The life and
times of the late business mogul and patriarch of the Ibru family, Olorogun
Michael Christopher Onajirevbe Ibru (OFR), were relived yesterday at his
home-town, Agbarha-Otor in Ughelli North Local Council of Delta State, as part
of activities to mark the first anniversary of the demise of the late icon who
passed on at the age 86 in Florida, United States (U.S.) in September 2016.
The yearly
memorial lecture, which held at the auditorium of the Michael and Cecilia Ibru
University, Agbarha Otor, attracted eminent personalities from within and
outside Nigeria. The lecture with the topic “Entrepreneurship and Development
in Africa” was delivered by former Ghanaian Minister of Information, Fritz
Baffour.
The choice
of the topic was to illustrate the entrepreneurial ingenuity of Olorogun
Michael Ibru who established many businesses and touched many lives through the
creation of jobs and services during his life-time.
Eminent
personalities who graced the event included the former Governor of Delta State,
Chief James Onanefe Ibori; former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Steve
Oru; former Minister of State for Education, Chief Kenneth Gbagi; former
Minister of Information, Prof. Sam Oyovbaire; Prof. G.G. Darah; Prof.
Christopher Orubu, Dr. Sunny Awhefeada, Mr. Goodie Ibru; Mr. Willy Sohwo;
Chairman of Ughelli North Council, Kenneth Ibru and traditional rulers and
chiefs from different clans of the Urhobo nation.
Also in
attendance were discussants from the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT),
University of Ibadan (UI) and Delta State University, Abraka, including Prof.
Onigu Otite, Prof. S.W.E. Iboje and Prof. Athony Killa and a host of several
others.
Orubu, who
kicked off the ceremony, described Ibru as a philanthropist and business mogul
who brought light to multitudes.
He said the
Michael and Cecilia Ibru University, founded by the deceased, was visionary,
which has invariably immortalised his name.
Also,
Baffour from Ghana said: “One cannot talk about successful Nigerian
entrepreneurs without dwelling on the remarkable business exploits and
contributions of the late Olorogun (Dr.) Michael Ibru to his country’s
development. This was a colossus who created and managed the affairs of one of
the successful conglomerates in this nation’s history over a period of 60
years. Olorugun Michael Ibru’s mercantile and financial interest extended from
his homeland to the rest of Africa, Japan and Russia, among others. His
entrepreneurial savvy enabled his worthwhile involvement and successes in all
sectors of the Nigerian economy. Agriculture, fisheries, shipping, stevedoring
and port services, construction, media, hospitality, banking and finance, oil
and gas, aviation, marketing and last but not the least education; these were
all areas of endeavour on which this intrepid captain of industry left his
indelible mark. “
He
congratulated the Michael and Cecilia Ibru University on deeming it fit to
launch the yearly lecture in honour of the genius.
He,
therefore, charged the institution to institute a two or three credit course of
Level 100 undergraduates study and do a comparative analysis of the theories
and methods of the icon and other renowned business moguls in Africa in
particular and rest of the world in general.
The visitor
to the university, Mrs. Cecilia Ibru, praised her husband for taking a lot of
risks and for being courageous enough to embark on ventures that touched many
lives and impacted society.
She humoured
that as wife to Olorogun Michael Ibru, she was a student of entrepreneurship
under the tutelage of her late husband who was a genius in his chosen turf.
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