Deacon Darlington Okpebholo Ray, publisher and media entrepreneur, political expert, has been conferred with the title of UN Ambassador for World Peace by the Peace and Positive Living Centre. The honour was bestowed on him today, August 20th 2025, during a ceremony held at the Hilton London Hotel, in London, United Kingdom.
Okpebholo Ray, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Truth Live Media Communications, expressed gratitude as he celebrated the moment alongside his beautiful wife, Mercy Darlington, his friends Professor Sunny Obanore, and Barrister Eunice Inegbejie. In addition to the ambassadorial conferment, he also received the UN Global Peace & Human Rights Defender Merit Award, describing it as “a double honour in one day.”
In his remarks, the Edo-born media guru thanked Hon. Ambassador Geoffrey Akoro Enoh for his unwavering support, as well as the UK office of the UNESCO Culture of Peace Projects & Positive Living for facilitating the recognition. “To God be all the glory,” he said in appreciation of the awards, which spotlight his contributions to peace, human rights advocacy, and community development.
Darlington Okpebholo Ray was born on 31 August 1972. He attended Okpujie Primary School and Esan Grammar School, both in Uromi, for his early education. Later on, he went to Lagos State University, where he got a degree in History and international studies. Before then, he had a diploma certificate in International Refugee Law. A man of many expertise, Ray ventured into journalism and got a diploma certificate from the British College of Journalism, where he studied investigative journalism and also got a certificate in social media and marketing from the University of the Arts, London. He went further to join the University of Portsmouth for his master’s degree in Global Human Resource Management and became an associate member in the British Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), the highest level in the Human Resource profession.
He’s currently a PhD Researcher at Queen Mary University, London. Okpebholo Ray has held many positions in Edo state and outside; he was elected the first vice chairman of the Edo state football association in 2006, and managed Esan United football club, which was formerly known as Edo United FC.
He is currently the executive of several NGO, including Uromi Like Minds Initiative, Dorhelps Widows foundation, Director at Pretty Hearts CIC, UK and a member of many international humanitarian organisations. A member of the British Association of Journalists, BAJ, Member of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ.
Above all, Ambassador Okpebholo Ray is a minister with the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), happily married to a pastor and blessed with four beautiful children.
