The Rivers State governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi, has described late Professor Abiye Obuoforibo, KSC, MNI, former provost of the Rivers State College of Health, as a great lost not only to the people of Okrika and the State but to the entire nation.
Speaking at a church service at St. Peters Anglican Cathedral, Okrika Main Town, Saturday last week, governor Amaechi disclosed that the late professor served in his administration as a member of the advisory committee meritoriously from 2007 till his demise and contributed immensely in the primary health care.
According to him, “When I sought his advice on the building of 350 health care centres across the state, the late Obuoforibo could not approve it stressing, that such could not be easily managed, but when I sought his advice on 150 health centres, he immediately approved my request”.
Governor Amaechi said the late Obuoforibo’s children have lost a wonderful father which has created a great vacuum to fill and advised them to bear the irreplaceable loss and take care of their mother, Mrs. Rose Obuoforibo.
The chairman of the Governor’s Forum of Nigeria urged friends and well wishers to support the family, praying that the late Obuoforibo should be in the bosom of the Lord.
In his sermon titled, “fighting a good life”, Rt. Rev. T. R. Abere, JP, the Bishop of Okrika Diocese, described late professor Abiye Obuoforibo as a devoted Christian, well educated, who lived an exemplary life while on earth, stressing that the people he cared for while on earth and the nation, would miss him greatly.
The clergy who debunked people’s belief that death is the worst thing that can occur to mankind, described death as a gateway to heaven where man would have an eternal peace and rest.
The biography of late professor Abiye Obuoforibo read by Victor Abiye Obuoforibo, his eldest son, stated that he was born January 13, 1942, to Late Atemie and Madam Edna Jane Obuoforibo in Okrika LGA. He attended medical school in Lagos and later University of Sheffield, England, where he obtained his PHD certificate in Anatomy.
He later became a lecturer, a researcher and an administrator in the United Kingdom and Nigeria, worked for the World Health Organization, WHO, in Uganda as an adviser to the Ugandan government as well as provost of the College of Health Sciences at the Niger Delta University, Amasoma, Bayelsa State and was the first chief Medical Director, UPTH, among others.
He is survived by a wife, four children and a lot of relations.
In a chat with journalists at the funeral ceremony, Mr. Andrew Obuoforibo, the last son of the deceased who expressed shock at his father’s death, described him as hardworking, humble, dedicated man who cared for the family and the less privileged, stressing that his family and the nation would miss him greatly.
Mr. Andrew while thanking governor Amaechi for appointing their father as a member of the advisory committee in his administration as well as other well-wishers who graced the funeral ceremony, assured that the entire family would continue from the legacy left behind by his late father.
Similarly Chief Mina-Bobmanuel noted that late Abiye Obuoforibo was his professional colleague who was intelligent, hardworking and a mentor, stressing that Rivers State has lost a giant and his children have a lot to do to build on their legacy. ###
By Emeka Jilly Ejiowhor
