Government College Ughelli Old Boys Mourn Enahoro, Ikime

The President General Worldwide (PGWW) of Government College Ughelli Old Boys Association (GCUOBA) Worldwide, Olorogun Albert Akpomudje SAN, has condoled with the families of four departed Old Boys of the school (also called Ancient Mariners) who died recently.

The four Ancient Mariners who passed on are renowned journalist Peter Enahoro (Class of 1948); Historian and educationist Professor Obaro Ikime (Class of 1950); a lawyer and retired Major, Bankole Rasheed Makanju (Class of 1956); and an industrialist, Omolayo Akinniranye (Class of 1963).

Speaking on the departed Old Boys, Olorogun Akpomudje said of Peter Enahoro: “GCUOBA has lost one of its finest who made our old school Government College Ughelli very proud with his literary prowess and one of the most famous Columnists ever heard of and known in the media world. I cannot find words suitable enough to eulogise this great African, Nigerian by birth and a proud product of our great school.

“On behalf of GCUOBA I convey our heartfelt condolences to members of his family and the entire GCUOBA World Wide for this tragic loss occasioned by his death. May his gentle and noble soul rest in perfect peace.”

On Professor Obaro Ikime, Olorogun Akpomudje said: “It is with great sadness and pain that I formally announce the passing away of another prominent old boy Professor Obaro Ikime. Until his demise on Tuesday 25th April 2023 he was a member of the Ibadan branch of GCUOBA. Professor Ikime was a world class professor of history from the University of Ibadan . He was internationally recognised as one of the greatest historians ever produced in Nigeria. In his time in Government College Ughelli he was Head of House and also the Head of School (Senior Prefect).

“Because of his scholarly prowess he was sought after to deliver lectures at most events including GCUOBA activities. He was a proud old student of our school Government College Ughelli. I know as a fact that he contributed immensely to the documentation of the history of not just the Isoko and Urhobo people of the Niger Delta but a host of other ethnic groups within Nigeria. His death is a colossal loss not just to GCUOBA family alone but Nigeria as a whole.”