Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege, a lawyer, politician, administrator and business mogul, is the Chairman/CEO of Techsprings Limited, a dredging and Oil Services Corporation based in Porthacourt, Rivers State. He served the Government of Delta State as Secretary to the State Government (SSG) in 2007, Commissioner for Special Duties from 2005 to 2007, and Executive Assistant to the Governor from 2003 to 2005. In the 2007 election, Omo-Agege was a leading candidate for the People’s Democratic Party Gubernatorial nomination. He also contested for the gubernatorial position in 2011.
An enthusiastic and self-motivated individual who always strive to achieve high standards in all his endeavors, Omo-Agege studied at St. George’s Grammar School, Obinomba near Obiaruku in Delta State, where he demonstrated rare diligence, discipline and leadership qualities at this early age.
Ovie Omo-Agege was born on August 3rd 1963, the son of Justice James Omo-Agege, studied Law at the University of Benin and was called to the Nigerian Bar as a Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 1986 after completing the professional training program at the Nigerian Law School, Lagos.
Upon completion of his National Youth Service Corps with the Directorate of Criminal Investigation and Intelligence of the Kwara State Command of the Nigerian Police Force in 1987, Omo-Agege legal career commenced in the firm of PAT OKUPA & CO, where he cut his legal teeth as litigator in private practice over a wide-ranging areas of specialization as, criminal defense, corporate banking and commercial litigation. In all of these areas he acquired appreciable expertise and vast experience and in 1989, he moved to Lagos and co-founded Agege & Co, a private practice with emphasis on corporate banking and commercial litigation matters and became a principal partner.
In 1990, Omo-Agege moved to the United States of America and became a foreign associate in the Law Office of Charles o. Agege in Los Angeles, California, where he counseled foreign clients on Nigeria law and prepared litigation strategies and extensive motions and discovery in matters involving personal injury, breach of contract, fraud, securities, real estate, banking, letters of credit and other financial instruments.
In 1992, Ovie Omo-Agege was admitted into the State Bar of California, United States District Court (Central District of California) and the United States Supreme Court, Washington, DC. He founded Agege & Associates in 1992 and became the Senior Partner of the firm. By 1996, Agege & Associates merged into a partnership called AGEGE & ESIN and extended its scope of activities to include international wire transfers, insurance, professional malpractice, suits against foreign entities under the Foreign Sovereign Immunity Act (FSIA) and Domestic International Commercial arbitration, admiralty and marine litigation practices, and extensive criminal defense litigation.
In furtherance of his pursuit for excellence, Omo-Agege enrolled as a student in the post-graduate law degree program at Tulane University Law School, New Orleans and obtained the LLM (Masters of Law) degree with distinction in 2002.
A native of Orogun in Ughelli North Local Government Area, Ovie Omo Agege began his political career when he returned home from the United States of America and contested the People’s Democratic Party primaries of the Ughelli Federal Constituency for the House of Representative in 2002. Though he lost the primaries, he remained steadfast in his determination to contribute to the socio-economic development of his people. And in 2003, he was rewarded when he was appointed the first Executive Assistant to the Governor of Delta State, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, with responsibility for formulation, implementation, coordination of government policy, monitoring and appraisal of Executive Council decisions to ensure compliance with administration set goals, pre-qualification of and monitoring of state project vendors. He also acted as the Chief Liaison Officer, PDP National/Headquarters and Presidency relations, a position that enabled him to develop a network of contacts and friendship across Nigeria.
Two years later as a result of his sparkling performance, demonstrated leadership strength and proven ability to manage multiple responsibilities in fast-paced political environment Governor Ibori elevated him to the State Executive Council as Commissioner for Special Duties and gave him additional responsibility to oversee the privatization program of the state government. He successfully supervised the privatization of African Timber and Plywood in Sapele.
As Commissioner for Special Duties, Omo-Agege was credited with the development of a robust and dynamic policy in the area of conflict resolution. His unique ability to adapt to tricky situations manifested in the prompt release of hostages and recovery of large catches of small arms from youths involved in communal conflicts in the state. Also his proven ability to manage and complete projects to the highest standards ensured the successful completion of all projects of the Ibori administration.
Buoyed up by his achievements and calls by people of Delta state to run for the governorship in 2006, Omo-Agege joined the race and became a leading candidate for the People’s Democratic Party gubernatorial nomination, securing the highest delegates among the Urhobo aspirants which included Late Senator Pius Ewerido, Chief Charles Obule, Chief O’tega Emerhor, Chief Napoleon Gbinije, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi and Chief Oscar Ibru. He lost to Dr Emmanuel Udughan who was subsequently elected governor in 2007.
In January 2007, Omo-Agege became the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), a position previously occupied by the newly elected governor. As SSG, Ovie brought an unusual dynamism and development stride to the affairs of Delta State. As Secretary to the State Government he strengthen the office of project monitors that still stands six years after he left office to ensure full execution of government projects.
Throughout his political life he built up a reputation of looking after the interest of his constituency. In 2002 he presented a powerful position paper on the development of the Urhobo nation. While in government he promoted the Urhobo cause whenever the need arises. He played a major role in the constituency delineation and census of 2006 to ensure that the outcome of the exercise was beneficial to the Urhobo nation. He ensured adequate and strategic representation of the Urhobo nation on the Board and Management of the Delta State Oil Producing Development Commission (DESOPADEC) and other vital parastatals.
In recognition of his selfless service to humanity in general and the Urhobo nation in general, Omo-Agege was conferred with numerous traditional titles including the Ugo of Mosogar, Obarisi of Ughelli, Obarisi of Orogun, among others.
Ovie Omo-Agege is happily married with children
