By Clement Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to celebrating distinguished indigenes of the state, declaring that outstanding individuals deserve recognition and honour while they are alive.
Otti made the declaration on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at a ceremony organised by the Abia State Government in Umuahia to celebrate the 90th birthday of renowned academic and educationist, Emeritus Professor Benson Omenihu Oluikpe.
The Governor described the celebrant as a humble gentleman and accomplished scholar whose immense contributions to education, scholarship and humanity have left an enduring mark on society.
Recounting his personal connection with the nonagenarian, Otti disclosed that his late father, a pastor, had always regarded Professor Oluikpe as a role model and frequently encouraged his children to excel academically and aspire to become professors like the renowned educationist.
According to the Governor, his father held Oluikpe in high esteem because of his outstanding reputation as a distinguished teacher and scholar.
He said his administration deliberately places premium on recognising excellence and celebrating individuals whose contributions have positively impacted society, rather than waiting until their death to accord them such recognition.
“For us in Abia State, we believe in celebrating excellence, and I am glad that we are here celebrating Prof. at 90,” Otti stated.
The Governor frowned at the practice of spending enormous resources on elaborate funerals and erecting magnificent structures in honour of deceased individuals who were not adequately celebrated during their lifetime.
He argued that such gestures often amount to celebrating the living rather than genuinely honouring the departed, stressing that there could be no better opportunity to appreciate an achiever than when the individual is alive to witness and participate in the celebration.
“There is no better time to celebrate a man like Prof. Oluikpe than when he is alive, when he is participating in the programme,” he said.
Otti explained that recognising distinguished achievers would serve as motivation for younger generations to pursue excellence, with the assurance that their contributions would be appreciated by the state.
He also disclosed that the state government would celebrate another internationally acclaimed Abia-born inventor, Professor Achilefu, from Obingwa Local Government Area, in December.
According to him, the professor developed an innovative technology that enables surgeons to identify and precisely target cancer cells during treatment, an invention that has attracted international recognition.
In his response, Professor Oluikpe expressed profound gratitude to Governor Otti and the Abia State Government for the honour, describing the celebration as an almost unbelievable dream.
The nonagenarian recalled meeting Otti in 2013 during the silver jubilee celebration of Enyimba City Church (ECC), when the Governor was still a prominent banker.
He said he was particularly touched that Otti remembered how his late mother used to prepare meals for him whenever he accompanied his father to their family home.
Quoting the biblical injunction to honour one’s parents, Oluikpe prayed for God’s blessings upon the Governor.
“Dear Governor, the Bible says, honour your father and your mother, that your days may be long. You have honoured me; may God honour you,” he prayed.
The Emeritus Professor also urged Abians to support the Governor’s development agenda, encouraging Otti to remain focused on delivering good governance, which he said had made Abia a reference point.
He, however, cautioned against sycophancy, urging citizens to always speak the truth to those in positions of authority instead of merely telling leaders what they want to hear.
Earlier, during the thanksgiving service at the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Umuoriehi, Umuahia, Pastor Dr. Enyinnaya Kalu Uguru, in a sermon titled “Nine Meaningful Decades: Built by Grace and by Faith,” described a meaningful life as one anchored in God’s grace and sustained by faith.
The cleric said attaining the age of 90 was a remarkable milestone made possible by divine grace, noting that Professor Oluikpe had devoted his lifetime to pursuits that positively transformed society.
He described the celebrant as a vision-driven personality whose contributions to education had touched generations of students, particularly through his widely acclaimed textbooks, Intensive English, used in secondary schools, and Use of English, adopted by universities.
In their separate goodwill messages, Senator Darlington Nwokocha, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, Arc. Dan Nwankwo and the Vice-Chancellor of Clifford University, Professor Chimezie Omeonu, extolled the celebrant’s outstanding contributions to scholarship, mentorship and human development.
They described Oluikpe as a humble, disciplined and dedicated academic whose integrity, commitment to excellence and mentorship of younger scholars had earned him widespread respect.
The speakers prayed for God’s continued protection, good health and many more years of fulfilment for the nonagenarian.
Precise Post recalls that the celebration was organised by the Abia State Government in recognition of Professor Oluikpe’s enduring contributions to education and the development of society.
