SHOWCASING 23 IGEDE PERSONALITIES EN ROUTE TO 2023 GENERAL ELECTIONS – First Edition
PHARM. (REV. DR.) MRS. MARGARET OHIUMA IPOLE-OGAH (CHIEF OGWANYANG 1 OF IGEDE LAND).
If you have been following the trajectory since I began the series on the 23 Igede personalities en route to 2023 general elections, you would notice that all my previous featured personalities have only been men who have distinguished themselves in character and chosen endeavours. No evil motive is intended against the women folks for not featuring a woman up till now. I hold women in general and Igede women in particular, in a very high esteem and very dearly to my heart. Let me to say it straight away that Igede nation is blessed with women of uncommon beauty and virtues, and wherever they find themselves, they always distinguish themselves in character and in their chosen career. I see the envied beauty and virtues of Igede women through the eyes of my little daughters – Treasure and Pearl, my priceless jewels of inestimable value.
Therefore, it is on that premised, in continuation of my series on the 23 personalities en route to 2023 general elections, that my searchlight is today beamed on a worthy daughter of Agba, and she is no any other person than PHARM. (REV. DR.) MRS. MARGARET OHIUMA IPOLE-OGAH (CHIEF OGWANYANG 1 OF IGEDE LAND).
Margaret Ohiuma Ipole-Ogah was born in Andibila, Ibilla, Oju Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria on 14th August, 1951 to the family of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Ipole Olima. She began her early education at the Methodist Primary School Ibilla also known as Ibilla Central School in 1958 and completed her primary school in 1964. She then proceeded to Wesley High School Otukpo in 1965 for her secondary school education and finished in 1969. Upon completion of her secondary school, she went to Federal Government College Sokoto for her Higher School Certificate (HSC), between 1970 and 1971 under science courses and she then immediately secured an admission to study Pharmacy at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria where she got her B.Sc. Pharmacy in June 1976. In 2002 she got her Masters in Pharmacognosy from the same Institution and later enrolled for her Ph.D. programme. She also got Postgraduate Diploma (PGDT) from Jos Theological Seminary, an affiliate of the University of Jos in 1998. She recently badged a Doctorate degree in Divinity from Juliana King University Texas in 2020 and International Ministerial License from Calvary College of Bishops.
Pharm. (Dr.) Mrs. Ogah charted her career path thus: Vacation (Part-time) teaching, St. Luis College Jos, 1972; Vacation job with Government Printing Department Jos, 1974; Pharmacy Internship at General Hospital, Makurdi, 1977-1977; NYSC General Hospital, Makurdi, 1977-87; Part-time Lecturer with the University of Technology Makurdi (now Joseph Tarka University – former Uniagric, Makurdi), 1981-1983; AS Pharmacist Grade II, State Medical Stores, Makurdi, 1978-1979; Snr. Pharmacist, Dental Centre/Eye Clinic, Makurdi, 1982-1983; Managing Director, Anchor Pharmacy, Makurdi, 1983-1985; Lecturer, University of Jos, 1995-2007; Instructor, Mandatory Continuous Pharmacy Development (MCPD), Full-time Lecturer, Madonna University, Nigeria, 2007-2021.
Pharm. (Dr.) Mrs. Ogah has held several leadership positions, among which are: Head Girl, Wesley High School, Otukpo; Head Girl, Federal Government College, Sokoto; Asst. Secretary, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Benue State Branch, 1978-80; General Secretary, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Benue State Branch, 1982-1986; State Director, Nigeria Red Cross, Benue State Branch, 1991-1995; Pioneer President, Benue State Christian Women Association, 1987-2005; First Chairman of Teenagers Outreach Camps in Benue State, Member, Benue State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, 1984-1986; Councilor for Health and Education, Oju LGA, 1985-1987; 1st Woman & Non-clergy Chairman of Benue Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, 1987-1989; Chairman, Joint National Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board later renamed National Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, 1987-1989; Chairman, Board of Directors, Benue Burnt Bricks & Tiles Industry Ltd, 1991-1994; Auditor General, National Christian Women Association, 1991-1995; Patron, Weight-Lifters Association, 1992-1995; Member, Benue State Pensions Board, 1992-1994; Member, Benue State Monitoring Committee for Women Development, 1992-1994; Member, Benue State Local Government Education Authority, 1995-1999; Secretary General, National Society for Pharmacognocists, Uni-Jos, 2002-2004; Treasurer, National Association of Pharmacists in Academia, 1999-2009; Chairman, National Association of Lady Pharmacists Plateau, (ALPS) 2007-2010; National Treasurer, Association of Lady Pharmacists Plateau, (ALPS) 2013-2016; Head of Department, Department of Pharmacognosy, Madonna University, 2013-2015; Associate Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, Madonna University, 2016-2021.
It is worth of note that before the coming of Pharm. (Dr.) Mrs. Ogah into the scene, Christian Pilgrimage in Nigeria was in piece meals, only few states & denominations organizing their own trips to Jerusalem. When she came in, she wanted National Pilgrims Board announced airfare deduction. She went to Lagos to ask for reduction for Christian Pilgrimage but was told Christian Pilgrimage was not included because they were using international flights. At that time too, CAN had sued Fed Government and asked it to take their hands off pilgrimage. She called several meetings and set in motion the unification of Christian Pilgrimage in Nigeria, closing her account to establish Christian Pilgrimage Boards in the various states of the federation. This eventually led to the unification of Christian Pilgrimage in Nigeria. No wonder she was appointed the National Chairman of the Joint National Pilgrims Board which was later renamed National Pilgrims Welfare Board. She worked with her team through a letter she wrote to the then Minister of External Affairs to normalise Nigeria’s relationship with Israel that was cut long before that time, and to send medical team & Federal Representative to go with pilgrims to Rome & Israel. The requests were all granted & today pilgrims can go to Israel directly without encountering any diplomatic bottlenecks. During her reign, she took pilgrims to Lourdes in France, Rome in Italy, Egypt & Israel several times.
Pharm. (Dr.) Mrs. Ogah is a trailblazer, a social crusader, a human rights activist and a gospel minister with impacts that transcend generations. It should be noted that she is a first female Pharmacist in the whole of Benue State, and in recognition of this enviable feat, she was given State Award as the First Female Pharmacist in Benue. Chief Ogwangang 1 of Igede land has won several other awards for her right advocacy and contributions to community development from National Council of Women Societies, National Benue Students Association, Anyogwaje Community, among other several organisations.
Space and time would fail me to state in detail the numerous contributions and community services this eminent and gracious daughter of Agba has rendered over the years to put smiles on the faces of her people and contemporaries in Igede nation and human society in general. I, however, seek your kind indulgence to allow me highlight few of her contributions to bring home my message in this article:
1. Fight against social injustice and inequality when, as a right activist, she led women and housewives of Ito on demonstrations to Government House Makurdi to press home the demand for the creation of Obi LGA which eventually came to fruition in 1996;
2. Organised Prayers and consultation on the incessant mysterious deaths of the Chairmen of Obi LGA at the early years of its creation and her tireless efforts eventually ended the bad omen;
3. Built about four hundred (400) steps up the hill to her father’s village to ease out movements up & down the hill where no vehicle, not even bicycle can climb, making it difficult for the sick to access health services, the aged find it difficult to come down & go up. This thoughtful and humanitarian community service has brought succour and respite to the people of her community.
4. Organised Prayers and consultation which led to the halting of the hitherto age-long fights between Ibilla and Ukpa clans in Oju LGA until recently this year 2021 when some foolish malefactors and arsonists from the two clans unleashed havoc at Ihiejwo/Onyike market due to some insignificant misunderstanding that led to the wanton destruction of properties worth millions of naira;
5. Took Gospel evangelism to over 70 communities in Benue, Nassarawa, Cross River, Rivers, Plateau and Ebonyi States, holding crusades, discipleship classes, seminars, workshops, counseling and deliverance prayers sessions to change and transform people’s lives through the gospel of Jesus Christ; and most of the evangelistic trips were/are accompanied with free medical services including health checks for high BP, blood sugar, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, with treatment for malaria & other diseases; trained youths, widows & orphan to acquire skills for self- reliance.
6. Legal advocacy through Break the Shackle Foundation that focuses on illegal detention of innocent persons for frivolous charges, violation of human rights while in detention, welfare and safety of the inmates, rehabilitation on short-term basis including welfare, education, psychological, vocational and spiritual rehabilitation centres;
7. During the Yellow Fever & Cerebrospinal meningitis when she was the Councilor in charge of health & education in Oju LGC, she was the one who went into patients’ treatment because she was the only one who had Yellow Fever vaccination then. She went to air the outbreak with the Council Chairman then and eventually brought the Federal Minister of Health to Igede which led to the rehabilitation of Otukpo-Oju road and the digging of boreholes in different communities in Igede land. Now she goes on public enlightenment & sensitisation against Drug Abuse, Cultism & Underage trafficking and other social vices; and
8. Setting up of a Nursery and Primary School (Divine Guide Academy) at Obarike Ito with strong Christian and moral education for some vulnerable children for free, among many other humanitarian and community services too numerous to mention.
The foregoing is an abridged resume of Pharm. (Dr.) Mrs. Ogah, Chief Ogwanyang 1 of Igede Land. From the information I gathered while researching about this great daughter of Agba, I learnt that she was not born with a silver spoon in her mouth or to educated parents. I was reliably informed that her father, Mr. Jacob Ipole Olima was a farmer with no formal education but only had adult education popularly known as “Organiser” to at least to read and write in some negligible terms. In spite of his lack of formal education, Mr. Olima still saw the need to send his daughter to school to the chagrin of his age mates and contemporaries who did not deem it fit to send their own children, especially the female ones, to school. The results of Mr. Olima’s uncommon decision to send the little Margaret to school are now very obvious to the blind and audible to the deaf.
On her part, notwithstanding the societal odds standing against her at that material time where girls education in Igede land was at the lowest ebb, Pharm. (Dr.) Mrs. Ogah chose an uncommon path that many of her mates feared to tread. She ploughed the ridges of life and burnt her midnight candle to become who she is today through sheer determination and hard work with the grace of God backing her up. Today, she has left an indelible mark in the sands of history by writing her name in gold for all to emulate.
There is no any amount of encomiums I can possibly shower on Pharm. (Dr.) Mrs. Ogah in this article that can announce her to the world than her tall credentials, competence, track records and excellent character she has exhibited in her life journey. She is a pacesetter and a living legend who is more than qualified to belong to the class of people of 3c – character, courage and charisma.
To this end therefore, in the renewed tête-à-tête for power sharing in Benue State and Zone C in 2023, I have the honour to present this exceptional daughter of Agba – Pharm. (Dr.) Mrs. Ogah, to be among the Igede elders and political elite to lead in the discussion, political permutations, equations and negotiations for power sharing in Benue State as we are en route to 2023 general elections.
I know Pharm. (Dr.) Mrs. Ogah is an academia and minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ traversing the length and breadth of Nigeria and beyond. What I don’t know however is whether she belongs to any political party or has any political ambition at the moment. Be that as it may, given her experience and high resume with an unequalled pedigree, it is my humble view that her voice is needed among the elite in the discourse about power sharing in Benue State and Benue South Senatorial District (Zone C). It is beyond speculation that her friends and colleagues from other tribes have tremendous respect for her as a woman of character and virtues; excellence and heroism. I believe she has the capacity, the charisma and all the bits and pieces of a good leader to present Igede’s position to other ethnic nationalities, for fair and equitable distribution of political positions in Benue State, come 2023 and beyond.
Let us therefore leverage on her experience, capacity, connections, resources, track records and excellent character to champion the political cause of Igede nation as we en route to 2023 general elections. If Igede nation want other tribes to take them more seriously, we must be prepared, as a matter of collective resolve, to present our best squads to lead this cause. For a minority ethnic group as ours, our strength only lies in our human resources. If we must change the narrative and overcome the entrenched minority prejudice and other negative ethnic chauvinism and war of attrition by our political opponents, we must deliberately bring our best forward, regardless of our political leanings and clannish differences.
Igede Ihiooo!
LOOK FORWARD TO THE 9TH IGEDE BOLD PERSONALITY….
James Udor Ebe, Esq.
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed in this write up are strictly those of the author, based on his personal convictions, research and information sourced from relevant materials about the individual(s). It is not a sponsored or paid advert for any personal, clannish or political interest. The author takes personal responsibility for any information about any personality that is inaccurately stated and/or typographical or grammatical errors contained therein.
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