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Tag: Hope Eghagha

Don warns Nigerians to avoid repeat of Biafra

A university lecturer, Prof. Hope Eghagha, on Wednesday warned that Nigeria should avoid tendencies that would escalate to another war after the bitter experience of the Biafra civil war.

Eghagha made the plea while reviewing a book, “The Nigerian Civil War, 50 Years After… Reflections of A Younger Generation’’ during the launch of the book.

He told Nigerians to shun propaganda and hate speeches, to prevent a re-occurrence of the events that led to the war in 1967.

Information reaching us has it that analysts have often described the Biafra civil war as the deadliest of its type in Africa, having taken the lives of more than two million people.

Citing the Rwandan genocide, Eghagha, a lecturer at the University of Lagos, said: “Propaganda breeds hate, the civil war was not a pleasant experience as codes of interpersonal behaviour were suspended.

“Anyone who has gone through a war cannot hope for another, a child that goes through a war loses his childhood.

“We should not promote the ideology of war by narrative or default.

Read Also: Biafra: Buhari hails Gowon for restraining troops

“From the refugee crisis being experienced internationally, the world cannot afford a war in Nigeria,” he said.

Eghagha praised the authors of the book, saying that they did an excellent job in bringing to light narratives from the civil war as well as the reconciliation efforts of subsequent regimes.

The Chairman of the occasion, Mr Chris Ogiemwonyi, described the book as a proof that combat should never be an option to settling national differences.

“There is a Bini proverb which literally translated means ‘war is never beautiful.’ For those asking for war or the country’s separation, they should bear that proverb in mind.

“We should never pray for war no matter how hard the discussion will be.”

Giving insight into the book, Ogiemwonyi, an engineer, said the book was an assemblage of facts from the war.

“We have read various accounts of the Nigerian civil war from warlords, politicians and eye-witnesses.

“This account is a compilation of facts as witnessed by victims, who saw part of the war.

“I will equally like to corroborate the facts as I also witnessed the civil war as a form three student in 1967.

“The book mentioned a time in Nigeria where tribalism was not an issue. However, with successive coups and the civil war, things started falling apart.

“The Nigerian civil war brought various hardships to the country,” Ogiemwonyi said.

The book was written by Ebho Abure and Agbose Akinwole.

In a remark, Abure urged Nigerians to read the book and give their feedback, saying that the objective of the book was to create a better union in Nigeria.

NAN

June 20, 2018
Dignitaries storm Freedom Park for Soyinka Conference

Iyabo Aboabe Manager of Freedom Park) discussing with Prof. Wole Soyinka

Iyabo Aboabe (Manager of Freedom Park), Wole Soyinka

Kunle Ajibade, Hope Eghagha at Freedom Park

Odiah Ofeimun listens as Wole Soyinka speaks at the Press Conference held at Freedom Park, Lagos

Captain Blaze, Segun Adefila (on Jamaican Cap), Pelumi Lawal (next to Adefila), others showing solidarity

Cross section of attendees

January 26, 2016
Oil firms donate engineering equipment to varsity

The Delta State Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Hope Eghagha, has praised Star Deepwater Petroleum Limited and its Agbami partners for supporting the development of education in Nigeria.

Prof. Eghagha, who spoke in Oleh, Isoko South Local Government Area of the state, also praised Star Deepwater, formerly Texaco Nigeria Limited now a Chevron company, for donating essential equipment to tertiary institutions in the country.

The commissioner made the remark when the company and its partners in the Agbami Field donated equipment to the Faculty of Engineering, Delta State University (DELSU) Oleh campus.

The equipment donated at the occasion held recently include: Rheometer, Supra-22 KR High; Fann K 1Ter Press Assembly and Digital Microscope DM-25 as well as Mud Balance, Digital Viscometer, Automatic Cleveland, Open Cup Flashpoint Tester BCO-T901 and Permearmeter (Chromatographic) Column Filtered with a Disc.

Eghagha, who was represented by Mrs. Stella Itoko, Director of Planning, Research and Statistics in the Ministry, commended the Agbami partners for the gesture, stressing that no sector of the economy can be sustained without education.

Prof. Eghagha also said the state government looks forward to partnership with different organisations to develop the education sector, adding that the gesture by the Agbami partners was a testimony of their commitment to corporate social responsibility.

He urged other organisations to emulate Agbami partners’ example so as to positively impact teaching and learning in the schools.

Speaking on behalf of the Agbami partners, the company’s director, Mr. Jeffrey Ewing noted that the donation was informed by its determination to improve the education sector in Nigeria as well as further the FUHCADI by employees of Chevron Facility Engineering Group who, on regular basis, voluntarily go to benefitting universities including DELSU to teach students of Engineering Department some fundamentals in the oil and gas industry.

Ewing, who was represented by Mr. Tunde Olorunnaiye (Onshore Construction Superintendent), said the Agbami partners have, over the years, demonstrated commitment to conducting their business here in Nigeria in a socially responsible manner by adding value to the lives of the people and contributing positively to the socio-economic development of the area.

He commended the Governing Council of DELSU and the state Ministry of Education for supporting the partners towards making the donation, even as he encouraged the students to make good use of the equipment.

In their remarks, the Provost of Oleh Campus of DELSU, Prof. Chinedum Mordi, and the Dean, Faculty of Engineering, Prof. Philip Kuale appreciated Star Deepwater and the Agbami Partners for the donation.

They said the donation would help sustain the Faculty of Engineering Human Capacity Development Initiative (FUHCADI) which has contributed immensely to the development of students of Engineering.

They noted that the donation was well-timed as it was coming at a time that the institution needed such equipment to prepare for the accreditation of the Department of Engineering by the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN).

The Star Deepwater team also included Mr. Dan Agbofode and Victor Anyaegbudike of the Policy Government and Public Affairs (PGPA), while DELSU’s Dean, Faculty of Law, Prof. David F. Tom, Prof. M.O.U Gasiokwu (Faculty of Law), Dr. K.M. Oghenejoboli (HOD Chemical Engineering) and other members of the Faculty of Engineering led a team of the institution’s representatives.

November 29, 2013
Kidnap suspect Kelvin, two others arraigned

Accused of complicity in abduction of Nwike, Eghagha, Ozekhome, others

Three men, believed to be involved in the kidnap of Delta State Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Hope Eghagha, rights activist Mike Ozekhome (SAN), former Anambra State deputy governor, Dr. Chudi Nwike and many others were arraigned yesterday in Abuja before a magistrate’s court in Wuse Zone Two.

The men, Kelvin Eziegbe, Frank Azuekoh and Haruna Momoh, were accused of being behind some highly coordinated kidnappings in the Southsouth, extending to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Nwike, who was reportedly kidnapped in March, was found dead some days later in a community close to Agbor, Delta State, by security agents.

Kelvin had, before his arrest, engaged in an open show of might when, in company of some masked members of his gang, addressed reporters and had their pictures taken in Kokori, a community in Delta State.

They were brought to court by stern-looking armed security personnel.

The three men, who looked blank, were taken before Magistrate Usman Ahmed Shuaibu, where a First Information Report (FIR), prepared by the Department of State Services (DSS), dated October 28, 2013 but filed on October 29, was read to them.

They were also accused of ambushing and attacking a prison vehicle conveying arrested members of the group.

They pleaded not guilty.

The FIR read: “That between February 2, 2012 and September 24, 2013 at Kokori, Asaba, Warri, Port Harcourt and Benin City, in Delta, Rivers and Edo states and along Benin-Abuja Road, Abuja FCT, you Kelvin Eziegbe, Frank Azuekoh and Haruna Momoh conspired with Rufus Ovwigho, Ese Oghenerojakor and others now at large to kidnap for ransom the persons of Mike Ozekhome (SAN), Dr. Chudi Nwike, Hope Eghagha (Prof.) and many others.

“That you did ambush and attack a Federal Prisons vehicle conveying members of your criminal gang, which resulted in the death of some police and prisons officers.”

October 30, 2013
Delta Commissioner kidnapped, security aide killed

Delta State Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Hope Eghagha was kidnapped on Sunday by suspected gunmen at Abavo, lka South on his way to Asaba to attend 52nd Independence anniversary thanksgiving service.

His security aide Mr. Innocent Odah, a sergeant was reportedly killed by the suspected kidnappers while his driver hit by bullets is presently receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital.

It was learnt that his official car which was riddled with bullets and his telephone handsets were abandoned by the kidnappers.

The commissioner was driven off to yet unknown destination in the Toyota Camry of the gunmen but there has not been call yet between the kidnappers and the family members.

When contacted, the State police spokesman Charles Muka confirmed the kidnap of the commissioner and said he was intercepted by the suspected kidnappers who trailed him from Warri to Abavo.

September 30, 2012