Why We’re Celebrating Edo Icons In A Compendium — Tim Okojie

Hero Communications, Publishers of National Hero magazine, National Chronicle Newspaper, Weekly Chronicle, and a book, “Leadership and Footprints”, will, on March 25, 2025, hold a public lecture where a book on Edo State Quintessential Icons will be officially presented to the public. TIM OKOJIE AVE, a Nigerian Broadcast Journalist, Writer, International Poet Nominee, and Media Consultant who is the brain behind the titles, spoke with journalists on the significance of the coming event and other issues. Excerpt:.....Read The Full Article>>.....Read The Full Article>>

You are known to be a man who is al­ways organizing lectures, book launch, and awards. What is significant about this one?

Lectures, awards and book presen­tations are interwoven, it’s just a thin line separating the trio. Basically, the purpose of instituting awards is to cel­ebrate men and women who in their little ways have made impact toward the betterment of mankind, as their lives offer us the promise that in spite of the weaknesses and limitations im­posed on us by the circumstances of our birth, things can still be achieved without recourse to criminality. Awards therefore are meant to spur, encourage and uplift the recipients to do more for the society, while serving as impetus to their contemporaries to emulate their kind gestures. If we’re not celebrating honesty, good virtues, we are unwittingly encouraging me­diocrity, and unproductive acts, crim­inality and corruption.

Why this particular one?

I was coming to it. There comes a time in the life of a race, state or na­tion, when her past needs to be ret­rospectively and conscientiously re­viewed, her past judiciously assessed and re- appraised and her future illu­minated by experiences and historical precedence. In the case of Edo state, carved out of former Bendel and Mid- West region, now South South of Ni­geria, there is no better time than now, the time to give hope to our past that has been rendered hapless. Edo state as we all know is the heartbeat of the nation, and the state is strategically so because of the timber and caliber of personalities from the state. The book is a compendium of who is who in Edo State, the super patriots.

What do you want to achieve with this?

Basically, to highlight their individ­ual contributions to the development of Edo state, the common denomina­tors of their attitude, faith, risk, action, failings, ambition, power, change and successes, among others. Beyond wealth, fame, power and achieve­ments, the book seeks to lift our grasp from success to significance and to immortality, moreso now that histo­ry is no longer taught in some of our schools.

What are the highlights of the planned programme?

The highlights of the programme are the official launch of the book – a compendium of who is who in Edo State, tagged, Edo State Quintessential Icons. And awards will also be given and the recipients inducted into the Edo State Quintessential Icons Hall Of Fame. This will be educational study materials for generations. The third highlights of the day will be the lecture with the theme, “Beyond the Turbulent Waters of Our Political Life Lies The State of Our Dream”, by Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, while Barr. Olumide Osagbovo Akpata will deliver a paper on “Curbing Cultism: The Roadmap To Youthful Development in Nigeria”. The Chief Host will be Sen. Monday Ok­pebholo, at present the governor-elect of the state but hopefully the governor of the state by then. The Oba of Benin is expected to be the royal father of the day and will be ably supported by key Edo State traditional rulers across the three senatorial districts.

Who are these Edo State sons and daughters to feature in the book?

Well, we are still collecting mate­rials for the compendium, anyway. The first batch of the names, include Dr. Solomon Arase, former Inspector General of Police, IGP; Engr. Leemon Agbonjagwe Ikpea; an Oil & Gas guru, Elder Famous Enearu; a Maritime co­lossus, Ex -Sen. Victor Oyofor; Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN; Engr. Abuba­kar Momoh, Minister of Niger Delta (State); Gen. Cecil Esekhaigbe, rtd; His Excellency, Sen. Monday Okpebholo; ex- Sen. Daisy Danjuma; ex- governor Lucky Igbinedion; Mrs. Tessy Aluede, a female business magnate; ex- gover­nor John Odigie Oyegun; Barr. Olu­mide Osagbovo Akpata; Barr. Asue Ighodalo; Chief Mike Onolememe, retired Commissioner of police; Barr. Friday Ibadin; Pastor Chris Oyakhi­lomen; ex- governor Godwin Obaseki; Patience Oliha, DG DMO; Comr. Peter Esele; Prof. Eromosele S. Eboh, and ex-governor, Prof. Sen. Osereimen Osun­bor. Others are Pastor Ize Iyamu; Hon. Kelly Inedegbor; Alh. Musa Isiwele; Austin Egwavoen; Victor Osimen; DCP Patrick Ejedawe; AVM Gregory Agboneni, rtd; late Tony Enahoro, the mover of Nigeria’s independence; Late Admiral Agustus Aikhomu, rtd; ex-governor of Bendel State, Late Prof. Ambrose Ali; Late Chief Tony Anenih, Late Gen. Samuel Ogbemudia, rted; Late High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, Late Admiral. Mike Akhigbe, and late Daniel Omogiui, etc.

What are the criteria for selecting those who are to be featured in the compendium?

The criteria include exemplary leadership, transparent disposition to building Edo State of our dream, patriotism, honesty of purpose, ded­ication and commitment to a united Edo State, etc.

Can you tell us about the compendium you did on the Esan nation, tagged, Esan Leadership and Footprints?

The compendium I did on select­ed Esan people was great and well received. As a matter of fact, we are working on the second edition of it, because we intend to ensure it is avail­able in libraries in secondary schools and higher institutions across Edo Central Senatorial District and be­yond, and we have distributed some and once we are done with the second edition, we will continue to share to libraries to enlightened our pupils and students about the people that have made the Esan nation and Edo State great.