Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has praised the late Chief Jeremiah Aghedo Ighodalo, the father of the Chairman of Alaghodaro Economic Summit LTD/GTE and Chairman of Sterling Bank Plc, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, describing him as patriotic Edo man who championed unity and togetherness.
Obaseki said this during a 10-year remembrance service in honor of Chief Jeremiah Aghedo Ighodalo, held in Ewohimi, Esan South East Local Government Area of the state, at the weekend.
Dignitaries present at the event included the First Lady of Edo State, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki; former Governor of Cross River State, Liyel Imoke; President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq.; Special Adviser on Media Projects, Crusoe Osagie, and other members of the state executive council.
The governor lauded the late Ighodalo’s commitment to education and his role as a beacon of hope for people in the Mid-West Region, Bendel, and Edo State.
“He pulled his whole clan along with him and valued education. He became the beacon of hope for all Mid-Westerners and Edo people who had the privilege of being in Ibadan when he was there.
“We are here to celebrate the achievement of our late father in the old Mid-West Region, Bendel and Edo State. I commend the children for keeping the legacy of education and discipline of their father and his memory still alive. We thank God for his life. We will continue to celebrate his life and time,” Obasike said.
The governor further commended the Ighodalo family for following in the footsteps of their father and also for adopting Ewohimi Primary School, noting that the government alone cannot fund education but would require partners to develop the state’s education system.
Dr. Asue Ighodalo, on behalf of the family, expressed gratitude to the governor and his entourage for attending the 10-year remembrance service of his late father.
He said the family has resolved to adopt the Ewohimi Primary School and make it one of the best in the state, adding that a microfinance scheme has been funded with N25 million to empower women of Ewohimi.
“We are also going to set up a foundation in the memory of our father to award scholarships to four brilliant Ewohimi students who are good in English, Medicine, Economics and Accounting.”
The officiating minister, Pastor Lawrence Ebhodaghe, praised Chief Ighodalo for the legacy he left behind and encouraged the congregation to emulate his good life and values. He also urged the late Chief Ighodalo’s children to follow in their father’s footstep.
