| Urhobo
Historical
Society |
Culled from:
25 December, 2010
Olorogun Michael Ibru: An
Impeccable Life at 80
Michael Ibru
at midlife
OLOROGUN
(Dr.) Michael Christopher Onajirevbe Ibru, OFR has been a man of distinction. Aside
choosing the
auspicious period of the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ to
come into
the World � December 25 - through the family of Chief Peter Epete
Ibru and Chief (Mrs.) Janet Omotogor
Ibru (nee Osadjere),
in
Warri,
Delta
State,
he also shares the Lord�s compassion for the poor
and the
needy.
From
birth, Olorogun Michael Ibru, who is the
eldest child
of his parents, has shown signs of greatness. His success in the world
of
business is legendary even in the face of adversity often associated
with the
business world.
As
the business mogul marks his 80th birthday today, the prayer
on the
lips of his numerous admirers is that the good Lord should grant the
man of
many noble parts, many more years of blissful existence.
Michael
Ibru attended the famous Igbobi
College, Lagos between 1948 and 1951. During the period, he not only
distinguished himself in academics, he also excelled in extracurricular
activities such that in his last year in school, he was appointed
Senior
Prefect, a position usually reserved for the best students with
leadership
traits. Ibru performed so well in his
onerous task
that later, three of his four brothers also attended the same school.
His
tenacity of purpose and determination to succeed amidst all odds could
only be
traced to his aristocratic pedigree.
His
late father was a lover of knowledge and religion, who sojourned
extensively in
his quest for education and spiritual illumination, in virtually all
parts of
the country in his bid to propagate those values. His grandfather was
Chief Igbru, the Olotu-rode
of
Awirhe � protector of the clan, whose
name � Igbru � in its genealogy, means, �a
large wide cloth used
for covering oneself and others.� His late mother is the daughter of
Chief Osadjere of the long line of wealthy
merchants and
political leaders in Olomu kingdom in Ughelli South Local Council of Delta State.
Michael
Ibru was thus brought up in an atmosphere
that
unified the noble and time-honoured traditions of intellectual quest,
faith in
God and industry. His whole life has been a wonderful demonstration of
the
flourishing of these traditions � a life characterised by the exercise
of
genius, right motivations, and fear of God.
The
ingenuity of Olorogun Ibru manifested
itself for the
first time at Igbobi College in 1948 when
he moved up
meteorically to Secondary Class II straight from the Elementary School
without
the usual preamble of Secondary Class I. And then in 1951 � his fourth
year on
a course that normally lasted six years � he passed the Cambridge
School
Certificate Examination with resounding distinction in Division One.
Following
the same rare path that is meant only for exceptional people, Michael Ibru, directly after leaving Igbobi
College, secured a job in the United African Company (now UACN), as a
manager-in-training. Here again this gifted man, Michael Ibru,
set another pace for his peers, for he was one of the very few fresh
school
leavers to be so appointed to posts of responsibility by the UACN.
To
test his entrepreneurial skills, he resigned from the UACN group in
1956 and
founded the IBRU ORGANIZATION with the establishment of a modest
trading
company then called Laibru Limited. La in
the name
stood for Jimmy Large, the former boss in UACN who assisted Michael Ibru during and after he resigned from UACN,
while ibru is Michael Ibru.
Within
a very short time, these trading companies, which have ever since
expanded and
become one of the largest wholly indigenous business conglomerates on
the whole
length of the West Coast of Africa.
It
soon crystallized in the distribution of frozen fish, with the
humanitarian
objective of eliminating malnutrition among all people living in
Nigeria by
providing them with low-priced, high-protein food. The name Ibru
became synonymous with frozen fish.
Generous man of industry and wisdom, Olorogun Michael Ibru
has employed his wealth for the material and intellectual well being of
his
fellow men. In his generosity, the hungry have found food to eat; in
the
largeness of his heart, the poor have found protection, in his
meekness, the
sorrowful have found solace. And out of his love for knowledge,
Olorogun
Michael Ibru donated a whole college � Agbarha College, later re-named Ibru
College - to his people; donated classroom blocks, vehicles and money
to
various educational institutions and charity organisations; awarded
several
scholarships to deserving Nigerian students in secondary schools and
institutions of higher learning both in Nigeria and abroad, and
sponsored
various sporting activities in order to ensure an even development of
the mind,
soul and body, which is the primary objective of education.
In
full recognition of his dedicated service to the cause of education and
his
vast capacity and willingness to continue sponsoring that cause, the
former
Midwest State government appointed Olorogun Michael Ibru
member of the Provisional Council of the University of Benin in 1975.
For
his business enterprise beyond the shores of Nigeria, he was also
appointed
Member of the Economic Cabinet Committee of the former Midwest State of
Nigeria.
Aside
from being a member of the African Development Bank President�s Round
Table of
Businessmen in Africa, Olorogun Ibru was
also a
member of the Business Advisory Council of the International Finance
Corporation (IFC).
His
exploits in the field of business have also afforded him opportunity to
serve
as Council member of the following bodies: Lagos Chamber of Commerce
and
Industry and the Nigeria-United States Business Council.
His
efforts at developing the economic landscape of Nigeria and stemming
the tide
of poverty have not gone unnoticed, as he has a deluge of recognitions
and
awards for his enterprise. Among the awards are: Officer of the Order
of the
Federal Republic (OFR) in 1981; Outstanding Businessman Award of the
Nigerian
American Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 1983; Honorary Doctor of
Laws (Hon.
LL.D.) of the University of Benin (1978) and University of Ibadan
(1978),
Doctor of Agriculture (Honoraris Causa),
University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, 2004.
Olorogun
also in 2003 won the Zik Prize in
Leadership and in
2005 he received the prestigious Dr. Kwame
Nkruma Excellence in Enterprise Award.
Though
Olorogun Ibru is a chairman of many
successful
companies, but the success of Oceanic Bank International Plc he founded
about
20 years ago, is one that has again attested to the man�s business
ingenuity.
The
bank, before it was seized by the Central Bank of Nigeria last year,
was one of
the best eight banks in the country. Olorogun Ibru
retired from the chairmanship of the bank in 2007.
From
whichever perspectives one sees Olorogun Michael Ibru,
it
is
glaring
that
the mogul is indeed a great man with a very large heart.
The
story of Olorogun Michael Ibru is the story of success achieved through
hard
work and as the patriarch celebrates today 80 long years, the prayer is
that
God gives him more idyllic life to enjoy the fruits of his hard labour.