Ibori Mourns Ijomah

A former Delta State Governor, Chief James Onanefe Ibori has described the late Professor Benedict Imeagwu Chukwuma Ijomah who passed on March 13, 2020 as a consummate educationist who excelled as both teacher and administrator from the secondary school to the university, a social activist, uncommon nationalist, global church leader and a towering world class intellectual.

In a statement signed by his Media Assistant, Mr. Tony Eluemunor, the former governor said that Ijomah was outstanding in all he did. He recalled that Ijomah set a high standard when he taught briefly at St. Anthony’s College, Ubulu-Uku, from where he gained admission as a foundation student of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in 1960, and emerged the first President of the UNN Students’ Union, 1960 – 1961.

Several other firsts followed; he was the first National VicePresident of the National Union of Nigerian Students (NUNS), and has remained live member of NUNS since 1962. He was the first President of the University of Nigeria Alumni Association, Nsukka, and the first President of the university’s National Alumni Association.

Ibori said that apart from his academic exploits, Ijomah was a thorough-going patriot who wore his being from Delta State as a badge of honour.

Ibori described Ijomah as “an erudite orator, a remarkable nationalist, one of those respected elders and political leaders who sat together and negotiated the amiable creation of Delta and Edo states from the old Bendel. During my watch as Governor from 1999 t0 2007, I gained a great deal from the wholesome golden nuggets of advice that came from the incandescent mind of this uncommon intellectual.