Ogheneruona Tejiri, Ughelli
Ughelli, Delta State–Orogun Kingdom in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State has posthumously bestowed an award of Lifetime Legacy on Late Engr. Samson Anakimoni Akpore.
This honour was given at the 18th Chief Demas Akpore Memorial Lecture in Ughelli.
Presenting the award, Chief Etetakpo Thompson Opone, a lawyer, President General of Orogun Kingdom disclosed that the award is in recognition of Late Engr. Akpore’s life of learning, discipline, and service as a pioneer Nigerian Electrical Engineer, national cricketer, and committed community figure.
Chief Opone said the honour was meant to remind the present generation that Orogun Kingdom “has produced men whose excellence was not loud but lasting.”
He described Engr. Akpore as “a fine example of a son of the soil who combined professional skills, sports discipline, and community spirit at a critical stage of Nigeria’s growth,” adding that his life remained “a quiet lesson in service, balance, and responsibility for our youths to study and emulate.”
It could be recalled that Late Engr. Samson Akpore, younger brother of the Late Chief Demas Akpore, distinguished himself early at Government College, Ughelli, where he played cricket before later representing Nigeria at national level. Trained as an electrical engineer in Ghana and among the earliest Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN)-registered engineers, he contributed to Nigeria’s early power transmission projects through then Electricity Corporation of Nigeria (ECN) and later National Electric Power Authority (NEPA).
The citation noted that beyond his professional and sporting achievements, Engr. Akpore was remembered for warmth, family devotion, and deep community ties, qualities that endeared him to colleagues and neighbours alike.
Receiving the Lifetime Legacy Award on behalf of the family, Engr. Lawrence Akpore expressed appreciation to the Kingdom for honouring a life devoted to service and integrity.
The event also featured public presentation of a book titled, “The Life, Ideas and Contributions of Chief Demas Akpore” with a lecture, themed, “Chief Demas Akpore – A Great Man” that examined the continuing relevance of the Akpore Family’s values to leadership and public service delivered by Prof. Prince will Okereka of the Delta State University, Abraka.
Mr. Abraham Ogbodo, one time Editor of Guardian Newspaper who chaired the occasion and others came up with renewed calls for youths and institutions to draw lessons from lives marked by discipline, balance, and service, values embodied by both Chief Demas Akpore and his younger brother, Engr. Samson Anakimoni Akpore.
