Chief Nelson A. Utieyione JP, Celebrating a philanthropist Par Excellence @ 80

Chief Nelson A. Utieyone JP, clocked the ripe age of 80 years on Saturday the 15^th day of August, 2015 and in his Spartan nature, he marked that glorious Octogenarian height in his usual low-keyed and humble fashion only with his family members and some of his children at his modest country home in Warri, Delta State, devoid of the fanfare, flamboyance and affluence that traditionally accompanies such Olympian achievements and personality in the Nigerian society.

The Oguoyibo of Warri kingdom, also known as “Oruru –Nagbakiridi” is an astute Insurance Broker that has made most Nigerians of substance today wealthy citizens, power brokers, timbers, caterpillars and bulldozers of no mean integrity in their communities, states and in the Diaspora.

His business name, Nelson-Uti Insurance Brokers is a household name within the circles of the big, heavy and mighty in the Nigeria society. He is so unassuming, very intelligent, meticulous, innocent and not given to frivolities, just as he is down to earth in his everyday life. He in fact epitomizes an enigma ossified in a cocoon of simple complexity and a matrix of a strict, dreadful disciplinarian, very sociable and amiable as can be attested to by his close associates, children, family members and admirers alike.

At 80, Chief N. A. Utieyione JP, the Oboro/Aja-Oguoyibo/Koko born Itsekiri patriot, statesman and nationalist who is still very athletic and much more fit, able, vibrant and younger in appearance than most Nigerian footballers and wrestlers. This is so because he keeps steadfastly to his daily early morning routine jugging exercise around some areas of the oil City. He is soft spoken and abhors juvenile and even adult delinquents as much as he detests acts of indiscipline, injustice and oppression.

He loves the under-privileged and indigent persons in our society. This account for why perhaps he has devoted a large chunk of his hard earned resources to helping countless number of both adults and youths by way of skills acquisition training, scholarship grants and regular monthly allowances to both the aged and deserving indigent persons across the board for many years now.

It is also pertinent to add to his credit that he pays the medical and other social responsibility bills of many people in Warri Kingdom and its environs. His level of philanthropy and humanitarian services can only be compared to that of our revered Pa. Alfred Ogbeyiwa Rewane of blessed memory.

Pa. Nelson Utieyione, ever elegantly dressed both during official working hours in his exquisite suit or traditional attire as an Itsekiri man or Chief. He is always a delightful sight to behold and the cynosure of every discerning mind and observant eyes at all occasions moving in calculated steps and seating conspicuously comfortable, radiating confidence with a magnetic smile that is at once captivating and socially disabling to both the male and female folks.

A very reliable confidant, trusted and tested, it was not a surprise to anyone when the Warri monarch, His Majesty, Atuwatse 11, the Olu of Warri, CFR, conferred on him the Chieftaincy title of the “Oguoyibo” in 1988.

In the same year, in recognition of his enormous contribution towards the upliftment of the well being of mankind in the society, he was also installed President of the Rotary Club of Warri in 1988 where he is a major donor to the Rotary International, a humanitarian organization worldwide known for her charity works and commitment to the eradication of the killer polio disease in Nigeria.

In recognition of his numerous contributions to the peace and development of Delta State, the State Government in 1991 conferred Chief Nelson A. Utieyione with the Justice of Peace (JP) award and towards his contribution to the Education sector and Scholarship the administration of His Excellency, Governor Dr Emmanuel E. Uduaghan awarded him a Fellow of the Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro in 2014.    

To stamp his philanthropy forever in the sands of time for eternity, Chief Nelson A. Utieyione in 2007 at a National convention of the Itsekiri apex Socio-Cultural Organization Warri Progressive Society a.k.a OTONLOYE held at the Appollo Presidential Hotel, Sapele instituted a 100 million naira Scholarship Foundation known as “Utieyione Educational Endowment Foundation” for deserving less privileged and indigent students to be nominated by various Itsekiri societies, clubs, Communities and Churches annually for screening and award by a Board of Trustees made up of men of impeccable character and high moral standing in the society.

The scheme is designed at take-off to provide for 10 University Scholarship at 50,000 (Fifty Thousand) naira only and 17 secondary school scholarship at 20,000 (Twenty Thousand) naira only each respectively with the number of beneficiaries and the value subject to upward review from time to time as it truly has been increased upward in tandem with current market realities.

But at inception, there were 35 beneficiaries from secondary to the university level and by 2014 records the number has increased to 164 University students, 258 secondary school students and 22 Polytechnic students respectively to his eternal credit and the Glory of Almighty God.

To be sure, taking up the educational responsibility of 444 Nigerian students outside the in-take for the year 2015 is no mean sacrifice and very commendable.

It takes the Grace of God, enormous financial muscle, love for the down trodden and a charitable disposition to undertake such magnitude of responsibility.

The Octogenarian stated during the epoch making inaugural presentation of cheques to the awardees at the Otonloye Hall, Ugbori, Warri on October 13, 2007 that if not for one of his late uncles who sent him to school in Koko, now Headquarters of Warri North Council to read up to Standard 6 when he was financially stranded in 1962, he could not have made progress in life, saying that he considers education as the best legacy to assist humanity.

Indeed, to underscore the premium he placed on God’s benevolence to his life and the value he placed on education, he stated thus:

“I have a strong feeling that God has blessed me in wealth tremendously. God has directed my investments in such a way that is beyond my imagination. Therefore, I have a feeling that nature must have done this to prompt me into spreading the wealth generally to benefit mankind, realizing the circumstance of my birth and humble background”.

Chief N.A. Utieyione (JP),  as you journey along this path of the earth dispensing your largesse to humanity, we pray that the Almighty God continue to grant you the strength, wisdom, sagacity and good health to pursue your God Ordained assignment to mankind in Jesus Name. Amen.

Orurunagbakiridi, we wish you many more happy years ahead.

Emma Arubi writes from Warri

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