By Foster Akpore
For the first time since the inception of the Chief Demas Akpore Annual Memorial Lecture eighteen years ago, a sitting Governor of Delta State formally identified with the event, as Governor Sheriff Francis Oborevwori was represented by Senator Emmanuel Agwariavwodo at the 18th edition held on December 12, 2025, at Government College, Ughelli.
The memorial lecture and book launch brought together public officials, scholars, community representatives, students and members of the Akpore family to reflect on the life, values, and enduring relevance of Demas Akpore, an educationist, public servant, founder of Orogun Grammar School, and former Deputy Governor of the defunct Bendel State.
Speaking through Senator Agwariavwodo, Governor Oborevwori commended the Ejiro and Otive Igbuzor Foundation for sustaining the memorial lecture since 2008, describing the effort as a rare example of institutional memory and moral consistency in public life.
“Chief Demas Akpore lived by integrity, discipline, and service,” the Governor said. “As a teacher, principal, school founder, and later as Deputy Governor, he demonstrated that leadership is not about power but about values and results.”
He described the newly launched book, The Life, Ideas and Contributions of Chief Demas Akpore, as both a historical record and a moral summons, urging leaders to measure their impact by the condition in which they leave society. According to him, Akpore’s values align with the state government’s M.O.R.E. Agenda, particularly in education and human capital development.
The Governor, through his representative, also invited the Ejiro and Otive Igbuzor Foundation to Government House, Asaba, to explore ways of deepening and institutionalising the legacy of Chief Akpore.
Earlier, the President of the Foundation, Otive Igbuzor, described the lecture series as a deliberate response to what he called the historical neglect of Akpore’s place in Nigeria’s political and educational development. He said the annual gathering was created to prevent the distortion or erasure of a life defined by service, integrity, and principled leadership.
Igbuzor noted that Chief Akpore was a leader ahead of his time, whose commitment to education and governance was rooted in justice, discipline, and the collective good rather than ambition. He said the book being launched was conceived as a leadership guide and moral compass for a nation struggling with declining values, stressing that Nigeria’s present crisis reflects a deeper failure of character and leadership.
He announced that the Foundation’s next phase would focus on nationwide distribution of the book to schools, universities, libraries, and policy institutions, alongside efforts to permanently institutionalise the memorial lecture. He appealed for public and private support to sustain the project, arguing that legacy preservation is a matter of responsibility, not wealth.
The intellectual tone of the event was reinforced by the keynote address delivered by Princewill Okereka, Professor of Public Administration and Governance at Delta State University, Abraka. Speaking on the theme Chief Demas Akpore: A Great Man, Okereka described Akpore as a rare example of leadership anchored in sacrifice, accountability, and ethical restraint.
He argued that Akpore’s life demonstrated that true greatness lies not in power or accumulation but in service and integrity, warning that the erosion of such values has contributed significantly to Nigeria’s present governance and security challenges.
The book launch was led by the chief launcher, Jimmy Omo-Agege, who announced a donation of five million naira in support of the publication and the Foundation’s work. The lecture was chaired by Mr. Abraham Ogbodo, while a panel session featuring Chief Emma Eyela and Dr. Racheal Missan-Ruppee offered further reflections on Akpore’s legacy.
In recognition of sustained commitment to the memorial lecture, Orogun Kingdom conferred its Lifetime Legacy Award on the Ejiro and Otive Igbuzor Foundation. Presenting the award, the President General of Orogun Kingdom, Chief (Barr.) E. T. Opone, described the Foundation’s work as a vital effort to transmit values of discipline and service to younger generations.
Personal reflections added emotional depth to the event. Stellamaris Omu, eldest child of the late statesman, described the book as a bridge between family memory and public history and announced a one million naira contribution by the Akpore family.
Her brother, Jomo Akpore, recalled how their father’s early experiences shaped a lifelong commitment to education and public service, culminating in the founding of Orogun Grammar School. He warned that Nigeria’s present insecurity reflects a decline in public service values and urged support for leaders of integrity across party lines.
In closing remarks, the Foundation’s Executive Director, Monday Osasah, said the annual memorial lecture had evolved into a platform for interrogating leadership through values rather than power, renewing the call to the Delta State government to immortalize Chief Demas Akpore by naming institutions after him.
As participants dispersed, the message was unmistakable. The life of Chief Demas Akpore, rooted in education, integrity, and service, stands as both a legacy and a challenge, calling on leaders and citizens alike to rebuild society on firmer moral ground.