Leonard (Godgift Abumere Ihaza was born in 1938 to Mr. and Mrs. James Ihaza. The Father was a police officer and served in the Royal Police Force now Nigeria Police Force and hailed from Ugboha, now a developing city near Uromi in the then Midwestern Nigeria, now Edo State.
Mr. Leonard Godgift, A. lhaza had his basic primary school education in Ugboha but lived most of his life in the East and Southern part of the country (Nigeria). His Mother hailed from Ogoloma in Okrika Local Government Area of today’s River State.
L.G.A., as he for all time signed his initials, took to marketing early in life. The philosophy of “Survival of the fittest,” was not alien to him. As such, L.G.A. was determined from early youth age to make it in life. He worked with U.A.C, as a Senior Marketer before the Nigeria-Biafra Civil War and was really at the top of his carrier before the civil war started. He did not surrender to effects of the loss of war, rather, bounced back to business soon after. He worked with C.C.1.A.. in early seventies and rose to the rank of General Manager before he resigned to co-found Steve Leo Contact Agencies, Nigeria Limited. He was Chairman and Managing Director of Steve Leo Contact Agencies Nig. Ltd. until its defunct.
Chief Leonard Godgift Abumere was a man of many parts, a core business man, a humourist, philanthropist and defender of people’s rights. He touched people’s lives, trained and empowered many, mentored the less-privileged and until his last breath, fought for the survival, growth and development of the Ogoloma people-where his Mother hailed from. His life is an open book, Ogoloma history will be robbed of its comprehensiveness without the mention of Leonard Godgift Abumere Ihaza-Okolobo. L.G.A. Ihaza added Okolobo to his names in 1978 so that he can fully identify with his kinsmen and the challenges they faced.
Leonard Godgift Abumere Ihaza-Okolobo has ways of winning hearts apart from his philanthropic gestures. He was a humorist, a joke cracker amongst his friends. His presence at gatherings and functions was quickly and readily noticed. His Masonic brothers can attest to this fact. His humorous character was one that endeared him to all, but above all, the high attitudinal carriage with which L.G.A managed himself at business and functions made him a rare gem..
He joined the Masonic Lodge and remained a faithful and committed Mason until his death.
It was not until his last days that L.G.A. Ihaza-Okolobo really began to, in the true sense, retire. Retired indeed, but not tired. He began to see things the way a family man will see it.
He really began to think family; it has all the while been society.
An outstanding and accomplished man, the vacuum he left will remain for a long time.
He will be laid to rest on Saturday, June 16, 2012, at Ugboha, Edo state. ###
Adieu, great father.
Signed
Engr. Ashley Emenike
Son in-law
