EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION
Half a decade ago in Adagboyeren, a rural community in Oghara clan in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State, a son was born on January 8, 1965, to the family of Benson Ofa. His father named him “Henry”, after a popular English King, Henry IV, whose exemplary leadership qualities, industrious and commercial skills made England the wealthiest nation of that era. Henry was also named “Ogheneochuko”, an indigenous Urhobo name which translated means “God is my helper”.
Young Henry Ogheneochuko Ofa, began his early education at Uherevie Primary School in Oghara, and went on to Oghareki Grammar School where he obtained the West African School Certificate in 1983. Thereafter, Henry gained admission into the College of Education, Ekiadolor in Edo State, where he acquired the National Certificate on Education (NCE) where he had the foundation in education, love for teaching and a desire to uplift the living standard of the young ones through education, qualities which were to have a great impact on his life and destiny.
He later proceeded to the Delta State University, Abraka to study Mathematics in the faculty of Education, from where he graduated with a Bachelors degree in Education in 1994. In a move which underline his humility and possibly serve as a divine test for a man God will ultimately help in life, as his native name connotes, Henry Ogheneochuko Ofa accepted an offer of employment to teach in a primary school even with his University degree.
Thus it was from the classroom at Udurhie Primary School in Oghareki where he taught Arithmetic that his leadership potentials were discovered and he elevated to supervise his peers as the Education Secretary of Ethiope West Local Education Authority in 1997. Although Divine Favour clearly played its role as God helped Dr. Henry Ogheneochuko Ofa in the course of life, he had a guiding philosophy, which made him to excel and stand out in whatever position he found himself. And that philosophy was to do his best with whatever resources available, in whatever circumstances, at any position he finds himself. It was not a surprise then when after making a mark as Secretary of the Local Education Authority in Ethiope West, he was uplifted to the state level to serve as the Secretary to the State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, by then Governor James Ibori in the year 2000.
That same year 2000, precisely on November 24th, Dr. Henry Ofa got married to a young fair beautiful named Kate, also from Oghara. They are blessed with children.
Henry Ofa late proceeded to the Ladoke Akintola University of Science and Technology, Ogbomosho where he obtained the Masters Degree in Business Administration (MBA) and to the University of Benin where he obtained a Masters Degree in Educational Administration and Management. Thereafter he commenced a Doctorate Degree Programme in which he is now at advanced stage. However in 2003, based on his distinguished performance in the Educational Sector; both as Education Secretary at the local level and SUBEB Secretary at the state level. The Columbus International University in the United Kingdom awarded him an Honorary Doctorate Degree.
SUCCESS RECORDED AS EDUCATION SECRETARY AND SECRETARY OF SUBEB
Dr. Henry Ofa’s appointment as Education Secretary in Ethiope West in 1997 was his first test in public service. Although he was relatively young, he was able to make a mark and many of his achievements are still evident today. One of these was the library at Uherevie Primary School, Oghara which he created. He was also able to influence and bring the Institute of Continuing Education, ICE and the National Teachers Institute, NTI to Oghara. The purpose of these two institutions was to improve the knowledge and level of education of teachers in Ethiope West, who then were mostly school certificate holders. This contribution helped education greatly in Ethiope West as many teachers in the area are now graduates or NCE holders through the programmes of the ICE and NTI.
It was also when Dr. Henry Ofa was Education Secretary in Ethiope West that Ibori Primary School and Oreki Primary School, Oghara were founded.
It is on record that the SUBEB Board in which Dr. Henry Ofa served as Secretary embarked on the massive construction of fences around schools in Delta State. That SUBEB Board also carried out mass construction of classroom building projects in schools across the state.
ACHIEVEMENTS OF DR. HENRY OFA AS DESOPADEC COMMISSIONER, 2012 TILL DATE
November 2012 marked a watershed in the development of oil development of oil communities in Delta State. That was the year Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan reconstituted the Board of Delta State Oil Producing Development Commission (DESOPADEC). The new board, under the leadership of Oritsuwa Kpogho was charged by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan to adopt the bottom top approach to project execution. That simply means that the programmes and projects of DESOPADEC should originate from the actual needs and requests of host communities through direct consultation.
The aim was to eliminate waste and ineffectiveness of the Commission, which resulted in bogus and mostly abandoned projects in the past. Dr. Henry Ogheneochuko Ofa was appointed a member of the DESOPADEC board to represent Ethiope West, Sapele and Okpe. He faithfully adopted the bottom top approach as a guiding philosophy. Two years now into his tenure, the people of his mandate area, that is Sapele, Okpe and Ethiope West have reason to celebrate with abundance of life touching projects spread across communities in the area. To ensure that projects executed by DESOPADEC in his mandate area are people oriented and achieve maximum impact, Dr. Henry Ofa involved in widespread consultations with host communities, traditional rulers, youths and women groups, student bodies, professional associations, leaders of his political party (PDP) in his mandate area, security agencies and even religious leaders.
Deriving from these regular consultations and requests from communities, Dr. Henry Ofa has ensured that DESOPADEC embarked on projects and programmes to satisfy the basic needs of people in his mandate area, the needs are development of basic social infrastructure such as roads with drainages and streetlights; electricity and portable water; improved education through massive reconstruction and renovation of school buildings; provision of science equipment as well as books and learning materials for students; scholarship and bursary awards; construction of social facilities such as water boreholes and toilets; organization of debates and quiz competitions, summer schools and extra mural classes to aid students.
Youth development and empowerment through skill acquisition was also to, a priority need given the widespread cases of restiveness and violence, social crimes such as armed robbery and kidnapping which plagued Niger Delta Oil Communities. To tackle these, Dr. Ofa as DESOPADEC Commissioner organized skill acquisition training programmes for youths, followed by empowerment through provision of started packs. Youths in Ethiope West, Sapele and Okpe benefitted immensely. In view of the need to sustain DESOPADEC programme and projects in his mandate area, and to have closer links to benefitting communities, Dr. Henry Ofa embarked on the building of zonal offices at Oghara for Ethiope West Council Area, Sapele for Sapele Council Area and Orerokpe for Okpe Council Area. The competition and commissioning of DESOPADEC zonal office a Adagboyeren, Oghara was significant as it was the first ever DESOPADEC office built and commissioned in Delta State.
Also, as part of efforts to reduce drug addiction, which is a contributory factor to involvement in crime and negative social tendencies, Dr. Henry Ofa facilitated a Drug Awareness Campaign jointly organized by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, the NYSC and DESOPADEC for youths in Ethiope West, Sapele and Okpe. The enlightenment campaign held at Oghara in Ethiope West; Sapele town for Sapele and Orerokpe for Okpe Council Area. Hundreds of youths from these areas benefitted from the programme.
Dr. Henry Ofa also created a conducive working relationship with relevant bodies, including government and security agencies towards facilitating the success of DESOPADEC’s development programmes. The Host Communities of Nigeria, Hostcom, a working partner of DESOPADEC, received several buses for convenient movement. Hostcom assists DESOPADEC in ensuring a conducive atmosphere for contractors, security of projects and containment of restive youths.
On environment sanitation, DESOPADEC partners with local government councils. Ethiope West Local Government Council received a Waste Disposal Van from DESOPADEC towards that end. Dr. Henry Ofa also ensured that security agencies, particularly the police, also received a helping hand from DESOPADEC towards ensuring security in host communities. Police Stations at Oghara, Sapele and Orerokpe got donation of equipment and other logistics support from Dr. Henry Ofa.
One infrastructure, the people of Sapele and Ethiope West LGAs are celebrating today is the rehabilitation of the Gammon Bridge linking Sapele and Mosogar. The bridge, a major link between Ethiope West and Sapele rural communities was in a very bad shape until Dr. Henry Ofa became DESOPADEC Commissioner. Besides the Gammon Bridge, DESOPADEC also constructed Lawrence road, Orhorho Street, Ejele Road, among others in Sapele Council Area. Many of the roads are with drains and streetlights in Ethiope West, many roads were constructed in Oghara, Jesse and Mosogar. Presently, Adagboyerin, Obromudu and Ovade roads are also being constructed. The commission also executed several road projects in Okpe Local Government Area.
In the health sector, Dr. Henry Ofa renovated the primary health care centre at Gana in Sapele and constructed a primary health care centre at Mission road also in Sapele. The Sapele Central Hospital Accident and Emergency Ward is being constructed while the children’s ward is being rehabilitated by DESOPADEC. The central hospital at Orerokpe and Oghara also received attention. These were among many other health centres built in other parts of Sapele, Okpe and Ethiope West.
Perhaps, the most celebrated of Dr. Henry Ofa’s achievement as DESOPADEC Commissioner is the provision of portable water for rural communities. Adagboyerin, Ovade, Boboroku in Jesse, Oreki Secondary School, Oghara Motor Park, Egbeku in Sapele, Aghalpkpe in Okpe, Jakpa Elume and Owhore to mention just a few, are among many host communities which got water project.
Recognition and appreciation of the good works of Dr. Henry Ofa has come from far and near. The Ovie of Oghara Kingdom, Orefe the 3rd conferred on him the Chieftaincy title Ame of Oghara Kingdom. Various awards have also been given by local and international organizations.
The accomplishments of Dr. Henry Ofa as DESOPADEC Commissioner will definitely outlive him. The projects, visible in all communities in his mandate area, speak volumes of his efforts. So also are the voices of many indigent persons; widows, orphans, unemployed youths and students, who got a life line from Dr. Henry Ofa.
Everywhere from high and low, East, West, North and South, testimonies abound about Dr. Henry Ofa, a man who has truly used his mandate for the benefit of his people.
POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LIFE
Dr. Henry Ofa has been a long serving, faithful and committed member of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP). He has served as a member of the party’s electoral committee in Edo and Kebbi States among other important National and State assignments. Dr. Ofa is a loyalist of former Governor James Ibori and Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan. He has also worked faithfully with great leaders of the party like present Minister of Niger Delta, Dr. Steve Oru, Dere Otubu and Chief Ighoyota Amori among others. He believes fervently in the three point agenda of the Uduaghan administration and supports the Governor’s vision to finish strong.
In Oghara Kingdom, of which he is now a titled Chief, having been conferred the title, “Ame of Oghara” by the King in 2014, Dr. Henry Ofa works as a faithful subject to Orefe the third, Ovie of Oghara Kingdom. He has continued to contribute his quota towards the development of Oghara, particularly in peace building, youth’s employment, education and provision of infrastructure. Recently Dr. Ofa brought the Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, Producers of Nollywood films to Oghara for a film production that will engage many Oghara youths.
Dr. Henry Ofa is also a lover of sports. He is presently the Delta State Chairman of the Nigeria Scrabble Association. Recently he co-sponsored a football competition in honour of the late father of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan. He is involved in many youth activities like the Oghara Jersey Carnival, Miss Ethiope West and Miss Okpe, all to encourage youths.
Dr. Henry Ofa is also a member of the Rotary Club and has received several awards from Rotary for his numerous humanitarian activities. He has been a committed member of the Assemblies of God Church.
At 50, Dr. Henry Ofa could be said to have made an appreciable impact in life and has touched his generation in many ways. But his great hunger for societal development and earnest desire to help more people make him feel an urgency to do more. He is still pursuing his Doctorate Degree at University of Benin even with all that he has attained because he believes education brings out the best in man. He craves for a higher and better opportunities to enable him build more schools, offer more scholarships, empower more youths and develop his society more than he has done.
As he marks his 50th birthday anniversary, Dr. Henry Ofa looks up to God his helper, his King, Uku Ogharaname, Orefe the third, who he so much believes in; his party the PDP; is political mentors, his community Oghara, his Church, his Wife and Family, Friends and Associates to continue to support him towards realizing his vision of greater help to his society.
