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Ogiemwonyi: Integrity Titan Marks 71, By O’Ray Osawe

THERE is no doubt that birthday celebration is the most memorable of the remarkable events in the life of mortal man; for it marks the genesis of a freshly, divinely baked soul given life and body by God the Almighty creator who was never created. The day marks the beginning of man’s sojourn on Mother Earth. It just cannot be like every other day; for on that day an immortal soul was decreed into earthly physical existence.
So, when birthdays come, the drums are usually rolled out, with family, friends, colleagues, acquaintances, gathering to dine, wine, dance and toast to the continuing good health of the celebrants.  And because it is a yearly event, celebrants, their families and friends usually look up to such special days and are usually not taken by surprise; especially as the day offers them the annual opportunities to thank God for the successes, the divine interventions and the sublime celestial graces providence had bestowed on them.
When, therefore, Monday the 21st day of March, 2022 dawned, family, friends, acquaintances and well-wishers of Sir (Engr.) Dr. Chris Aigboviosa Ogiemwonyi, FNSE, KSC, JP, expectedly gathered, in every clime across the globe where they presently domicile, to celebrate and honour the quintessential gentleman, a hugely refined and principled personality, who personifies integrity in the very true sense and meaning of the word, as he clocked seventy-one, three-scores and eleven, so to speak, in good health and soundness of mind.
The story of Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, as his unassumingly humane character disposition would wish to be simply addressed and recognized, is by now a publicly known, digested and roundly appreciated one, as he has spent the last fifty (50) years and more in full public glare, thirty-four (34) years of which he served, body, mind and soul, the nation at the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, helping to develop and advance the nation’s Oil industry.  Engr. Ogiemwonyi, whose excellent career at the NNPC began in 1975 as Petroleum Engineer II, grew admirably through the ranks and challenging leadership positions, and retired, without blemish, after rising to the enviable position of Group Executive Director, Exploration and Production.
Shortly after retiring from the NNPC, Engr. Ogiemwonyi, a proud Alumnus of the University of Benin, where he bagged a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) Hons., in Applied Physics in 1974, served as the Minister of State for Works in the Federal Ministry of Works, a two-year stint that further underscored his innate capacity to perform at top-level management positions and elongated his meritorious service to his fatherland.
Always desirous of serving his people, his country and humanity, Engr. Ogiemwonyi, contested the Edo State governorship primaries of his political party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, and ran decent, virile, issue-based and integrity-laden campaigns across the three senatorial districts of the state, ahead of the Edo 2016 and Edo 2020 gubernatorial elections.  He has consistently avowed that he remains resolute to keep working for the upliftment of the standard of living of the people of the state, in particular, and Nigerians, in general, because he sees politics as “an opportunity to impact on the people on a general platform,” insisting that “politics would become a better game if more committed persons, interested in the genuine development of the people, would step forward for service.”
Though, as a young, growing man, Chris Ogiemwonyi left his rural community of Idumwebo village in Orhionmwon local government area of Edo State, in quest of education and a secured future, he has never for once forgotten his ancestral roots as he remains a loyal, dedicated member of his community contributing modestly to the socio-economic and educational lives of the people.
Regaled and celebrated for his transparency, accountability and palpable integrity, Engr. Ogiemwonyi recalls that these personal, prized virtues have been his key guiding principles.
According to him, “my life at the NNPC taught me great lessons in transparency, accountability, discipline, true service, and humility.  It taught me that honesty and patriotic service cannot go unrewarded.  It afforded me the rare opportunity to impact on people, as one grew in rank and status in that very challenging industry.  What is more?  When I  finally retired from the service of the NNPC, I felt and still feel fulfilled, elated and further elevated, when today, I come across people, who show me appreciation for what they believe I did for them while I was in service.  Nothing gives more joy to a retiree from a challenging leadership positions, than to be spoken well of and revered, long after quitting service.”
Engr. Ogiemwonyi, who proudly holds the membership and fellowship of several professional bodies, including being Member, Society of Petroleum Engineers, a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and former President, Nigeria Gas Association, is reputed to have equally chaired several Boards and Committees, while in service, attesting to his enticing capacity and capability to perform at top level administrative and managerial positions.
He is equally a recipient of the prestigious traditional Bead from the revered Palace of the Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo the Oba of Benin; a recipient of the Justice of Peace, JP, Edo State government; a recipient of the Kwane Nkrumah Leadership Award; a pioneer recipient of The Navigator Newspaper’s Edo Personality of the Year 2016 Award; Patron, National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS; Patron, Association of Community Newspapers Publishers of Nigeria, ACNPN; Patron, Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, Edo State Council; a Knight of the Sacred Order of Saint Christopher, KSC; Life Patron, All Farmers Association of Nigeria, AFAN.
Today, Engr. (Sir) Dr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, JP, who is happily married with children to Lady Joy Ogiemwonyi, presides over Energy Strategic Centre, an Energy consulting group, in conjunction with Energy and Engineering Technology Consulting, Abuja, in his private capacity.
From all of us here at The Navigator Newspaper, we wish our ebullient celebrant, a happy memorable 71st Birthday Anniversary.

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