ADVERTISEMENT
  • The Membership Club
  • PT Hausa
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
Saturday, March 6, 2021
Premium Times Nigeria
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
Premium Times Nigeria
BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad
ADVERTISEMENT
Innocent E. Ofor: The Passing of a Legend, By Uzor Maxim Uzoatu

Innocent E. Ofor: The Passing of a Legend, By Uzor Maxim Uzoatu

byPremium Times
September 8, 2013
4 min read
ADVERTISEMENT

He was a distinguished bearer of many titles, notably Knight of Saint Mulumba, Grand Knight Emeritus, Udora Umuchu etc. Chief Innocent E. Ofor, the retired top civil servant of Anambra State, passed on in the early hours of August 21.

Born in 1929 in Amihie village of Umuchu town of Aguata LGA, Anambra State, Chief Ofor had his primary education at St. Matthew’s School, Umuchu and St. Charles, Achina between 1937 and 1945. He then proceeded to St. Thomas, Ibuzo in Delta State for his Teacher’s Grade II Certificate which he obtained in 1951. Through tuition he earned GCE O and A Levels between 1955 and 1957.

He capped his educational pursuit with a 1960 BA Hons Degree from the University College, Ibadan. He would later bag a Post-Graduate Diploma in Economic Development in 1966 from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He travelled to Washington DC in the United States in 1980 to earn a Post-Graduate Certificate in Public Management.

He was an Assistant Divisional Officer (ADO) in Owerri in 1961 before transferring as ADO to Orlu from 1962 to 1965. Between 1966 and 1967, he served as the Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce-cum-Industry and Secretary of Eastern Nigeria Industrial Estates, Enugu. He was appointed the Secretary of Hotel Presidential Ltd, Enugu in 1967 before the Nigeria-Biafra war supervened.

He was posted to the Biafra Civil Defence Directorate as Assistant Secretary at the beginning of the war. When Enugu fell to the Federal troops he was made the Biafra Civil Defence Secretary. He miraculously drove his car in ignorance over a landmine laid by the Federal troops without getting hurt. He was captured by the Federal troops in Enugu and was saved through divine intervention. In 1969 a bomb exploded at Uga Airport about a meter or two from his car, leaving only shrapnel in his ligaments. He was invited to appear before a high-powered Federal Government panel at the end of the war over some intelligence reports, and he was cleared unscathed.

He returned to his post at the top of the administration of Hotel Presidential, Enugu at the end of the war. In 1973, he was appointed the Secretary of the State Scholarship Board. He served as the Under Secretary and Principal Secretary, Cabinet Office, Enugu, between 1976 and 1977, before assuming duties as Resident of Enugu Capital Territory. He then became the Deputy Permanent Secretary, and Secretary for Education. He served as Permanent Secretary of the State Education Commission in 1978, and as Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education.

A devoted Catholic, he 1978 came in contact with the teaching of Opus Dei, as established by the Spanish clergyman St. Jose Maria Ecriva. He became a Knight of St. Mulumba (KSM) in 1975, serving as a Grand Knight from 2002 to 2008, and passed on as a Grand Knight Emeritus. He was in 1980 made a cabinet chief of his native Umuchu by HRH Igwe Oforbuike (Ezeora), taking the title of Udora (The Peace of All). He served as the Secretary of the of the St. Matthew’s Catholic Church, Umuchu Pro-Cathedral building committee for all of 28 years.

The real story of Chief Ofor’s life was the love he retained to his last day for his wife Maria (nee Onuigbo) who died in 1987. Chief Ofor’s entire life was emblematic of his love story with his beloved Maria about whom he had written a book. The then young Innocent first got into contact with then Miss Maria Ngozika Onuigbo back in 1955, some three years after finishing high school. They fixed their marriage for 1957, but it had to be deferred because, according to Chief Ofor, “unexpectedly I gained admission into the University College, Ibadan.”

While the young Innocent attended University at faraway Ibadan, Maria began her career as a teacher. They agreed to put forward the marriage to the end of his three-year university course. Sometime in 1960 Maria somewhat changed her mind by opting to enter into a convent to fulfill her strong spiritual quest to become a reverend sister. When Maria’s renowned father, Matthew Onuigbo, got into the picture of Maria’s decision to enter the convent he consoled Innocent while undertaking to take up the paying of her fees. In a classic case of platonic love, both Innocent and Maria continued to write to one another every week.

RelatedNews

No Content Available

A catch emanated some weeks before Innocent’s degree examination when the University Chaplain, Rev. Fr. Folley, who was fondly called the “Story Teller” saw him for the first time in the company of a girl, a fellow chorister. Ofor confessed that his proposed wife had gone into a convent and he had given her his consent “when I could not change her mind”.

“Wrong!” shouted Father Folley who argued that Ofor’s support for his fiancé to enter the convent could be a ploy to “get Maria out of the way to take on someone better!”

According to Ofor: “I was very hurt by the Rev. Father’s motive as I was still offering Novena prayers and masses asking Jesus to take another girl to the convent and return Maria to me. When the chaplain insisted on my withdrawing the support in concrete form, I agreed to carry out his order but pleaded to be allowed to do that after our imminent degree exam. Yet Father refused and decided to ban me from entering the examination hall unless I complied.”    The students in Mellanby Hall of the then University College, Ibadan reduced it all to a joke, stressing that Innocent was in a very serious competition with Jesus Christ over a girl!

Dangote adbanner 728x90_2 (1)

With tears in his eyes and prayers in his heart, Ofor undertook the journey of some one thousand miles, then done day and night. He left Ibadan at 5AM and arrived at Aba in the then Eastern Region, where Maria’s parents lived, at 11 PM the next night. He met Maria’s parents in a mood of mourning because Maria had lost her place in the convent because the authorities could not find the “Motherless Babies” that Maria had chosen for her career. She was not allowed a change of course, and was advised to go look for a husband!

The rest, as they say, is history, for Innocent and Maria got married in December 1961 at Assumpta Church, Owerri. The marriage was blessed with nine children, including a set of twins. The earthly love tango of Innocent and Maria ended on July 13, 1987 when she breathed her last, and Chief Ofor stoically greeted the sad news thus: “As the Court of Heaven pleases.”

The first daughter, Geraldine, married to Sir Chidi Christopher Ezeoke, Head of Service of the Anambra State Government, joined the Saints Triumphant in 2008. Chief Ofor is survived by Chief Gerry Ofor (Ukpaka Umuchu), Prof (Mrs) Ifeyinwa Emejulu of UNIZIK Awka, Ntomchukwi Reginald of MTN, Chinedu in USA, Mrs. Chidimma Maxim-Uzoatu, Engr. Ebuka in Kenya, and Lady Chika Anierobi. Chief Ofor was blessed with 28 grandchildren and counting. He would be given a grand burial at his compound in Amihie, Umuchu, Aguata LGA, Anambra State on November 21.

Iconoclastic poet, and writer, famously called Borojah, writes from Lagos.

  • WhatsApp
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print
  • Telegram
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Pocket

Support PREMIUM TIMES' journalism of integrity and credibility

Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.

For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country we ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.

By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you are helping to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all.

Donate


TEXT AD: To advertise here . Call Willie +2347088095401...



JOIN THE CONVERSATION

  • Disqus (1)
premiumtimes



PT Mag Campaign AD

Previous Post

Ayala: A painful exit, By Dele Agekameh

Next Post

Goodbye Nigeria, By Chido Onumah

Premium Times

Premium Times

More News

Osmund Agbo on being poor while mega-rich

Poverty of the Mega Rich, By Osmund Agbo

March 6, 2021
Henry Okoroafor on crying

Crying: Not A Sign of Weakness, But A Catharsis for the Soul, By Henry Okoroafor

March 5, 2021
 Solomon Zewdu on vaccine deliveries to Africa

With Vaccine Deliveries To Africa, the Race For Equity Begins, By Solomon Zewdu 

March 5, 2021
Imam-Murtada-Gusau on Uwais Qarni

Friday Sermon: Uwais Qarni: A Beautiful Example For Today’s Muslims, By Murtadha Gusau

March 5, 2021
Jibrin Ibrahim on the failure of the Zamfara model

The Zamfara Model: The Dismal Tunnel To Self-Destruction, By Jibrin Ibrahim

March 5, 2021
Olabisi-Deji-Folutile on a Nigerian aberration

Nigerian Aberration: Meetings With Bandits, None On Education, By Olabisi Deji-Folutile

March 4, 2021
Next Post
Charter of Demands for a New Nigeria

Goodbye Nigeria, By Chido Onumah

The Cabaliya and Her Cabal in Jalingo, By Babayola Toungo

The Cabaliya and Her Cabal in Jalingo, By Babayola Toungo

Discussion about this post

Search

#EndSARS: Latest Updates




Polaris Bank


JAIZ Ad


Access Bank Ad


NITDA Ad





Glo Ad

Subscribe to News via Email

Enter your email address and receive notifications of news by email.

Join 1,629,456 other subscribers.

Advertisement






netherland biz school Advert



Zenith Advert

ADVERTISEMENT

Our Digital Network

  • PT Hausa
  • Election Centre
  • Human Trafficking Investigation
  • Centre for Investigative Journalism
  • National Conference
  • Press Attack Tracker
  • PT Academy
  • Dubawa
  • LeaksNG
  • Campus Reporter

Resources

  • Oil & Gas Facts
  • List of Universities in Nigeria
  • LIST: Federal Unity Colleges in Nigeria
  • NYSC Orientation Camps in Nigeria
  • Nigeria’s Federal/States’ Budgets since 2005
  • Malabu Scandal Thread
  • World Cup 2018
  • Panama Papers Game
  • Our Digital Network
  • About Us
  • Resources
  • Projects
  • Data & Infographics
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • Parliament Watch
    • AGAHRIN
  • Opinion
  • PT Hausa
  • The Membership Club
  • Dubawa
    • Dubawa NG
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Digital Store
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

Our website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.