16022021 - Nigeria’s security architecture being re-jigged — SERVICE CHIEFS

24 — Niger-Delta Voice, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2021
LIFESTYLE EXTRA
VOL. 2: NO. 272 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2021
BUMP INTO KINGSLEY OMOBUDE:
Speech impaired welder of Edo
* Abandoned at childhood, annulled enchantments to be celebrated
*He is thorough; welding works unique – Ojo, neighbour; Agene, contractor
*What I want Governor Obaseki, guarantors to do for me – 30-yr-old Omobude
EDO... TTHE HEARTBEAT
OF THE NATION
By Gabriel
Enogholase
BENIN CITY —MR
Kingsley Omobude came
tone-deaf from his mother’s
womb, nobody knew the reason
but because of this handicap,
people defectively concluded he
would amount to nothing and
predictably neglected him.
Fifteen or so years into his life,
the negativity did not change as
no help came. However, young
Kingsley who never accepted
that God created him to be
nobody took a stride that
explicitly altered his life.
The gallant move climaxed in
his becoming a welder at Benin
City, Edo State and he has found
a way around his tongue-tied
mouth by doing most of his
transactions and businesses
through sign language. Those
who rejected and mocked him
in the past are amazed at his
makeover.
Nobody catered for me but
I thank my master
Omobude, who spoke to NDV
through Mr. Godspower Ojo
said that he decided to be trained
as a welder over 10 years ago
when there was nobody to fend
for him.
“I have been dumb from birth
and while growing up, I saw that
nobody was interested in me or
wanted to help me because of
my disability.
“The man that I was apprenticed
to, I mean my master,
encouraged and assisted me in
several ways to ensure that I
completed my apprenticeship.
He overlooked my disability.
Story-line transformed
“When I started on my own,
nobody took me serious. But
today, I am very happy that the
narrative has changed. People
now bring jobs to me from
different parts of Benin City and
they are happy with my finished
products,” he narrated.
According to him, he moved
his workshop to the present
location at No. 148, Ediagbonya
Street, by Benin -Auchi dual
carriage way in 2016 to attract
customers.
“Through this job, I have been
able to put food on the table for
my family as several people,
including building contractors,
contact me to do one job or the
other for them,” he added.
Counsel to other incapacitated
persons
Omobude,
w h o
specialized in
all types of
welding works
such as
construction of
stainless doors,
windows,
gates, fencing
protectors,
electrical
wiring, among
others,
advised fellow
disabled persons
in the society
to “learn
any trade of
their choice so
as to be useful
and not
depend on
those not will-
ing to help them.”
Supplication to Gov
By Jimitota Onoyume
AGBARHO— EMERITUS
Veterinary Surgeon and administrator,
Professor Joseph
Akpokodje, who trained eight
professors in his family, three
of whom are his off springs,
has revealed his drawbacks at
89 years.
Prof Akpokodje who has over
80 publications in national and
international academic journals
retired as a Veterinary
Surgeon in the 80s from the
prestigious University of
Ibadan, where he was Head of
The Department of Veterinary
Surgery and Medicine for
many years in the citadel of
learning. He also functioned as
a sub-dean of the Faculty of Veterinary
Medicine and has over
80 publications in national and
international academic journals.
The great African scholar and
octogenarian, who from a
comprehensive virtual profile,
was born September 17, 1932
and hails from Ikweghwu,
Agbarho kingdom, Ughelli
North local government area,
Obaseki, sponsors
He also appealed to Governor
Godwin Obaseki of Edo State
LIFESTYLE EXTRA
Delta state, told NDV that one
of his regrets presently was that
he could not fiddle with modern
gadgets, counting using all
the functions in a mobile phone
and browsing the internet.
Interestingly, his academic
feats are all over the internet
for generations.
I have been a professor as far
back as the 80s. These are my
children (pointing at some pictures
on the wall in his Agbarho
residence where this interview
was conducted) and there is
nothing much to say. As I have
said, I am a professor from University
of Ibadan and retired.
I was head of the department
for so many years before I retired.”
My qualms
Regretting his inability to toy
with most of the functions in his
cell phone and browsing the
internet, he said: “I have so
many disadvantages. In fact, I
consider myself a drawback in
that the new gadgets, most of
them I cannot use them. “
The reporter asked his advice
for the nation, the elderly don
said the nation had advanced
between the 70s and now but
did not forget to commend
President Muhammadu Buhari
for his fight against corruption.
His words: “I do not have to
give any advice to Nigeria, it has
and philanthropists to come to
his aid, especially in the
provision of standard professional
tools and finance to expand
his business.
He’s meticulous, groomed
others in welding —Ojo
A neigbour, Mr. Godspower
Ojo, who also served as his sign
interpreter, described Mr
Omobude as a good and
hardworking man, adding: “He
has trained many people in
welding in Eyaen and Aduwawa
axis of Benin City, including the
man that I learnt the trade from.
His works are excellent and nobody
has brought any negative
report against him.”
Superb works
—Agene
A building contractor present
HOME OF PROFESSORS: I trained 8 profs in my
family, 3 my kids —Octogenarian Prof Akpokodje
•My regret is that I can't efficiently understand and use my cell phone
DELTA... THE BIG
HEART OF THE
NATION
Kingsley Omobude
Kingsley in his workshop.
*Professor Akpokodje
moved on since the 70s when I
joined the university as a lecturer.
The country has moved
on, moved forward since then.”
“Nigeria has advanced considerably
as much as I know
and it will advance more. I
will say Nigeria has advanced,
particularly with this administration
of President
Muhammadu Buhari. He
has made Nigeria face the truth.
I will say there have been
fraudulent practices in the
country but I think President
Buhari has set out to curtail
them,” he asserted.
during the interview, Engr.
Sylvester Agene told NDV:
“Omobude’s works are excellent
hence I have hired him to do
some welding works in projects
that I handled.”
Govt'll support disabled—
Sedenu, Dep Gov’s aide
On his part, an aide to the
Deputy Governor of Edo State,
Comrade Philip Shaibu, Mr.
Razaq Sedenu, said that Edo
State under Godwin Obaseki
was prepared to assist disabled
persons learn one trade or the
other.
“The government will assist
them to buy tools and even
provide any form of assistance
to ensure that even those with
two legs that are not disabled
emulate them,” he said.
Pointing at a long line of the
photo frames in his sitting room
again with some of the children
in academic gowns, he
said: “I have lived a noble life
as far as far as I know. I hope
others will live a noble life. I
have three professors among
my children. I am not a
proud man but I have trained
about eight professors from my
family and I am still living. I
have done my own contribution,
let others do theirs,” he
quipped.
According to his virtual profile,
“ He attended Ondo Boys
High School, Ondo, 1946-51;
Veterinary School, Vom, 1952-
54; South West Essex Technical
College, London, 1956-58; Liverpool
University, England,
1958-64; University of Guelpha,
Canada, 1969-70; Royal Veterinary
College, Sweden, 1975;
He was Lecturer of the year.
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
University of Ibadan.”
Great icon of
Urhobo nation
Some residents of Agbarho
who spoke on Professor
Akpokodje said he is one of the
great icons of Urhobo nation
and very a quiet man.
“He is one of the prides of
Urhobo nation and quiet man
in the community. When he was
still strong as an old man, we
saw him walk some distance to
ease his bones. There is nothing
much to say about professor
other than he is a quiet man. He
also attended the Agbarho Annual
Conference when he was
strong, “a resident who gave his
name simply as Sunday said.