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Otti Celebrates Emeritus Professor Oluikpe at 90, Hails Academic Legacy
Otti Celebrates Emeritus Professor Oluikpe at 90, Hails Academic Legacy
Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has celebrated renowned linguist and educationist, Professor Emeritus Benson Oluikpe, on his 90th birthday, describing him as an accomplished scholar whose contributions to education and humanity deserve recognition.
Governor Otti spoke on Saturday at a ceremony organised by the State Government in Umuahia, in honour of the nonagenarian.
The Governor noted that celebrating distinguished individuals while alive would inspire younger generations to pursue excellence and make meaningful contributions to society.
Born on October 22, 1936, Oluikpe joined the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), in 1973 and became a professor of English Linguistics in 1982. He subsequently served as Head of the Department of Linguistics and Nigerian Languages and Dean of the Faculty of Arts, contributing to curriculum development and the mentorship of younger academics.
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His scholarly publications include Igbo Transformational Syntax, English in Igboland: A Contrastive Study of English and Igbo Syntax and Thesis Writing: Its Form and Style.
Governor Otti said his administration is deliberately promoting a culture that recognised excellence, integrity and genuine accomplishments rather than wealth acquired through questionable means.
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“We want to depart from that inherited culture. The culture of celebrating thieves, the culture of celebrating 419-ers, the culture of celebrating drug barons, the culture of celebrating bandits. That’s not our culture”, he said.
Governor Otti also advocated accountability and responsible financial management, urging parents to ask their children questions about their sources of income and expenditure.
He assured that the state would continue to recognise outstanding indigenes irrespective of their political affiliations, religious beliefs or backgrounds.
“Once you are from Abia State, and you are doing well, we will celebrate you”,the Governor said.
Governor Otti also announced plans to honour another Abia-born professor and inventor based in the United States in December for an invention that helps surgeons target cancer cells during medical procedures.
Responding, Oluikpe expressed gratitude to the Governor and other dignitaries for honouring him, describing the recognition as a dream come true.
He recalled meeting Otti in 2013, when the governor was a banker, and said he had been impressed by his humility, describing him as a humble and wise leader whose qualities had reflected in his governance.
The celebrant said his philosophy of life was anchored on making positive contributions to humanity, stressing that wealth without touching lives was meaningless.
“A life without impact on humanity is no life. The wealth we acquire without reaching or touching minds is useless”, he said.
Oluikpe urged wealthy individuals to share their resources with others, adding that he remained satisfied with what God had given him.
He also called on residents to support the state government and advised them to offer constructive criticism rather than engage in sycophancy.
The Professor said he valued the opportunity to hear people acknowledge his contributions while he was alive, recalling his late father’s advice that good deeds should be done during people’s lifetime.
The Deputy Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Mr Austin Meregini, described Oluikpe’s 90th birthday as a remarkable milestone, particularly as he remained healthy, agile and productive.
Meregini said the celebrant continued to mentor others and contribute to society, adding that his intellectual contributions and legacy would endure beyond his lifetime.
Also, the Vice-Chancellor of Clifford University, Professor Chimezie Omeonu, described Oluikpe as a humble and dedicated scholar whose mentorship had continued to shape younger academics.
Omeonu, who disclosed that Oluikpe served as a visiting professor and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at the University, said his recommendations had recently facilitated the promotion of two lecturers to professorial ranks.
He commended the celebrant’s commitment to helping younger academics advance in their careers.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, in his remarks, congratulated Prof Oluikpe, describing him as a reservoir of knowledge, wisdom and intellectual excellence whose life exemplified dedication to education and service to humanity.
Prince Kanu said the State Government believed that outstanding achievers deserved recognition for their accomplishments and enduring legacies, adding that celebrating distinguished individuals would inspire younger generations to pursue excellence and contribute to human development.
In separate goodwill messages, elder statesmen, Chief Dan Nwankwo and Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, paid glowing tributes to the celebrant.
Nwankwo described Oluikpe’s academic profile and citation as impressive, expressing the hope that he would live to celebrate his 95th, 100th, 105th and 110th birthdays.
.Ohuabunwa described the celebrant as a man of substance whose contributions to education, community development and nation-building had created an enduring legacy.
He said Oluikpe’s life demonstrated the importance of discipline, purposeful living and service, while commending Otti for recognising distinguished individuals across political, gender and demographic divides.
The ceremony which featured goodwill messages, prayers and tributes in honour of the celebrant was attended by the wife of the governor, Mrs Priscilla Otti; the Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Chief Emmanuel Emeruwa; the National Vice-Chairman of the Labour Party (South-East), Mr Ishmeal Onuoha, and other dignitaries.
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