Demas Akpore (August 4, 1928 – December 28, 1993) was the first elected Deputy Governor of
Bendel State (1979–1983), the Principal of Government College,
Ughelli
Ughelli is a town in Delta State, Nigeria, and one of the 24 kingdoms that make up the Urhobo Nation. It also serves as the headquarters of Ughelli North local government area of Delta State. The city is indigenous to the Urhobo ethnic nation ...
, and the founder and principal of Orogun Grammar School.
Chief Demas Onoliobakpovba Akpore was born on 4 August 1928 at
Warri
The city of Warri is an oil hub within South-South Nigeria and houses an annex of the Delta State Government House. Warri City is one of the major hubs of the petroleum industry in Nigeria. Warri and her twin city, Uvwie are the commercial c ...
,
Nigeria
Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...
into a Christian Family of Mr. Itedjere Akpore of Unukpo, Orogun in
Ughelli North
Ughelli North is a Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria. Its headquarters is in the city of Ughelli.
It has an area of 818 km2 and a population of 321,028 at the 2006 census.
The postal code of the area is 333.
Notable towns in ...
Local Government Area,
Delta State of Nigeria, and Mrs. Etawhota Akpore (née Agbomiyeri) of
Kokori
Kokori is one of the six suburban 'states' of the Agbon 'kingdom' in LGA Ethiope East, Delta State, Nigeria. The other 'states' are Okpara, Eku, Ovu, Orhoakpor, and Igun.
Geography
Its land area is 196 square kilometres and is blessed wit ...
in
Ethiope East
The Local Government Area of Ethiope East is located in the center of Delta State, Nigeria . Although it is not directly adjacent to Asagba, Asamagidi, Orerokpe, Ovwori, Orhokpokpor, Eruemukohwarien, Ekrokpe, Ughelli, or Agbasa, these places are ...
Local Government Area of Delta State. He was an only child of his mother and the first in a family of eight children.
Early life and education
At a young age, Demas lost his mother and he was brought up under the care of Mrs. Inaba Uyokpeyi.
He started his formal education at St. Andrew's Church Missionary Society School, Warri, Delta State, Nigeria from 1937 to 1944. He then proceeded to
Government College, Ughelli where he was a pioneering student.
After completing his Secondary School Education in 1951, he proceeded to
University College, Ibadan
The University of Ibadan (UI) is a public research university in Ibadan, Nigeria. The university was founded in 1948 as University College Ibadan, one of many colleges within the University of London. It became an independent university in 1962 ...
, Nigeria from 1951 to 1956. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Classics. Still in search of knowledge, he went to the
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a public university, public research university with campuses near Vancouver and in Kelowna, British Columbia. Established in 1908, it is British Columbia's oldest university. The university ranks a ...
in Vancouver, Canada, from 1956 to 1958 where he got Master of Arts degree in Classics.
For his Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE), he later attended the
Ahmadu Bello University
Ahmadu Bello University Zaria is a federal government research university in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria. ABU was founded on 4 October 1962, as the pioneer university in Northern Nigeria. It was founded and named after the Sardauna of Sokoto, Al ...
,
Zaria
Zaria is a metropolitan city in Nigeria which at the present time lies within four (4) local government areas in Kaduna state; it happens to be the capital city to the Zazzau Emirate Council, and one of the original seven Hausa city-states ...
, Nigeria from 1974 to 1975.
Working career
While a student at the University College, Ibadan, he spent his long vacations teaching
Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...
at Urhobo College,
Effurun
Effurun is a town and the headquarters of Uvwie Local Government Area in Delta State, Nigeria. It is an Urban center, densely populated with different infrastructural development. it borders it's twin city Warri, also serves as an entranc ...
, Delta State, Nigeria.
On his return from Canada, he took up
teaching
Teaching is the practice implemented by a ''teacher'' aimed at transmitting skills (knowledge, know-how, and interpersonal skills) to a learner, a student, or any other audience in the context of an educational institution. Teaching is closely re ...
appointment with United College of Commerce, Warri. From 1959 to 1962 he was the vice
principal becoming the principal in 1962, a post he held until 1966.
The same year, he left and established Orogun Grammar School, Orogun, his home town. He became the proprietor and principal of the school until 1973.
On the take over of all privately owned schools in the then Bendel State, Chief Demas Akpore moved to Government College, Ughelli as the principal of his alma mater. He served in that capacity from 1973 to 1978.
He refused to take
compensation from the government for his school affirming that he established it for his people and would therefore not make profit out of it.
In 1988 when government had lifted the ban on private ownership of schools, he again established Idise Institute, Warri.
Chief Demas Akpore was a council member of the College of Education,
Abraka
Abraka, is a town in Delta state, Nigeria.
It is also home to two of the main 24 urhobo kingdoms.
It is mostly known as a university town and has the main campus of the Delta State University located there.
Abraka town is a favourite destina ...
from 1973 to 1978.
Political career
He showed interest in politics in his university days at
Ibadan
Ibadan (, ; ) is the capital and most populous city of Oyo State, in Nigeria. It is the third-largest city by population in Nigeria after Lagos and Kano, with a total population of 3,649,000 as of 2021, and over 6 million people within its me ...
. He was an active unionist and student leader. He later joined the
NCNC where he rose to become the leader of the youth wing of the party.
He was an active member of the Zikist National Party Vanguard. And was also one of the
Midwest Democratic Front
The Midwest Democratic Front was a small political party from Nigeria's Midwest region; encompassing present day Edo and Delta states. The party was one of the various small parties that forged alliances with the dominant parties in Nigeria's fir ...
in 1963.
He worked tirelessly with Elder Statesman, Chief
Dennis Osadebay
Dennis Chukude Osadebay (29 June 1911 — 26 December 1994) was a Nigerian politician, poet, journalist and former premier of the now defunct Mid-Western Region of Nigeria, which now comprises Edo and Delta State. He was one of the pion ...
toward the creation of the then Midwest Region. Their yearnings were realised in 1963. He later devoted his energies to fighting for the creation of Delta State. He was in his hospital bed in the United States of America when Delta State was created.
When the ban on political activities was lifted in 1978, he joined the
Unity Party of Nigeria
The Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) was a Nigerian political party that was dominant in western Nigeria during the second republic (1978-1983). The party revolved around the political leadership of Obafemi Awolowo, a sometimes polemical politician ...
(UPN) becoming an executive member of the state branch of the party. He was the running mate of his party's gubernatorial candidate
Ambrose Folorunsho Alli
Ambrose Folorunsho Alli (22 September 1929 – 22 September 1989) was a Nigerian medical professor who served as Executive Governor of the defunct Nigerian state of Bendel State (now the Nigerian states of Edo and Delta (state), Delta) betw ...
in 1979. They won the election and were elected the first Governor and Deputy Governor, respectively of the then
Bendel State and were sworn on October 1, 1979. He, however resigned as Deputy Governor on 3 November 1982 over differences which he could not compromise. About a month later, he was attacked by assailants who left him for dead.
Family life
He married former Miss Grace Temisan Abobo in Ibadan in 1959. The marriage was blessed with six children; four boys and two girls and seven grand children.
His death occurred on 28 December 1993 in the United States of America.
He is survived by his wife, Grace Akpore; his children: Mrs. Stella Omu, Jomo Akpore, Kevwe Akpore, Enaite Akpore, and Newman Akpore, His grand children are Voke Omu, Jomo Akpore Jr., Ghenero Omu, Kiara Akpore, Sade Akpore, Oghale Omu, and Fejiro Omu.
Sources
*Ahon, Festus Nigeria: "Immortalize Akpore, Activist Urges Delta Government" (
Vanguard (Nigeria)
''Vanguard'' is a daily newspaper published by Vanguard Media, based in Lagos, Nigeria. Vanguard Media was established in 1984 by veteran journalist Sam Amuka-Pemu with three friends.
The paper has an online edition. It is one of the few newsp ...
30 December 2008)
*Akpore, Demas O. "The Question of the Falling Standard of Education: A Policy in Transition, The Nigerian Experience from An Educator's Viewpoint". (A lecture delivered on the occasion of the 1981 University of Ibadan Alumni Association Annual Lectures held at the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, 20 March 1981.
*Akpoyibo, Marvel- Lagos State Police Commissioner "I never had a girlfriend in school because I was married to my books" (The Punch-Nigeria-By FRIDAY OLOKOR, Published: 20 December 2009)
* Awhefeada, Sunny. "Remembering Demas Akpore" (National Daily, Nigeria- 27 December 2008)
*Darra, G.G. "Urhobo and the Mowoe Legacy"(The Guardian, Nigeria-10 August 2005) Professor of English, Delta State University, Abraka/Special Adviser on Public Communications to the Governor of Delta State
*Eromosele, Victor "Government College Ughelli at 60"(The Guardian, Nigeria 9 November 2005)
*Olodu, Monn "Much Ado About Delta State Capital"
*Omu, Stella "Demas Akpore" Administrator, Nigeria federal Ministry of Education.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Akpore, Demas
1928 births
1993 deaths
Nigerian educators
National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons politicians
Midwest Democratic Front politicians
Unity Party of Nigeria politicians
Nigerian Christians