Pa Emmanuel Ugeh, the fallen Hero laid to rest

It was a celebration of life well spent of late Pa Emmanuel Edho Ugeh (JP) who was laid to rest on May 4th, 2019 in his hometown Emede, Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta state.
Dignitaries came far and near to witness the laying of the fallen “hero”. Late Pa Ugeh was born on May 5, 1925 in Umeh to the families of late Pa Ugeh Onwah of Emede and Mrs Afahoko Ugeh of Umeh town both of Isoko South Local Government Area.



He started his early education in 1938 and obtained his elementary and standard six in Isoko in 1945 and was baptized in the same year at Owodokpokpo by Rev Garbeitt and was confirmed at Bethel by Rev. C.J. Peterson. He started teaching while continuing his education with Teacher Training grade III certificate for the western region ministry of education in 1956.

By this time he had married his first wife, Mrs Rebecca Ayo Ugeh and bore him Patrick Oghenewede Ugeh an editor with This Day Newspaper (retired) and other three children in 1963, he got his Teachers grade II certificate for western region ministry of Education and completed his teacher training grade I in Asaba in 1963 and married his 2nd wife Mrs Grace Ugeh who bore him 4 children in 1965. Pa Ugeh taught for several years becoming headmaster in some of the schools he taught before joining the Nigerian Army on 23rd June, 1973.

Due to his love for education, in 1978 he enrolled in the correspondence and open studies unit, University of Lagos, Akoka for a Bachelor’s Degree programme but he could not complete it on health grounds.

He retired from the Nigerian Army in 1980 as a warrant officer. He joined the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in 1990 and retired on July 1, 2002, after which he relocated to his hometown where he lived until his death on 14th January, 2019.

Before then, Pa Emmanuel Ugeh always love to be up-to-date in the sphere of information, so he always listened to the news on radio and television. He was a kindhearted man who reached out to people and accommodated everyone. Because of his persistent fight for Justice, he was recognized by the Delta state government as Justice of Peace (JP)
He was the oldest man in his quarter, Okporo Odio, and 2nd oldest in Emede at the time of his transition.

He is survived by a wife Mrs Grace Ugeh, 8 children, several grandchildren, and great grandchildren, brothers, sisters, nephew, nieces and cousins. Late Pa Emmanuel Ugeh is blessed with Mr Patrick O. Ugeh, Mrs Bessie Ebah, Miss Elo Ugeh, Mr Eniwotu Ugeh, Mr Samuel Ugeh, Lady Dr Patience Erigbe, Mrs Helen Aginwa and Mr Ewomazino Ugeh.

In a tribute, the eldest son, Mr Patrick Ugeh had described his father as a good man who is pure in heart and a disciplinarian with sharp intellect who taught them (the children) to be contented with whatever they had and that has shaped their lives positively.

Mrs Grace N. Ugeh, had described her husband, late Pa Emmanuel Edho Ugeh as a good husband and father. She concluded by saying that “if there is anything like reincarnation, I would love to come back to this world and choose you as my husband again”

Lady Dr Patience Ajirioghene Erigbe, she also described her father as a man who loves truth and taught them to be strong, contented and upright in all their dealings. She noted that as a loving father he always provides for them no matter the situation at hand, stressing that the Emede community are proud of her father because of his magnanimity.
“You were my friend and mentor whom I could shared all that bothered me with, but I feel so sad that you did not witness me getting to the peak of my career” she concluded.

Dignitaries present include Sir Ayodele Oghogho & Lad Sally Othihiwa, Hon (Mrs) Catherine Ilolo, Barr. Ejeta & Mrs Fatima Otuoniyo, Arc & Mrs J. Okah-Avae, Dr (Mrs) Jane Ofo, The Odhomos, Damola Diya, Olumide, Akinsanya, Gbenga Ismael, Isaac Agbonson, Segun Alison, Leke Kadri, Prof Karo Ogbinaka, Amos Iwari, Mr Okpeki, Hon Chief Miller Akpoili, Dr (Mrs) Ochuko Ejumedia, Mrs Elizabeth Awoh, Mrs Blessing Otobor, Julie Obrutse, Mrs Gloria Otobo, Wale Oyedeji, Binaibi Brisibe, Kalifa Green, Dr Bassy Annam.

Others are Emede Progress Union, Lagos, Ewheyae Isoko Association of Nigeria Headquarter (Lagos), Home branch, Jos, Asaba, The Ideal Isoko Women, Command Secondary School Old Students Association Class of ’85 (C85), Christian Ladies League.