Urhobo Historical
Society
Celebrating
M.
G. Ejaife: Urhobo�s First University Graduate
By
Ochuko Tonukari
Culled from Urhobo Voice,
October 24, 2011, page 18.
It is worth mentioning, in a work of this nature that there
are men who have sacrificed so much for the betterment of the
Urhobo nation, and so can we all. Few will have the greatness
to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a
small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts
will be written the history of this generation. From my little
experience on planet earth, I have discovered that it
is from myriad diverse acts of courage and belief that human
history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or
acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against
injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and before
long, that ripple build a current that can sweep down the
mightiest walls of oppression and resistance. But it is true
that few are willing to brave the disapproval of their
fellows, the criticism of their colleagues, and the wrath of
their society. I strongly believed that moral courage is a
rarer commodity than declaring one�s ambition and winning a
political seat in an election or demonstrating bravery in
battle. Yet it is the one essential, vital quality for those
who seek to change a nation that yields most painfully to
change.
For
the
fortunate among us, there is the temptation to follow the easy
and familiar paths of personal ambition and financial success
so grandly spread before those who enjoy the privilege of
education. But that is not the road history has marked out for
us. Like it or not, we live in times of danger and
uncertainty. But they are also more open to the creative
energy of men than any other time in history. All of us will
ultimately be judged, and as the years pass we will surely
judge ourselves on the effort we have contributed to building
a new world society and the extent to which our ideals and
goals have shaped that event.
The
future
does not belong to those who are content with today,
indifferent toward common problems and their fellow men alike,
timid and fearful in the face of new ideas and bold projects.
Rather it will belong to those who can blend vision, reason
and courage in a personal commitment to the ideals and great
enterprises of society. Our
future
may lie beyond our vision, but it is not completely beyond our
control. It is the shaping impulse of Urhobo that neither fate
nor nature nor the irresistible tides of history, but the work
of our own hands, matched with reason and principle that will
determine our destiny. There is pride in that, but there is
also experience and truth. That is the way McNeil Gabriel Ejaife lived. That is what
he leaves us. M.G Ejaife
need not be idealized, or enlarged in death beyond what he was
in life; to be remembered simply as a good and decent man, who
saw wrong and tried to right it, saw suffering, and tried to
heal it, saw illiteracy and tried to change it, who saw hate
and tried to teach love. That is good enough.
You
see,
love is not an easy feeling to
put into words. Nor is loyalty, or trust, or joy. But Ejaife
was all of these. He loved life completely and he lived it
intensely. We can learn from Ejaife the value of hard work
and ambition and maybe a little something about being a
friend. This
was the Ejaife who had faith, not just in his own gifts and
his own future, but in the possibilities of every life. The
cheerful spirit that carried him forward was more than a
disposition; it was the optimism of a faithful soul who
trusted in God�s purposes and knew those purposes to be
right and true. A committed Christian, Mr. Ejaife was
convinced that everything happened for a reason and that he
had been chosen by God to play a part in Urhobo great
mission.
As
with the lives of other major Urhobo historical figures, McNeil
Gabriel Ejaife's life has been
interpreted in new ways by successive generations of Urhobo
scholars, many of whom have drawn attention to the crucial
role he played in representing the Urhobos in Nigeria�s
mainstream politics and in his pioneering efforts in helping
to lay the foundations for the Urhobo College. Recognizing
that great Urhobo patriots such as Mukoro Mowoe, Joseph
Akpolo Ikutegbe, J.S. Mariere,
Omorohwovo Okoro, Jabin Obahor, T. E.A Salubi and others prepared the way for
Ejaife's rise to national prominence, it must be established
here that Ejaife�s precocious cerebral resources was a
veritable springboard in
his great achievement as Urhobo first University graduate
and first senator. Nonetheless, studies of Ejaife�s life and
times have suggested that his most significant contribution
to the modern Urhobo educational attainment was to link
non-Urhobo aspirations to transcendent, widely shared
educational and egalitarian ideals. While helping everyone
irrespective of their tribal background to acquire
better-quality education, he inspired the Nigeria society to
believe that education was just and consistent with
traditional Nigerian egalitarian values. M.G Ejaife also
appealed to the consciences of all Nigerians, thus building
popular support for a veritable educational reform of the
time.
In Urhobo
pantheon of heroes, Ejaife continues to loom large and to have
a unique appeal for his fellow Urhobos and also for people of
other lands. This charm derives from his remarkable life
story�the rise from humble Okpara origin, and from his
distinctively benevolent and humane personality. His relevance
endures and grows especially because of his eloquence as a
spokesman for egalitarianism, his live and let�s live ideology
and his strong desire for the Urhobos to have a splendid
social intercourse and peaceful coexistence with their
neighbors. But in matters of Urhobo significance, Ejaife was
not only an advocate but an apologist. In his view, the Urhobo
Progress Union was worth upholding not only for its own sake
but because it embodied an ideal, the ideal of Urhobo
self-government as a nation. In the future, the political side
to Ejaife's character, and his profound worldview in
particular, would come under close study, as upcoming scholars
would continue to find him a rich subject for research. By the
time Ejaife began to be prominent in national politics, about
thirteen years after his graduation from Durham University, he
had made himself one of the most distinguished and successful
intellectuals in Nigeria. He was noted not only for his
shrewdness and practical common sense, which enabled him
always to see to the heart of any issue, but also for his
unwavering fairness and utter honesty.
G. M Ejaife was fond of the
Bible and knew it well. He also was fond of Shakespeare. In
private conversation he used many Shakespearean allusions,
discussed problems of dramatic interpretation with
considerable insight, and recited long passages from memory
with rare intelligence and understanding. Unlike what we
experience with today�s politicians, politics gave Ejaife a chance to emerge and
rise to statesmanship. In the years after his death, Ejaife
remained one of the most widely
known Nigeria intellectual of his era. His stature as a
major historical figure was confirmed by the great number of
Urhobo College graduands who later became pioneers in their
chosen professions. In Urhoboland and in other places,
Ejaife remains an incandescent and luminescent icon. In
recent times, his image within Urhobo scholarly circles has
heightened however, especially with the enthronement of the
Urhobo Historical Society in 1999. The relationship between
his philosophical expression of broadminded ideals and the
more attenuated reality of his own life had accentuated and
transformed Ejaife into one of Urhobo's most renowned and
celebrated hero.
History
told
us that G. M Ejaife and E. N. Igho were the two beneficiaries
of scholarship awards from Urhobo Progress Union. Ejaife came
back to Nigeria after his graduation with a B.A. degree of
Durham University in 1948, thus becoming the first Urhobo
university graduate. He then became the founding Principal of
Urhobo College, Effurun. Those Urhobos and non-Urhobos who
personally witnessed and benefited from his life and services
to this nation will prove to be among the most privileged
Urhobo citizens of all times. To my mind, Ejaife was simply
one of the greatest Urhobo men ever, and I believe one of the
greatest Urhobo patriots of the 20th century. He was among the
greatest four or five men this nation has ever had. M.G Ejaife
epitomized the traditional Urhobo spirit of a positive, can-do
attitude, reliance on fundamental moral principle emanating
from faith in God, dedication to the principles of individual
liberty, and a commitment to the unity and coexistence of this
great, free homeland we call Urhobo nation.
Contrary
to
those who would want to bestow some of that honor on others,
the world knows, God knows, and we know that it was M.G
Ejaife's drive, unwavering commitment and faith, his direct
challenge to the evil of that day, and his vision that
propelled hundreds of Urhobos and non-Urhobos to pursue higher
degrees in different fields of human endeavour. From such
notable Urhobo College products like Prof. David Okpako, the first Urhobo person to have a
Phd in pharmacology and to become a professor in
pharmacology; to Prof. Mattew Brafe Scott-Emuakpor,
the first Urhobo and first Nigerian to have a Phd in genetics;
to Chief Jackson Ajogri, the first secretary to the Delta
State government; to Chief Benjamin Okumagba, formerly the
president of Urhobo Progress Union; to Professor Jackson
Omene, a world renowned pediatrician; to Justus Esiri, one of
the most celebrated African actors; to Julius Ifidon Ola of Edo State, CEO
of the famous JIM Travels; to Felix Ejebba Esisi, an Itshekiri,
who was a foremost NNPC staff in Nigeria; to Benjamin Maku,
an Itshekiri, was a former head of Banking Examinations
Department in Central Bank of Nigeria; to Christopher Orji,
an Ibo, was a highly respected Shell Development Company
senior staff before his retirement, the list is endless. No one else in any
major office of government or political party believed it
could happen so quickly...except M.G Ejaife. History has
proven him right. Today, the Urhobo nation has one of the
highest concentrations of intellectuals in the African
continent. Evwreni and Okpara satellite communities, from my
private research, now have the highest density of
professionals in Urhoboland. But it was not always so. This is
with regard to the goodwill and magnanimity of such men like
Mowoe, Salubi, Ikutegbe, Ejaife and the likes.
It
must
be said here to the ears of time and to the Urhobos of my
generation that, during the years when men like Omorohwovo
Okoro, Thomas Erukeme, J. A.
Okpodu, J.A. Obaho, J.S. Mariere, Joseph A.
Uyo, Mukoro Mowoe, T.E.A Salubi, Joseph Akpolo
Ikutegbe, Dr. F .O Esiri, and M.G Ejaife ran the affairs of
Urhobo, the Urhobos were proud of their nation, proud of
themselves and proud to be called Urhobo citizens. Ejaife�s
enthusiasm was contagious and his optimism was inspiring. His
humor and ability not to take himself too seriously was
obvious for all to see, but this did not diminish in the least
his ability to communicate and even convince those who did not
agree with him to come around to the Urhobo way of thinking.
In some ways I feel as though a sterling light, a great beacon
in that shining city on the hill has gone out. But the shining
city remains, and his vision for it remains, and it is now up
to us to ensure it continues.
No doubt, the challenge of running a
premier institution like the Urhobo College could be daunting.
And a single tree, like they say, cannot make a forest. It is
here that the effort of E.N. Igho, the second Urhobo graduate
should be appreciated. Igho
graduated from Downing College, Cambridge University in
England, where he read Biology.
Thanks too to the effort of Urhobo Progress Union.
While M.G Ejaife was made the principal, E.N Igho was the
science teacher of the college. Then
there were men like Ikime, the History Master and Senior Tutor
in charge of admissions, J.G. Ako who was already a teacher at
the Urhobo Collegiate, the predecessor of Urhobo College
Effurun. Chief. L.U. Ighomrore, was the
bursar, while Daniel Okumagba was at that time the
Games and Maths Master of Urhobo College Effurun who later
became long serving Treasurer of the UPU and great politician
of the Shehu Shagari administration.
McNeil
Gabriel
Ejaife was born on 1st June 1912 making him exactly
the same age with his best friend, Frederick Ojirigho Esiri, Urhobo
first medical Doctor and first Urhobo graduand of Kings
College Lagos who died last year 2010 at the ripe age of 97
years. It was said that the English name McNeil was given to
Ejaife by his mother in memory of one very wonderful captain
of a British ship with whom she did some trading business.
Ejaife�s father was Utujoh Ejaife of Okpara and his mother was
Temienor Akpowhowho of Eku at Okurekpo in Agbon, an Urhobo
Clan in Delta State of Nigeria. He had three siblings; one
sister and two brothers who were the late Frederick Obodeti
Ejaife, one of Urhobo foremost lawyers and the late Johnson
Jakovo Ejaife, one of Urhobo earliest medical doctors beside
Frederick Esiri and Moses Mowoe. Ejaife also had three half
brothers. One of them was the late James Madedon Ejaife; he
was a very skilful tailor. It was said that until his death,
he spent most of his adult years in the Ejaife country home at
Okpara Waterside.
M.G Ejaife was a man who
developed a strong desire for learning from an early age. His mother doubtless encouraged
his taste for reading, yet the original source of his desire
to learn remains something of a mystery. By all accounts he
was an obsessive student, often spending 15 hours of the day
with his books. It was alleged that he used to trudge for
miles to borrow a book. According to his own statement,
however, his early surroundings provided �absolutely nothing
to excite ambition for education�. He attended
Anglican school at Okpara and with the help of his parents, he
went to St. Andrews Teacher�s training college Oyo, in Oyo
State where he was classmate to such great personalities like
the late Dr. S. Taiwo, a former federal permanent secretary of
education; the late chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin, a former governor of Ondo State; Rev
Alayonde, the famous Principal of Ibadan Grammar School and
teacher of the great Bola Ige. M.G Ejaife and Michael Adekunle
Ajasin later met at Fourah Bay
College, Sierra Leone in 1944. At Fourah Bay, Ejaife was
classmate to late Kojo Botsio, who was a onetime Ghanaian
diplomat and politician. Needless to say, during the time of
Ejaife�s admission in St Andrews Teacher�s training college
Oyo, the man who would later become his lifetime best friend,
personal doctor and confidante, Dr. F.O Esiri was also
admitted as a student in Kings College, Lagos. He was the
first Urhobo person to attend that prestigious institution.
Having just reached the age
of 21, the young Ejaife was about to begin life on his own.
Tall for a man, he was well-built and rotund but muscular and
physically powerful. He was especially noted for the skill and
strength with which he could wield an ax. He spoke with a
genteel voice and walked in the short-striding, flat-footed,
cautious manner of a diplomat. Good-natured though somewhat
strict, talented as an educator and raconteur, he readily
attracted friends. But he was yet to demonstrate whatever
other abilities he possessed. As soon as he finished his
secondary education in the early 30s, he went to Warri where
he taught at the CMS elementary school until the latter part
of the 1930s. It was while teaching in Warri that he met his
lovely wife Cecilia Gladys Fischer, a bosom friend to Agnes
Esiri. So far as can be known,
the first and only real love of Ejaife's life was Cecilia. Vivacious, quick-witted, and
well-cultured, Cecilia came from a rather distinguished
family. It was said that it was Agnes who by this
time was already Frederick Esiri�s wife that introduced
Cecilia to Ejaife. Cecilia was the daughter of the late
Emmanuel Edema of number sixteen Robert Road, Warri. She and
Ejaife got married in 1938. M.G Ejaife would later move to
Ibuzor in Delta State where he was to teach at St Thomas�s
teacher�s training College until his return to Warri in 1943.
During that time he devoted himself to extramural studies and
sat for and obtained his London Matriculation, as it was then
called.
Like
a
lodestar, Ejaife�s diligence and brainpower was soon
recognized by a section of the Urhobo People, particularly the
Late Chief Mukoro Mowoe, Jabin Obahor, and J.S. Mariere. Under Mowoe�s
leadership, plans were on the pipeline to set up a secondary
school that would meet the educational needs of Urhobos and
non-Urhobos. Due to the intellectual promise seen in Ejaife,
he was awarded a scholarship to study overseas. In some
quarters, it was alleged that Joseph Akpolo Ikutegbe suggested
the idea of scholarship to Mowoe. In 1944, Ejaife left his
wife and three sons aged five, four, and two to the care of
his father in law in Warri and proceeded to Fourah Bay College
in Freetown
(Sierra
Leone, the only university in West Africa at
the
time)
for the first stage of his undergraduate studies. Fourah Bay
College (the oldest university
college in West Africa) is a constituent college of
the University of Sierra Leone (from 1966 to 2005) and was
formerly affiliated with Durham University (from 1876-1967). Established in 1827, it was
regarded in those days as a magnet for Africans seeking higher
education under the British Empire. Fourah Bay College has
such notable alumni as Ernest Bai Koroma, the fourth and current President of
Sierra Leone;
Alexander Babatunde Akinyele, the first Anglican Diocesan
Bishop of Ibadan, first indigene of Ibadan to obtain a
university degree, and the founder of the first secondary
school in Ibadan; Haja Zainab Hawa Bangura, the current
Sierra Leone minister of Health and sanitation; Henry Carr, was
a Nigerian educator and
administrator,
the
first Fourah Bay student to graduate with a first class
honours, one
of
the most prominent West Africans in
the
late nineteenth and early twentieth century and
was
a member of the Nigeria legislative
council in
Lagos
from 1918-1924; Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther,
a
linguist and the first African Anglican bishop
in Nigeria;
Kenneth Dike, a Nigerian historian and the first Nigerian
Vice Chancellor of the nation's premier college, the
University of Ibadan; Joseph Ephraim Casely-Hayford, a Fante
journalist, author, lawyer, educator, and politician who
supported pan-African nationalism; Samuel Onunaka Mbakwe an
Igbo politician and governor of Imo State, southern Nigeria
from October 1, 1979 until December 31, 1983 etc.
Meanwhile,
Ejaife
passed his intermediate Bachelors in Art Degree after eighteen
months and then went on to Durham University in England where
he graduated with BA in Arts in 1948. Being the first Urhobo
graduate, he returned to a grand welcome by the Urhobo
Community. The late Chief Onokar Aghoghovia played a most
remarkable role in welcoming Ejaife back from England. The
reception was held at the home of the late Chief Mukoro Mowoe
in Okere Road, Warri. It was an occasion that witnessed the
attendance of such notable Urhobo nationalists like late Chief
Mowarin, The late Chief James Obahor, the late chief
Akpoteheri Edewor of Robert Road Warri. Ejaife was treated
somewhat like Mike Kukume from the Kukuruku Hills in S.M.O
Aka�s Novel �The Weeping Undergraduate�. He was an epitome, a
quintessence, a paragon and an embodiment of every Urhobo
man�s dream son. And so, Ejaife was regarded as a son of every
deserving Urhobo parents. Indeed, the phrase �Urhobo son�
quickly became Ejaife�s moniker.
When
the
time came to establish Urhobo College, Ejaife was
unequivocally made the founding principal. Earlier on, the
school was called Urhobo Collegiate but later changed to its
current name of Urhobo College. It was first located on
Warri-Sapele Road less than half a mile from Cemetery Road,
not far from Igbudu, and almost adjacent to the old Warri
cemetery. There were about 25 students at the time Ejaife
chose the school Motto; �AUT OPTIMUM AUT NIHIL� i.e.,
�The Best or Nothing�. Two of the founding Students were
Wilfred Obahor and Emmanuel Susu. The principal�s residence
was a small house rented from the Late Chief Egboge in Igbudu,
opposite GKS property in Warri � Sapele Road. Mrs. Cecilia
Ejaife procured the students Food at first but the late chief
Akpovegbeta Onokuakpor was soon appointed the food contractor.
Some of the founding teachers were the late Chief Daniel
Okumagba, the late Mr. Omniabus, the late Gordon Ako, and Mr.
George Diejomaoh. The late Mr. E.N. Igho became the
vice-principal on arrival from England in 1951 as the second
Urhobo graduate. He died rather too early, a few years later.
The
present campus at Effurun was begun in 1950. The student
population grew rapidly from then on. The principal�s house
was first occupied by the Ejaife family in 1957. Other staff
houses were also opened at about that time. The houses were
occupied by the likes of Mr. Samuel Okudu who later left and
subsequently became the first Ijaw man to become registrar of
the University of Ibadan. Mr. T.
N. Tamnuo (who later became Professor and
vice-chancellor of the University of Ibadan) and the late Mr.
Demas Akpore, the late Mr. Vincent Uvieghara, just to mention
a few, were also on the staff. M.G Ejaife remained the
principal until 1966, the year of the first Nigerian military
Coup. At the time he was also a member of the Nigerian Senate
having been appointed at the cusp of Nigerian Independence in
1960.
At
the
struck of the military coup of 1966, like many others he had
to take cover in the village. The Nigerian senate at the time
was in disarray. After the invading soldiers were forced from
Warri, Ejaife abandoned his job as principal. He was appointed
District director of education in Ughelli locality. It was
while on this job that he sustained a massive stroke in 1969,
the result of a creeping hypertension of which he had been
unaware. He was therefore left with considerable physical and
intellectual disability that ended his career. After spending
a period of time on the road to recovery with his son in
Ibadan, he was resettled in his own residence in 1971. He
subsequently died at his home in March 1972 at the age of 60.
Had he not pass on Ejaife would have being 99 years on the 1st of June last month,
2011. But such is life. He was survived by his wife Chief
Cecilia Gladys Ejaife who died somewhere in June 2002, and
children: Augustine, an Engineer, John, a general surgeon in
the USA and Clement, now deceased, but formerly a member of
the Lagos airport staff, and four grandchildren at the time of
his death. He was buried in his home town Okpara waterside.
As
a teacher, Ejaife displayed great insight, intellect and
immense mental resources. He taught English language, English
literature, Latin, Mathematics and sometimes geography. He was
described by Prof. David Okpako as an �all round scholar, a
polymath, a polyglot � Latin and Greek, English literature,
English language, music, mathematics, history, geography and
several Nigerian languages�. He taught in elementary and
secondary schools as well as teacher�s training college. His
home was like a school away from school. Ejaife ensured that
the children of his friends and relatives were given a sound,
well-grounded educational footing and he went the extra-mile
to instilling excellent study habits and to stimulating their
appetites for knowledge. At a point some people thought he had
gone mad when they see him plucking and observing some leaves
as part of his nature study lessons. Some said in Urhobo,
�Ejaife Korebe� which literarily means Ejaife is plucking
leaves, but in Urhobo, it connotes that, �Ejaife is crazy or
mad.�
Ejaife
served
in the Scholarship Board of the old Western Region of Nigeria
as well as the Cooperative Development Board of that region.
He was mentor to such prominent people as chief justice Ovie
Whiskey (the first Urhobo judge), Professor Bajah, the late
Demas Akpore and the current Ovie of Agbon, just to name a
few. Ejaife was described as a reluctant but influential
politician. He was very active in the Urhobo progress union
(UPU). He played a key role in the formal installation and
restoration of the titleship of the ovie of Agbon, in 1952. He
was a world traveler, having traveled to Europe, America and
Australia during his educational pursuit or as part of his
senatorial assignment. He was an apostle of faith and lifetime
member of Sacred Heart Catholic parish in Warri. Ejaife was a
Catholic Knight. The Late Rev. Bishop Lucas Nwaezeapu
was his student at St Thomas� Ibuzor while the late Rev. Msgr.
Stephen Umurie, the first Urhobo catholic priest, was his
bosom friend.
One
name
that rang a bell throughout M.G Ejaife�s life is that of his
lifetime friend and contemporary, Dr. F. O Esiri, the first
Urhobo medical doctor. He was Ejaife�s personal physician and
cared for him with the utmost dedication and devotion at his
medical center by Cemetery Road Warri when he had a stroke
until he recovered enough to go recuperate with his son in
Ibadan. Other great names in Ejaife�s life include the late
Chief Thomas Adogbeji Salubi. Chief Thomas Adogbeji Salubi and
Chief Joseph Akpolo Ikutegbe were the first people to
recognize Ejaife�s scholarship potential. The late Anglican
Bishop Arawori and the late Peter Inweh were both Ejaife�s
great mentors.
No
doubt,
M.G Ejaife would be very satisfied at where he is now. For
one, the school he helped set up is still a thriving citadel
today, and a kaput of him has been erected as homage in that
college grounds. He will also be happy that an elementary
school (Ejaife Primary School), has been named after him in
his hometown of Okpara Inland.
Well,
it
gives me additional personal sorrow, when I reflect on the
loss of Ejaife to Urhobo as a nation. Where will it meet a man
so experienced in human and communal affairs�one so renowned
for patriotism, conduct and courage? How greatly we must have
been affected with the loss of such an excellent leader, such
a sincere friend, and so affable a person. How rare is it to
find those amiable qualifications blended together in one man!
How great the loss of such a man! Adieu to that strict
discipline and order, which you have always maintained! Adieu
our beloved Ejaife! We implore you to come through Urhobo in
the next incarnation.
Ochuko
Tonukari,
a poet, folklorist, short story-writer and information
scientist, wrote in from Isiokolo