Engr Ogagbano Adejo-Ogiri is many things rolled into
one. He has blue blood running in him – a man with
lion’s heart.
He is one of those who are not carried away by the
popularity of his forefathers.
From the royal family of HRM Ogiri Oko, the Och’Idoma
1, Ogagbano has carved a niche for himself in Nigeria,
not for anything, but for his passion and undying love
for the Idoma community.
Ask him what he thinks about Benue youths, and you
would be greeted with a message of hope and
optimism.
Recently, the renowned philanthropist-cum-engineer
had organized a Youth Football Championship in honour
of his late father and a Senator in the second republic,
Senator Adejo Ogiri.
The competition was aimed at sustaining the legacies
of the respected late legislator and humanitarian icon.
The event which is tagged ‘Senator Adejo Ogiri Youth
Football Championship, Adoka’, started in December
2011 and has served as an avenue to empower youths
in the community.
At the 5th edition which was just concluded, Engr
Ogagbano Adejo-Ogiri charged Adoka Youths to eschew
violence and other negative vices which could bring
shame to the community.
He also enjoined them to continue to participate
actively in sporting activities and to use the medium to
live peacefully amongst themselves in the entire Adoka
district.
Cash prizes worth hundreds of thousands of Naira were
given to the Winner, 2nd place and 3rd place teams,
with the winner also going home with the cup and a
complete set of football jerseys for the entire team.
Consolation prizes were given to all the 11 participating
teams, with other prizes for the highest goal scorer,
best goal keeper, best coach, best referee, among
others.
Engr Adejo-Ogiri also appreciated the Adoka Football
Association (AFA) for the professional manner in which
football activities are handled in the area, even as he
promised to look into their request for support towards
registration with the State Football Association in
Makurdi.
An Abuja based Senior Executive of a leading Oil and
Gas company, Engr Ogagbano has been actively
involved in many other community development
initiatives in his Adoka country home.
A few years ago, he led several of his friends in the
Medical profession to carry out a free medical outreach,
where over 1500 people were treated and over 20
surgeries performed.
He has also greatly contributed to the completion of the
church building project started by his late Father.
When asked about his motivation on his consistent
support towards these community development
initiatives, Engr Ogagbano Adejo-Ogiri mentioned that “it
behooves on us who have been a bit more fortunate to
give back to our various communities”; adding the
scriptural reference which says “to whom much is given,
much is expected”.
Like father, like son; Engr. Ogagbano Adejo-Ogiri is a
true replica of his father’s philanthropic personality. His
late father, Senator Adejo Ogiri, whose humanitarian
gestures became legendary during the time, was also
said to have inherited it from his late father, the 1st
Och’Idoma.
Senator Adejo Ogiri became the eldest surviving son of
HRH Chief Ogiri Oko after the early death of his 2 elder
brothers, Oga and Ochi Ogiri.
He was a legal professional who rose to become the
Attorney General & Commissioner of Justice in Benue
State during the 2nd Republic and NPN led government
of Mr. Aper Aku.
He retired from Public Service in 1982 to contest the
Senate seat comprising the then Old Gwer (now Gwer
West and Gwer East LGAs), Old Otukpo (now Otukpo,
Ohimini, Apa & Agatu LGAs) and Old Ankpa (now in
Kogi state), which he won and was sworn in as a
Senator of the Federal Republic of Nugera in October,
1983; where he served as the Chairman, Senate
Committee on Legal & Judicial Matters.
His political sojourn at the Senate was however cut
short due to the military coup d’état in December 1983.
