All preparations have been finalized for the presentation of the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award on Chief Demas Onoliobakpovwa Akpore, the former Deputy Governor of Bendel State and founder of Orogun Grammar School at an international dinner by the Awards Committee of the Government College Ughelli Old Boys Association (GCUOBA) Worldwide. This prestigious event, scheduled for Saturday, October 7, 2023, will take place at the HILTON CANARY WHARF, SOUTH QUAY MARSH WALL, LONDON E14 9SH, London.
According to a release signed by Pastor Wilson Egbodje, Secretary General of GCUOBA Worldwide and made available to Oghwoghwa Reporters “the award is the highest honour bestowed on deserving alumni of our noble College in recognition of services rendered to the Association, the Nigerian nation and humanity to celebrate the legacy of Chief Demas Akpore, a pioneering student and former Principal of Government College, Ughelli, who served in that capacity from 1973 to 1978.”
The release which tasked “one representative of the Demas Akpore family to formally attend the ceremony to receive the award” promises to be an evening filled with camaraderie as Old Boys and esteemed guests come together to exchange experiences and reflect on the evolution of their beloved alma mater and the current educational landscape.
About Demas Akpore
Demas Akpore (1928–1993) was the first Deputy Governor of Bendel State (1979–1983), an educator, and founder of Orogun Grammar School. He was born in Warri, Nigeria, and began his education there, later attending Government College, Ughelli. He pursued further studies at the University College, Ibadan, and the University of British Columbia in Canada.
Demas was a dedicated educator and served as a principal in various schools, including Orogun Grammar School and Government College, Ughelli. Notably, he refused compensation from the government for his school.
In addition to his educational career, Demas Akpore was involved in politics. He played a significant role in the creation of the Midwest Region and later advocated for the establishment of Delta State.
He joined the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) and became Deputy Governor of Bendel State alongside Governor Ambrose Folorunsho Alli in 1979. However, he resigned in 1982 due to differences with the administration.
Demas Akpore’s legacy extends to his family, as he was survived by his wife, Grace, six children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He passed away in the United States of America on December 28, 1993.
About Government College, Ughelli
Government College Ughelli was founded in 1945. It was sited initially at Warri and was known as Warri Middle School, before it was later moved to Ughelli. The First Students (Mariners) walked into their classrooms on January 19, 1945. Modeled after its remarkable “Public Schools” contemporaries in Britain, Government College Ughelli was conceived as an institution where students were brought up to appreciate the virtues of manliness, sportsmanship, intellectual and moral excellence, integrity and of a clean and salubrious environment. However, especial care was taken to ensure that the character of the student was moulded without their personality being distorted.