Michael Ibru goes home

All roads led to Agbarha-Otor, in Ughelli, Delta State, South-South geo-political zone, last Wednesday, December 14, 2016 for the burial of one of Nigeria’s illustrious sons, who passed away at a ripe age of 86. Nigerians from all walks of life gathered to pay him their last respect. People of Urhobo nation, did all they could to show their deep-seated gratitude to a man who wrote their name boldly on global map. Michael Ibru, it must be said, did a lot for his people and his name, even in death, will continue to attract fortunes to them.
At the funeral service, at the All Saint’s Cathedral Church, Ughelli, Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, governor of the state, urged more peace in the family of the late business mogul.
Okowa called for reconciliation among Nigerians in strict compliance with the words of God. The governor also used the occasion to admonish the children of the deceased to sustain the legacy of their father, who he noted was a nationalist.
“The best you can do to sustain the legacy of your father is to be humble in what you do, sustain your father’s legacy. It is time to unite and forget the past,” Governor Okowa admonished the late Ibru’s children.
According to Governor Okowa who attended the funeral service accompanied by a retinue of political office holders, reconciliation was very vital for a virile society where love for one another takes precedence.
“We must reconcile ourselves to God and His words and we must continue to pray for peace and find a way to impact on the life of others,” he said.
Alex Ekwueme, former vice president; Godwin Obaseki, Edo State governor; Edwin Clark, among others, were among the dignitaries that attended the funeral service.
Nicholas Okoh, primate of Anglican Church, described the deceased as a national leader, a successful businessman and an educationist, and urged Christians to work towards uplifting the standard of living of others while alive as the late Ibru did all his lifetime.
After the funeral service, the remains of the Olorogun were taken to the Ibru Centre, Agbarha-Otor.
An array of clergymen, traditional rulers, captains of industry, top government functionaries in Delta State and some prominent politicians across the country were present to honour the deceased in grand style. It was more of glamour as the guests at the occasion adorned themselves in their best attires.
The event which started on Tuesday, December 13 with service of songs and lying in state climaxed with the interment of the deceased at the cemetery with reception ceremony that followed in his country-home.
The All Saint Cathedral of the Anglican Church, Ughelli Diocese, seemed all out to accord the deceased the last rites as their member as the church service held at No 1 Iwhreko Street, Ughelli, witnessed a large turnout of the congregants who performed religious rituals in honour of the late entrepreneur. Women groups, youth, men, and dance groups clad in their uniforms were also busy doing their own thing, all in honour of Olorogun Michael Ibru.
There was a long convoy of vehicles conveying dignitaries to the church and later to the cemetery, then to the reception venue; a movement which grounded vehicular and human traffic in the town for some moment.
Born on December 25, 1930, Michael Christopher Onajirhebe Ibru, created what many now call the Ibru dynasty in Nigeria. According to his funeral oration, his legacy superseded wealth; as surprisingly what most people seek to emulate from this quintessential businessman was his humility. He was once described as the man with the Midas touch as every business he touched, ultimately flourished.
Ibru was described as a champion for education as he ensured that all his siblings were well educated. It has been said that Ibru’s only regret in life was that he himself did not attend university. He attended the Igbobi College in 1946, which was one of the best institutions in Nigeria. “He excelled in academics and completed his six-year education in less than four years.”
According to the oration, after school, Michael Ibru became a trainee-manager with the United African Company (UAC), where his instinctive foresight for business was believed to have been sharpened, because at 24, his first step into entrepreneurship was to form a trading company called “LAIBRU” in conjunction with his English partner, Jimmy Large.
“During the mid 1950’s, he managed to break into the then untouched market of importing frozen fish into the country in order to alleviate protein deficiency amongst the Nigerian people. This led to the formation of Ibru Seafoods, which would become the cash-cow for the group of companies that would later be known as the Ibru Organisation. It expanded into aviation, hospitality, tourism, banking, automobile distribution, publishing, palm oil production and much more.”
Michael Ibru had 18 children, 27 grand children and two great grand children; yet, he was cherished as an exemplary father and devoted husband, ensuring that all his children were loved and cared for, unconditionally.
He was also noted as an avid believer in modesty and humility. “He built in Agbarha-Otor the Ibru College and donated the government of Delta State, to aid the advancement of education in Nigeria. In his village, he built the first church, primary school and a university.
His impact and footprints were felt by visitors all over Ugheli.