarkable biography weaves the story of an endlessly fascinating man, his family and business empire- Dr. Brian Aghedo PhD
 
 
 
 
Do you have what it takes to be an industrialist, businessman and philanthropist? Chief Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion's life story tell how, withouth mortaginng your soul- Chief Pearnel Charles, Jamaica
 
 
 
 
Sir Igbinedion is a great man of trmemendous and unqualified resources. His humility and great service to humanity coupled with his willingness to help the less-privileged has earned him respect and admiration the world over- Prince Abubakar Audu, former executive governor of Kogi State, Nigeria.
 
 
 
 
Igbinedion does not believe in failure, he says, "don't be afraid, everyone has them and sometimes they can be resurrected with resounding success- Alfred Eghobamien Esq.SAN

Afew Acknowledgement of Chief Igbinedion's Sense of Philanthropy


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