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Tuesday April 22, at 2:18pm, my phone text message alert beeped. It was a five-word message from my friend, Alhaji Ishaq Salihu Maaji. And it read: Professor Albert Ozigi is dead. For several minutes, I was motionless and speechless; not because he was too young to die or because I knew him intimately. Not even because I have not seen him for over a month. Far from any of these reasons, my heart was instantly filled with nostalgic reflections on how the Almighty God used him as a beacon to light up the candle of rapid educational advancement of the Ebira nation.
We were told the story of how the young Albert, at about age 12, made history when he came first in the college entrance examinations in the whole of old Northern Nigeria . We were told how the excited paramount ruler of Ebiraland, Alhaji Ibrahim Atta singled out his father before a large crowd for recognition as he broke the news at the Okene palace square after Juma’at service. He instantly offered Albert a "royal reward" of automatic job at the Native Authority Office. We were also told how the Colonial District Officer demanded for Albert, monitored him and ensured that he was presented for the interview. The white man, who felt specially proud that his administrative division (Kabba) produced the brilliant boy was said to have gone extra mile to finance the transportation of the lucky budding king of letters to Kaduna, the then regional capital of the North. Thus, the story of Albert became - since then and till date - a household reference in every part of Ebiraland. I also reflected on how with dexterity, he pursued his academic, career from secondary school where he made distinction to the university for his first degree through Master’s Degree to Ph.D; a process that saw him become the first Professor from Ebiraland. I did reflect on how, as a classroom teacher, he positively touched the lives of several prominent citizens of this country from primary, through secondary to university at various time and in various schools. My reflections went deeper and wider on how he used his God-given talent, humility, exposure and experience to impact positively on the society through an endless reel of social and community services. His life did prove that it is not only fine feathers that make fine birds. Still deep in my the reflections over the life of the amiable soft-spoken gentlemen who spent much of his last years on earth preaching peace and organizing people on various peace mission; especially his embattled and crises-prone native home: Ebiraland. My memory banks simultaneously rolled out these memories as if they all happened just yesterday. Until he became a Professor, not many of his kinsmen were keen about taking to teaching employment at the Ivory Tower. They were rather inclined to commerce, diplomacy, core civil services, legal practice, medical, engineering, military and para-military sectors. But Professor Ozigi felt someone had to flag off that vista. And successfully, he did. Thus, it will be to his indelible credit that his wisdom to take the chalk-pushing career to its zenith invariably motivated several others and this subsequently gave birth to tens of Ebira academia (Professors) in various tertiary institutions in Nigeria and abroad, with a few of them becoming vice chancellors of universities. Born November 1934 at Okene in Kogi State, Prof. Albert Ojo Ozigi attended Okene Middle School and had his Secondary Education at Government Secondary School (now Barewa College) Zaria. Between 1955 and 1959, he went to the Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology (now Ahmadu Bello University) Zaria for his GCE Advanced Level. In 1959, he enrolled at University College, Ibadan and graduated with a Degree in English, History and Geography. His quest for higher education took him to American Institute for Research, Pittsburgh , USA in 1962 for a Diploma in Aptitude Testing Procedures. Thereafter, he obtained a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Pittsburgh, USA in 1963 and his Ph.D in 1979 from the University College, Cardiff, Wales, UK. Prof. Ozigi’s teaching career as classroom teacher/principal took him to various schools among which is Government Secondary School Abuja (now Suleja), those of Bauchi and Dekina as well as Government College, Bida. He was senior lecturer, principal lecturer and Professor of Education at ABU, Zaria. He was also teacher at University of London, Leicester, Cardiff. An administrator of repute, he held several administrative positions among which is Head of Department of Education and acting Deputy Vice Chancellor, National Open University, Abuja as well as Director, Centre for Distance Learning and Continuing Education, University of Abuja. He authored, edited, co-edited and contributed to several publications such as Introduction to Guidance and Counselling in Schools, School Management for Principal, Issues in Secondary Education Development in Northern States, and Primary Syllabus for Nigerian Schools. He was commissioner for Economic Development and Works between 1979 and 1983 in the old Kwara State. His selfless service to the country earned him a National Honour - Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON). He received no fewer than seven merit awards from various organizations. At state level, he was Chairman, Kogi State Vision 2010 Committee (1996-1997); Chairman, Kogi State Council of Higher Education (1997-1999); Member, Implementation Committee, Kogi State University (1999-2000); Member, Board of Trustees, Front for Ebira Unity; and Chairman, Governing Council, Raberto School, Abuja . He was also chairman, Ebira Elders Forum, FCT, Abuja and Member, Kogi State Elders Forum. The Sarki Malami of Ebiraland who spoke Ebira, Hausa, Yoruba and English fluently, died at 74 leaving behind, a wife, children and grandchildren. As we mourn the demise of our teacher and great inspirator, the qualities that we loved most in him shall definitely come clearer and forever live with us till we also take our turn some day, to join the majority. Abdulmalik is an Abuja-based Journalist
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