BY Advertiser
The Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Professor Steve Okodudu has given insights as to why the institution was honouring late philanthropist, benefactor, oil magnate and elder statesman, High Chief Olu Benson Lulu-Briggs with an elaborate ceremony fitting only for important personalities.
Activities marking the funeral rites for late High Chief O.B Lulu-Briggs began on Monday with the University of Port Harcourt organizing an Evening of Tributes, Music, Drama, and Art Exhibition at the institution’s campus, Choba.
It was an atmosphere of encomiums upon encomiums as members of the academia went down memory lane, detailing the impact the late Kalabari titleholder had on not just the University of Port Harcourt but humanity at large.
This is just as occasion humbled his son and Head of Young Briggs House of Abonnema, Rivers State, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, who promised to continue with the legacies of his father.
The Acting Vice-Chancellor of UNIPORT, Professor Steve Okodudu in his tribute titled “Exit Of A Rare Gift To The University Of Port Harcourt And Humanity,” stated that the death of our “benefactor, patron, father and Alumnus is certainly a direct tragedy for the University of Port Harcourt. This is because of the boundless philanthropy and assistance he rendered to the university.”
He noted that the university crossed path with late High Chief O.B Lulu-Briggs when efforts were in gear to improve on the infrastructural profile of the institution and that the lot fell on an equally illustrious son of Kalabari kingdom and then Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nimi Briggs.
According to him, “The response from our High Chief (Dr) O.B Lulu-Briggs was the building and donation of a purpose-built structure to house the University Health Centre.”
Professor Okodudu stressed further that the deceased impacted on the university in many other ways including becoming one of the foremost “benefactors and rare friend of the university,” while also endowing a “Professorial Chair and never ceased to give unflinching support to the university when approached.”
In response to his acts of kindness and support to the university, Okodudu said he was awarded a Doctorate Degree Honoris Causa.
Also paying glowing tributes were former vice-chancellors of UNIPORT including Professors Nimi Briggs, Don Baridam and Joseph Ajienka.
Professor Nimi Briggs, who incidentally is from Abonnema, Akuku Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State like the late business mogul, in his tribute titled: “The Rest Is Silence,” summed up the lives and times of late O.B Lulu-Briggs when he said “and so it was that he loved humanity without recourse to gender, creed, or ethnicity and did his utmost to further its course on the comprehension of the biblical truth that in the image of God He created Man.”
Both Baridam and Ajienka echoed the words of Okodudu and Briggs, adding that the university has lost a worthy friend and benefactor.
Responding, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs said he was short of words to describe how the university organized such an elaborate programme in appreciation of what his father did for the institution, just as he also promised to reach out to the school.
He went down memory lane to describe how his late father grew up from a humble beginning and how he was able to struggle through misfortunes in life to achieve his status as an entrepreneur.
Dumo Lulu-Briggs, who is also the Head of Young Briggs House of Abonnema particularly, recalled how his father encouraged his children to always share even when they were struggling to be comfortable.
According to him, “Tell everybody, it doesn’t matter what your story is, keep faith in God. It happened to my family, my father wasn’t rich growing up; he suffered from misfortunes but was able to rise from the adversities.
“I thank the University of Port Harcourt, the Vice-Chancellor of the school, Prof. Stephen, and the various respectable former Vice-Chancellors; Emeritus Prof. Nimi D. Briggs, OON, 5th VC of the school; Prof. Don Baridam, 6th VC; Prof. Joseph A. Ajienka, 7th VC of the school and the Registrar for the great honor done a great man; my father today.
“This institution has always shown a sense of oneness with my family; truly, the school has always appreciated my family. God bless you all. I will try not to let the school down.
“I have always kept faith with the legacies of my father. Immediately after the burial, I will take up one of the building projects outlined here.
While promising to embark upon a building project in the university, he disclosed that he was going to get the approval of Platform Petroleum, where he is the chairman to support students of the University of Port Harcourt Women Association (UPWA) Secondary School Students.
Earlier, the University Orator, Professor Bridger Nwanze had led Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, UNIPORT VC, Professor Steve Okodudu, former vice-chancellors, management staff, and guests to an arts exhibition in honour of late High Chief Olu Benson Lulu-Briggs.
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