Urhobo Historical Society

 

THE MIRACLE OF
AN ORIGINAL THOUGHT

Being the Origins of Urhobo College

 

By

CHIEF T. E. A. SALUBI, M. H. A.

 

President-General
Urhobo Progress 
Union

 



Originally printed as a book in 1965 at Unity Press & Stationery Stores Ltd; Box 210, Warri, Nigeria


Dedication


It is with the deepest respect and honour that I dedicate this little book to Joseph Akpolo Ikutegbe Esq., J. P., the great thinker, philosopher and philanthropist.


Preliminary Note

For various reasons, the publication of this work has been delayed for nearly a year even though I referred to it in my Presidential Address for 1964. I hope that now that it has at last been published, it will meet with a popular welcome.


T. E. A. SALUBI
President-General, Urhobo Progress Union
114, Lawani Street,
New Benin , Benin City
28th August, 1965


 Preface


As could be seen from the heading of Part I, the substance of this paper was contained in a speech that I delivered on
the 1st August, 1964, on the occasion of the second Speech-Day of Urhobo College.


Because there has, so far, been no written account of the why and wherefore and the early history of the College, I thought it would be a good thing to expand the text of the speech embodying more facts and details to make up this little publication.


There are three definite periods covered in the book.  The first is from 1935 to 1942, that is to say, from the time when Mr. Joseph Akpolo Ikutegbe first conceived the idea of scholarships for Secondary Education of deserving Urhobo youths up to the time that the Urhobo Progress Union in Council decided to found a
National College.  The second is from 1943 to 1946 the period in which Overseas scholarships were awarded to two Urhobo young men for professional studies with the sole purpose of returning to man the proposed College, and the acquisition of the Collegiate School of Commerce.  The third is from 1947-1949 culminating in the founding of the Urhobo College.


I have deliberately packed the book full with details, facts and also quoted in extenso.  My aim is to make the book a preserve of details and facts which may probably not be available to many students in the years to come.  I therefore offer no apology for what may, perhaps, be regarded as unnecessary clusters of details and boring quotations.


The terms “Home Union”, “Mother Union” and “Headquarters” have been freely used.  In every case, they are synonymous with and refer to Warri branch up to July, 1945, when the quarterly Executive Council now, Central Executive Committee, was inaugurated.

 It was at the end of 1949 that the Urhobo Progress Union ceased to have direct management and control of the College.  Let the writing of the history of the College from the years subsequent to 1949 be a challenge to some one else.  My humble efforts here end in the laying of a foundation for whoever will take up that challenge.


Most of the facts and information in this book were taken from the archives of the
Lagos branch.  To this branch must go the credit of being the best keeper of records.  Their files and minutes books are intact.  It is hoped that the branch will continue to be a good keeper of records and also that other branches will emulate this good example.

 

T. E. A. SALUBI
President-General, Urhobo Progress
OVU INLAND 
Western Urhobo                                                                        
20th October, 1964

*  *  *

 

Introduction:

A speech delivered by Chief T. E. A. Salubi, President-General, Urhobo Progress Union, on the occasion of the second “Speech Day” of Urhobo College, Effurun, held on Saturday, 1st August, 1964, at 3. 30 p.m.

 

The Principal, the Staff
And the Students of
Urhobo College,
Members of the Board of Governors,
Ladies & Gentlemen

 

As the President-General of the Urhobo Progress Union, the Proprietors of this College, it is with pleasure that I rise to welcome you all, especially the invitees, to this occasion, the occasion of the second Speech-Day of the College.  As some of you may remember, the first “Speech Day” was held on the 9th of November last year.  As I have already observed in my Presidential Address to the Annual General Council of the Urhobo Progress Union held in December last, the Speech-Day was a very successful event.  The College was congratulated for it.


I am glad to see that that the Principal acted on the suggestions I made in the Presidential Address that, in future, sufficient notice of the holding of the “Speech-Day” should be sent to our prominent men and women, and indeed, to select members of the public so that they might, by their attendance, grace the occasion, and also that appeal be made to them and others who might be interested to donate prizes.


The
Urhobo College is our College.  We are very proud of it.  As you may have seen, it is growing at its own pace to become a fully developed secondary grammar school that will be second to none in the whole Federation.  Like many Voluntary Agency institutions of its kind, the Urhobo College has its own humble beginnings, it is an organic growth which germinated from a deep-rooted idea of self-help for progress.


If you permit me, I should like in this speech to take you back to the earliest possible period of the events which led to the founding of the College.  When I shall have finished taking you along with me through the long and tortuous journey of how the College came to be, you will, I am sure, agree with me that the institution you see here today is, indeed, a wonderful achievement arising from an original thought, from a people’s faith, self-help and steadfastness.  This is why I have styled this speech “The Miracles of An Original Thought”.


Now I proceed with the story.


Origins of the Proposed Scholarships for
Secondary Education for Urhobo Children.


Viewed from many angles, the emergence of Lagos as a branch[1] of the Urhobo Progress Union can not but be regarded as a great event in the annals of our great Union. 
Lagos branch it was that carried the Union, by broadening the basis of its constitution, from the narrow tract of a mere brotherly society to the wide fertile region of a sturdy, progressive organization which it is today.  No sconer after inauguration than Lagos began to breathe new ideas into the life of the Union.  It gave the Union a new name, introduced the holding of annual General Council into the affairs and activities of the Union and formulated various policies for the consideration of branches attending the annual General council.  The branches of the Union were then nine only.[2]


But what is perhaps
Lagos branch’s greatest contribution of all times to the work of the Urhobo Progress Union, especially in the field of education, is the mooting of the question of endowment of Scholarships, originally for secondary education, for deserving Urhobo youths.  The hour was 7.25 pm., the date Saturday, 6th July, 1935, and the place No. 9, Thomas Street, Lagos, when and where at a Committee meeting[3] convened specially at his request, Mr. Joseph Akpolo Ikutegbe[4] unfolded his mind on two important subjects fundamental to Urhobo progress.  Here we are concerned with one and the first of the two subjects, namely, the endowment of Scholarships for Secondary Education for Urhobo children under the auspices of the Urhobo Progress (then Progressive) Union.
 

Those who know Mr. Ikutegbe intimately well in the Lagos fold of the Union will readily admit that he is a great thinker, a dreamer, a lover of education, a man imbued with high ideals, and a man whose mind is fashioned after great things for the development and progress of Urhobo people.  As I write, I still remember vividly one significant statement made by Mr. Ikutegbe when introducing his subject at the Committee meeting.  He said he did not believe in being a member of a Union merely attending meetings regularly without doing anything more from the period of one meeting to another.  That it was his own idea that, in an organization such as ours, one must work and live for something.  Then the Lagos branch was barely eight months old.

Looking at the record today, the research student or any one for that matter, may well ask:  why scholarship for as low a standard as secondary education?  But such an enquirer must need be told that we were then in the days when it was difficult, if not altogether impossible, to produce Urhobo youths with education higher than the proverbial standard six.  That was incredibly so.  Owing to the dreadful scarcity of secondary school leavers, the idea was to regard that class of scholars as a recruiting ground for higher scholarships.[5]

 
Mr. Ikutegbe’s suggestion was unanimously accepted in principle in Lagos and the details of the scheme had to be worked out quickly for the Headquarters to study against the first Annual General Council of the Union that was to sit on the 17th and 18th November, 1935.  Mr. Ikutegbe’s suggestion was unanimously accepted in principle in Lagos and the details of the scheme had to be worked out quickly for the Headquarters to study against the first Annual General Council of the Union that was to sit on the 17th and 18th November, 1935.  When laid at the General Council, there was, due no doubt to lack of sufficient knowledge on the part of some delegates, some confusion as to the real purpose of the scheme.  But after elucidation by Chief O. Arebe Uyo, a
Lagos delegate, the scheme was warmly applauded and the Council therefore decided to begin to raise subscriptions to fund it as from June 1936.

On the face of it, this long story appears to be irrelevant to the occasion that has brought us here today.  And yet this was the beginning of the very long journey that landed us in the two-pronged, and clearly, a bigger, educational programme whereby the
Union eventually decided to award Overseas University Scholarships to two Urhobo young men, and to found the Urhobo College.  Following the decision of the 1935 Annual General Council, some funds were raised in the ensuing years.

First Indications of Departure from the Original Idea

<>
As early as December, 1937, I, as a representative of Lagos branch attending that year’s Council, moved that “an attempt be made next year” (1938) to award one scholarship to a boy “to the King’s College so that all subscribers to the Scheme might have knowledge of how the money was being spent.[6][7]
The Council discussed the matter and concluded “that the money in hand was yet too small to make a start”.  In any case, the Council observed that the aim of providing education for deserving Urhobo youths should not be limited to training at King’s College, Lagos only, and that when funds were sufficiently available, deserving youths could also be sent to England for professional studies.  This was the first departure from the original idea. <>

In 1938, a further departure from the original principles of the Scholarship Scheme occurred.  This time it was to the effect that whatever money that was spent on the scholar for his training must be refunded on completion of his professional studies.  This was carried.  Here again, the words “professional education” came prominently into play![8]
Besides the above, there was a rumour also that, contrary to the original intention, girls would not be permitted to benefit from the Scholarship Scheme.  Lagos branch therefore gave a most careful consideration to these fundamental matters of departure from the original principles and policy, namely, award of scholarships for professional education, repayment of the scholarship cost and exclusion of girls from the Scheme. <>

In June, 1939, Lagos forwarded a 5-page letter to the Headquarters protesting vehemently against the fundamental departure from the original policies of the Scheme.  It is regretted that, owing to its length, it is not possible to reproduce here the text of this all-important letter.[9]Copies of the letter were forwarded to various branches of the Union of which Koko was one.  In July, Mr. (now Chief) J. C. Avbenake, then Honorary Secretary, Koko branch, commented on the letter.  It was the view of his branch that, while they were in sympathy with Lagos branch, they were convinced that the fund, as it then stood, was inadequate to embark to any realizable advantage on secondary education scholarships.  They added that the force of expressed sentiment by Lagos impelled them to say that the only suitable remedy was to invite the Church Missionary Society in Warri to establish a secondary school in the very heart of Urhobo Division.

Here again space does not permit reproduction of Chief Avbenake’s important letter.[10]

Another deviation from the original policies occurred at the Annual General Council of 1939 when the title of the Scheme was changed from Urhobo Scholarship Scheme Fund to Urhobo Educational Scheme Fund.  No details as to the implications of the change were given and one was therefore left in the dark to guess as to what it was all about.[11]  What we in Lagos regarded as a momentous decision was however taken at that Council meeting.  It was to the effect that a commencement of the Scheme be made in 1940 with two boys.  Lagos branch was to draw up details of the Scheme or conditions governing the award.[12]

Asked whether if (iv) was adopted it would not be very vigorously criticised by the public, the Professor stated that it was bound to be since it was unique.  He admitted that not much was wrong with it, but concluded that since it was a new idea, the force of public opinion would be much against it.  After admiring and encouraging our (the whole U. P. U. ‘s) efforts, he advised us to try and persuade the remaining branches, which were in favour of refunding the money, to agree with us and to start the scheme on a free basis  for the next 5 years.  He promised that during that period, he would try his best through the press to educate public opinion that not all scholarships, as many people thought were free.  That after the public should have been sufficiently well educated on the point, there would be no fear of criticism if any one started a scheme on such basis.  He advised us strongly to try and co-operate with the Headquarters to avoid separation as such would be detrimental to the scheme and the Union itself.

It was a most helpful interview the conclusions of which were communicated to the Headquarters.  The communication to the Headquarters at that time was a fruitless exercise.  They could not take any decision outside the Annual General Council and everything about the Scheme had to stalemate especially as no Annual General Council was held in 1940.

Primary School Versus National College

But a most dramatic change of policy in the Scheme was yet to come.  It took place at the Annual General Council in December, 1941, when the Council, to Lagos branch’s utter surprise and dismay, decided to establish a primary school, to be gradually developed to a secondary grammar school, with the existing funds of the Scheme.  This decision was the last straw that broke the carmel’s back.  It raised a great deal of hue and cry from the more progressive and intelligent branches of the UnionLagos branch’s immediate reaction was a quick decision raising the strongest possible objection and deciding not to subscribe anything more than the minimum of 2/- per member per annum until the awful Council decision was rescinded.

The second branch to kick violently against the Council’s unprogressive decision was Port Harcourt.  In the words of Mr. T. M. Uwamu, the Honorary Secretary, the reading of this decision in the minutes of the Council at their General Meeting of 30th August, 1942, “abruptly became sapless and rancid in character.”  It would be “an ignomy to the Urhobo nation to adumbrate-imagine aiming at building a mere school” of this type in a “far advanced country” like ours “instead of a College”, he cried.  Accordingly, Port Harcourt branch proposed redoubling of efforts to raise funds for the founding of a College.

This letter was circulated widely, and consequently, the Headquarters invited comments upon it from various branches.

As evidenced by available record, it was only Ibadan branch that supported in their comments the Council’s obnoxious decision.  It was in this connection that Chief Mariere wrote his letter referred to in footnote 5 at page 8 above.  Chief Mariere and I picked up the cudgel from where Port Harcourt left off, and it is my humble opinion, that it was my letter, followed by the Chief’s about a month later, that drove the last nail into the coffin of the proposed primary school project.

Elsewhere in his letter already quoted, Chief Mariere argued brilliantly thus:

 “That the six years effort of the Urhobo Progress Union with that of other persons outside the Union, in subscribing money towards the Scholarship Fund boils down ultimately to the establishment of an elementary school.  Some of our Urhobo young men have established elementary  schools in several places.  If the united forces of the Urhobo Progress Union should embark upon a jiffy, what respect do we command in the eyes of other progressive tribes who think of Building Colleges and of sending their young men to Europe and scheme in Nigeria?  We find that we could not suppress our feelings, we arranged a deputation composed of Messsrs S. J. Mariere, Jackson Igben and his visits to Agbor.  We expressed our disagreement with, and disappointment at the decision to establish an elementary school instead of a College.  We concluded that we could move an amendment of that decision when the next Council sits.  In connection with the same matter Mr. Mariere received a private letter from Mr. T. E. A. Salubi in favor of founding a College and NOT an elementary school.  Further discussions were had with the President-General at Agbor when Mr. Salubi who was then on leave visited here.  Thus it will be seen that when Port Harcourt’s letter was received we find that we were not alone in our stand.”

 In repose to the Headquarter’s invitation for Lagos branch’s views, I wrote again another 5-page letter a paragraph of which reads as follows:

“3. As you know too well, the idea of subscribing money to found scholarships for Urhobo youths originated from our branch (Lagos).  God knows how much we have done to give effect to the scheme since its inception in 1936.  We have been strong adherents of, and believers in, the Scheme.  We advocated for its practicalistion both within and without the four walls of the Union.  We have always thought that nothing could sway us from following up the scheme to realization soon or late; but since the idea of founding A College as against the proposed scholarships has cropped up, we have given the two propositions a most careful study with a broad and unbiased outlook.  We weighed the “cons” and the “pros” of both proposals and found that, notwithstanding or strong faith in the scholarships proposal, the founding of a College will be far more beneficial to the Urhobo tribe than scholarships.  This is our honest and sincere conclusion.  Having been thus convinced, we are not ashamed to make known our change of policy, because we have been known to be staunch adherents of the latter.  We hold that in matters of this kind, individual branch’s feelings or idiosyncrasies should not be allowed to supersede national ones as the greater contains the less.”


In the same letter, Lagos branch suggested “That owing to” the Union’s inability, for obvious reasons, to run the College “on its own, missionary authorities (preferably C. M. S.) in
Warri[13] Province be approached with the proposal and requested to kindly consider the possibility of” running “the College under their aegis”

Further, in my annual report to the Annual General Council holden in December, 1942, I also wrote the following in connection with the Urhobo National Education Scheme:

“For the first time in our history, we failed to do anything worthwhile in the prosecution of this scheme this year.  Very lately in the year, we decided on a nominal subscription of 2/- per member.  The subscription is not yet ready for sending to the Headquarters as usual.  Our failure was due to the attitude of the executives of the Headquarters to the Scheme and to the most backward decision had at the last General Council of the Union whereby it was agreed that funds available under the scheme be utilized to establish an elementary school.  While we do not desire to write at length here about this poorest of decisions yet it is sufficient to say that those who brought it about had “killed” our enthusiasm and interest with it.  However, we are pleased to observe that the more intelligent and enlightened Urhobo youths have since come to our rescue with the result that a better alternative proposal, which, if effected, guarantees far-reaching advantages and benefits to the Urhobo youth, is afoot.”

Agreement on National College and Subsequent Developments.

Arising from this considerable pressure and stiff opposition, the Annual General Council of December, 1942, had no alternative but to rescind its previous decision and to record a fresh and healthier one, namely, that an Urhobo National College be founded.

One significant event at that Council after agreement had been reached on founding the National College was the spontaneous voting of various sums of money by delegates to the Scheme.  37 delegates voted on the spot an aggregate sum of £311  : 15s : 0d. The decision for every delegate to pay up from January to 15th December, 1943, showed that not all paid the various sums voted in full or even in part.

Another important decision taken by the Council was the siting of the proposed college “opposite the N.A. Oil Palm Nursery near Effurun Town” – i.e., the present site.

By that time, the President-General’s first 5 years term of office had expired “and being satisfied with his five years peaceful services,” the Council re-elected Chief Mowoe as President-General for a second tenure.  The Council requested the President-General who was to be accompanied by the General Secretary and the General Financial Secretary, to commence touring to all branches in April, 1943, with the primary object of facilitating collection of funds for the Scheme.

In winding up the debate, the President-General rationalized in order to save the face of those who took the 1941 decision.  He said the Council should thank “those who proposed the establishment of an Elementary School during the last Council.  That had enabled Port-Harcourt to make the more refined plan” –suggestion to build a national College.

The Council however rejected Lagos branch’s suggestion to invite a Missionary body for the running and management of the College.

In his letter dated the 15th January, 1943, conveying the Council’s decision to Lagos branch, the General Secretary of the Union, acting under direction, requested the branch to approach again Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe for necessary advice regarding, as he put it, “the fundamentality and maintenance” of the College.

With the 1942 Annual General Council decision one would have thought that all troubles and disagreements about the Scheme were over.  But the contrary was the case.  The next two years, as would be seen presently, were years of bitter disagreement especially between the Home Union and Lagos branch ably supported by Northern Nigeria branches.  At the fifth session of their Conference held at Kano on the 9th and 10th October, 1943, the North had the following to say with regard to the Urhobo Eduction Scheme:

“Desirability of sending two men on Scholarship
to Europe next year by the Union.”
 

“As soon as this matter was tabled for discussion Mr. I. Okandeji[14] in a lengthy speech pointed out how real national progress depended upon ability of the nation to send deserving sons for Overseas education.  In the Nigeria of tomorrow there would be no room for the tribe that would look upon matriculants as constituting the top intelligentsia.  He referred to the example set by the Ibibio Union.  The Ibibio tribe was at one time unheard of and primitive and looked down upon, but now that tribe has jumped into the foreground of progressive tribes and become a factor to be reckoned with in Nigeria.  Discussing the contribution of a national progress he stated such a college could only add to the number of our clerks, but a progressive nation needed professionals.  Concluding, he submitted that sending two men to Europe was overdue and should be undertaken immediately.  Messrs. J. J. Oduko, G. A. Inoaghan, Edwin Ogun, J. D. Oketugba, E. N. Igho spoke in support stressing that while the prospective students are studying in Europe the Urhobo National College Scheme could still be pursued.

"Mr. D. A. Green-Okoro in disagreement dwelt upon the great advantages of a National College; the number of our youth to receive secondary Education would increase as it was much easy to educate a boy at a home college than abroad.  He contended that a National College would further enable our sons to qualify for Government Scholarship.  He therefore urged the Conference to accept the decision of the last General Council on this matter.

"Mr. I. Okandeji speaking once more in support of scholarship told the Conference that it was a National duty to seek the rise of our nation.  The general minimum standard of obtaining a Government Scholarship was an Intermediate Degree.  With the greatest possible expedition the proposed National College might produce its first matriculants in 1951 when perhaps Government Scholarships might have been discontinued or standard of obtaining them raised.  We should fail in our duty and show lack of patriotism if we counted upon the generosity of the Government to provide our necessities.

"The Clerk of the Conference pointed out that a national college even called for studies abroad as we must produce worthy Urhobo men fit for Principalship and mastership at the College or otherwise we would have to count upon the help of foreign-hands.

"After further discussion on this matter, Mr. I. Okandeji moved that the time was overdue to send two deserving Urhobo men to Europe on scholarship.  This motion was seconded by Mr. Ogun and unanimously carried.  Mr. Green-Okoro lost his counter motion as he had no seconder.

"Taking decision the Conference felt that scholarship was an immediate need by the nation and should be given priority over National College which should still remain as a National aim but given less impetus.  The Conference then resolved – that it was a national duty to send deserving young men Overseas on scholarship and that should this decision be turned down at the General Council the Northern Branches would inaugurate a Scholarship Scheme of their own to see that this national need became a reality.”

The Conference therefore passed this resolution:

"That the sending of two deserving Urhobo youths on Scholarship to Europe next year was a national duty.  That the General Council should consider this desideratum forthwith and that the Northern Branches strongly feel that, in consequence, the decision reached at the last General Council be reconsidered and revoked at the next session of the General Council; that the Northern Branches while still strongly associating themselves with the scheme for a National College, urged upon the Home Union to give the Scholarship Scheme greater priority and acceleration; that towards the fulfillment of this National duty the Northern Branches would be compelled to run a Scholarship Fund on their own if reasonable consideration is not given at Headquarters.”

As that Conference was being held, I [i.e., Adogbeji Salubi] was already on the high seas proceeding to England on Government Scholarship.  I did not, therefore, know what was then happening.  But just exactly one month after that Conference, I wrote a letter from England to the Lagos branch reporting the disgraceful condition in which I found Mr. Borke, the lone Urhobo star (or as Mr. Ben Davies, the Honarary Secretary, Logos branch, termed him “the pillar of our hope”) in the field of professional studies in England.  As I said earlier on, Mr. Borke was the first Urhobo ever sent abroad for a professional study.  He was sponsored by Mr. Joseph Akpolo Ikutegbe and was to study law.

After reporting in full the sad circumstances and misfortunes which befell Mr. Borke, I added:

“This, so far, is the stage to which Mr. Borke’s six and a half years stay and study in England and Mr. Ikutegbe’s bold philanthropy landed him.  A fortune lost to find sorrow, disappointment and misery.  It is a pity; this is Mr. Borke, the hero of my boyhood!  This is Mr. Ikutegbe, the noble-minded whom I learnt to respect so much for his venture about Mr. Borke.  Above all, is Urhobo the tribe to which I belong.”

“Whither are we heading?
“When will our day dawn?
“When will our sun rise?
“When will our moon bloom?”

“Let us admit that for the moment our ship has shattered and we have to retrace our steps.  We have to begin again.  But can we find another Ikutebge? Can we find another broadminded person among the lot?  What a discouragement, what a national shame—for a first attempt to be so ended!” attempt to be so ended!

This letter added fuel to the fire already lit by the North.  On its receipt, Lagos issued an appeal to the Home Union and other branches attaching a copy of the letter.

In the appeal, dated the 9th January, 1944, Lagos branch proposed that, in order to meet the challenge to the Urhobo nation, brought about by Mr. Borke’s ignominous failure, the Urhobo Progress Union should use the funds of the Educational Scheme, the National Fund and other moneys readily available to send two scholars to the United Kingdom to study law.  The award was to be “Scholarship in perpetuity” and the students to be sent off not later than June, 1944.  Many branches supported Lagos but the Home Union adopted what was probably a right, but dilatory, attitude by seeking the views of the branches.

Out of sheer disgust occasioned by the Home Union’s attitude, the Northern branches in February, 1944, appealed to Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe to speak to our leaders at the Headquarters and to our people at Sapele in order to rouse them to immediate action.  Zik was then contemplating a visit to the area.  Like the Nothern branches, Lagos with its supporters in the South were firmly determined to ensure that Mr. Borke’s disgraceful failure was avenged at all costs.

It now seemed as if there was a battle between the “progressives” and the ‘reactionaries.’ Lagos called for inauguration of Conference of the branches of the Union in Southern Nigeria with the object of:

“(a)  promoting common understanding among the members of the individual branches.
(b)        
strengthening the fold and thereby enabling us to present a formidable front in allmatters affecting our destiny.
(c)       
Its inauguration would help broaden our general outlook and quicken the materialization of our dreams and schemes, such as the Scholarship and other menacing problems.”

In the circular, Mr. Ben Davis said:

“The advantages of a conference such as it is now being proposed cannot be overemphasised. The enviable strides of the North, largely due to their intermittent conferences are achievements quite unexpected.  Please be referred to their Circular re the recent resolutions on Scholarship and other matters of grave importance confronting the Urhobo race.  Why not we?  Once up and doing with such tow conferences in the North and South, there is no doubt that other branches in the East and West would automatically wake up and live to immeasurable advantages.  The Mother Union is asleep, should we too?”

Very much unlike Lagos, there is no further record in file about this proposed conference.  It is not certain therefore whether the conference was in fact held; nor is there anything about its proceedings if ever it was held.  But it would appear from correspondence from other branches, in reply to a Lagos letter N. CB/UPU/Vol. 7 o 18:2:44 (copy not in file), that a decision was taken at that conference, or somewhere else, to set up a Commission of Inquiry to inquire into the causes of the weakness of the Home Union.  According to Mr. Ikutegbe’s letter of 3:4:44, expressing inability to serve on the Commission, the idea to set up the Commission emanated from him.  Again another original thought and idea from Mr. Ikutegbe.  The branches’ replies evidenced quite clearly that they welcomed the setting up of the Commission of Inquiry.

By April, 1944, the Home Union reported the conclusion of its enquiries from branches as to whether priority should be given to founding a college or overseas scholarships for law.  Of the 33 branches consulted, only 20 replied.  Twelve of the twenty favoured proceeding immediately with the National College, seven were against and one offered no opinion.  The Headquarters therefore decided that priority be given to the founding of the College.  Accordingly, an Education Committee, consisting of the members of the Executive Committee of the Headquarters, together with a number of certain other members who were co-opted, was set up.  The Committee, charged with the responsibility of establishing and organising the College, with Mr. S. A. Uriafe, as the first secretary, soon met and took the following decisions:

"(I)  That the Secondary School should open in 1945 January.

(II) That owing to difficulties in obtaining qualified staff as well as to those of getting Government’s approval to open at one stroke a full-fledged Secondary School, it is decided to start from very humble beginnings—viz: from infants to Std. VI, and one Secondary Class, other classes being added gradually as more qualified staff become available.

(III) That Scholarships be offered to at least two Urhobo young men one to

Study Science in Yaba Higher College, specialising in Chemistry and Biology and the other to study for the B.A. Degree and the Diploma in Theory and Practice of Teaching in Fourah Bay or in Achimota.  These two men will be the Principal and the Science Master respectively in the Secondary School, after completing their course (training) Correspondence has already been opened with each of these colleges.

(IV) That an appeal, a copy of which is attached marked “Strictly confidential”, be issued to all Urhobo youths throughout the country for two objects, --viz:-

(a) To secure from amongst them if possible a staff with which to open the school next year.

(b)  To get the necessary candidates from amongst whom selections will be made against the two scholarships to be offered for the present.”

The question of selection of candidates for the scholarships was to come up in due course.

A few weeks later, Mr. (now Chief G. Ohwotemu Oweh, then a Co-operative Inspector at Ibadan, who did not appear to agree with certain aspects of the Education Committee’s proposal, wrote a well considered letter to advise and appease Lagos in order that they might bow to the wishes of the Home Union.  In the concluding part of his letter, Chief Oweh said, “If you are convinced with what I have written, I am advising you to write canceling our invitation circular for United Kingdom Scholarship.  It is no disgrace to do so, but a vindication of our goodwill to avoid quarrels in the ranks of  the
Union.  In God’s good time” Chief Oweh reasoned “an Urhobo man will certainly wear the Lawyers’s wig to the glory of our Fatherland.  So be it, Lord” Lagos acceded to the Chief’s advice.  In doing so, Mr. Ben Davies philosophised “we bow to the inevitable if it is the will of God, whichever plan” that was first taken” would be to the utmost good of our beloved land.”

But the month of May, 1944, was an uneasy month for the Home Union.  While this harangue between the North and Lagos on the one hand, and the Home Union on the other, was about dying down, the Commission of Inquiry, of which Mr. J. D. Oketugba was the chairman and Mr. J. C. Avbenake the Secretary, was going on in full swing at Warri.  It was said to be a very critical enquiry. In Mr. Avbenake’s own words, “the Commission of Inquiry………….has come to save the
Union from continued decay………. There were indeed revelations”.  Curiously enough, the report of the inquiry never saw the light of day.  It was never published and no copy could be found in any file!  I will make no comments.

The Home Union now realised that the game was up and that they had to face the practical realities of the situation – to start the educational scheme at once or to further advance dilatory tactics as it had done over the past years.

AWARD OF TWO OVERSEAS SCHOLARSHIPS
FOR PROFESSIONAL STUDIES IN EDUCATION

On the 8th August, 1944, the Education Committee informed Lagos that in connection with the proposed Urhobo College, Mr. M. G. Ejaife had been awarded a scholarship to study at the Fourah Bay College for three years followed by a year in the United Kingdom in order to qualify for the Principalship of the College.  That Mr. Ezekiel Igho was another scholar to follow later.  Mr. Ejaife was due to be in Lagos about the 24th August and Lagos branch was to accommodate him for his brief stay and also to book his passage to Fourah BayLagos quibbled as to how Mr. Ejaife came to be selected and so on.  But the main thing was that Mr. Ejaife entered Fourah Bay when the academic year 1944-1945 began.

That was how the Urhobo Progress Union groped for eight long years in its dreams to found a suitable scheme of its own for the educational advancement of Urhobo youths.  But that was not, by any means, the end of the struggle.  The story continues..

As one who was for away from home (for I was already in England), I did not know in time all the developments that had taken Place at home in the fold of the Union.  I was aware of the Commission of Inquiry but did not know in time that Mr. Ejaife had been awarded a scholarship.

In the midst of my studies however, the deteriorating state of affaits of the
Union at home was uppermost in my mind.  Long before I sailed abroad, I was in fact never happy with the position of the Union, especially the Home Union.  It was always a matter of great concern to me.

In this connection, I will respectfully seek indulgence to quote what I wrote at Liverpool in the fall of 1944 in regard to the attitude of the Home Union towards the scholarship or educational scheme.  The extract is a part of a long article written when I was ruminating seriously over the general affairs of the Urhobo Progress Union as I saw them then.  In the article, which was published serially in Southern Nigeria Defender[15] from 1st November, 1944, I surveyed the whole field of the Union’s activities, cirticising and praising, where necessary, certain of the activities of certain of the then leaders of the Union.

And I wrote as follows:

“I do not propose to discuss here subscriptions to this fund, as this might be said to be encouraging.

“The members subscribed far more than the minimum of two shillings, per head pr annum,some even subscribed up to about £5 or more, all depending on will and financial ability.

In a place like Lagos, it was a matter of wide interest, many non-members subscribing thereto.

The clan unions which were firmly organised made it a point to subscribe something each year

And so they did until very recently.

This branch, besides other activities, organised a very successful cinema show the proceeds of which benefited the fund and the Nigerian Troops Comforts Fund.

Between 1936 and 1942, this fund rose to a few hundred pounds, now idle in the coffers of the local bank.

Here again we had and still have enormous resources to explore for the benefit of this fund.

All we wanted was a little more effort and psychology—to start the project with one or two of the most deserving youths in a local secondary education institution (King’s College, Lagos, preferably), for  that was the original idea, and hold that up to stimulate the people.

Meanwhile collection of more money would be going on.

But instead, what did we see?

The subscription which was encouraging from the beginning began to drop, not because subscribers were tired but because the General Council was incapable of taking decisive action as to what to do with what had already been collected.

The original aim was altered to creating Overseas scholarships for professional education in Europe or in America.  Then the question as to the terms of the grant arose—should award be granted entirely free, or should part or the whole of the expenditure involved be refunded by scholars?

Views were sharply divergent, and, although we had the benefit of advice of well-informed and qualified men like Dr. I Ladipo Oluwole, Zik  and a few others, yet we were unable to come to a definite conclusion.

Later, it was suggested that instead, we should found a secondary school in Urhoboland.”

And so we kept on changing our minds each year without doing one out of all, until quite recently when some one with a brilliant brain came along with a very clear idea.  Not only did he suggest, but actually manoeuvred and got the 1942 Council to rescind the previous decision and to substitute therefore another, which was that the founding of an elementary school which would gradually develop into a secondary school was the best solution to our pressing educational needs!

Well, we are in a world in which each man is entitled to his opinion, and provided he knows how to get about his job, it is easy to carry the majority in a Council where most delegates, particularly those from Urhoboland, feel that the views sponsored by influential members of the headquarters are always right.

If ever the headquarters exhibited obvious inability in handling a given problem, it is how they fumbled, bungled and muddled over the scholarships scheme.

They had never once had a clear view of their own as to what to do, nor were they prepared to accept others’ views with any appreciable sincerity, with the result that they kept on tossing representatives of branches here and there at the annual council meetings.

Is there any wonder, therefore, that some members now begin to feel that the scheme is being deliberately frustrated by some people with private axes to grind? 

We won’t be surprised if the next move would be a decision to adopt the Forge three or five year plan for Standard II Mass Literacy!

Unfortunately or fortunately (which it is in this case we don’t really know), this officer who was alleged to be at the head of Education Department, Warri – a department which has for the past two decades consistently worked in a manner as tended to betray the cause and strifle almost to death the progress of education in that Province – has been transferred.

In the address presented by the Urhobo Progress Union to the new Governor on the occasion of his first official visit to Warri, it was observed among other requests that they needed three secondary schools in the Province, and what is more, they had made representations to this effect in the Elliot Commission!

From their last decision before I left Nigeria, one would have expected that, true to the belief and conviction which must have prompted that decision, they would have given priority to elementary schools!

Whatever may be their present views, we strongly feel that enough experiment has been tried on the Scholarships Scheme, and, therefore, it is high time something concrete is done.

We must remember that members of the general public subscribed to the Fund and for this, we owe them a responsibility and obligation.

Already, the Okpe Union, Lagos, one of the Urhobo Clans Unions which supported the scheme admirably, had quite rightly called the Lagos branch to question recently as to what happened to the Fund, since they had heard nothing about it." [16]

That is how we groped for eight long years altogether.  But my article worked, perhaps like magic.  The Commission of Inquiry together with this open press criticism ‘ferreted’ the Headquarters leaders out of their inexcusable state of inaction.

With all those events, the year 1944 must have been a most exciting and excruciating once in the annals of the Union.  After skipping the holding of Annual General Council for 1943, due as Mr. Avbenake put it, to the “Home Union delinquency”, a very busy and hectic Council was held in December, 1944.  It is believed that arising from the Commission of Inquiry far-reaching decision involving fundamental re-organisation and changes of procedure etc affecting the structure of the Union itself were taken at the Council.  Unfortunately, the minutes of the proceedings regarding that link of our long story  It was the last Council called by Chief Mowoe.  None other was held before his death in August, 1948.  The next Coucil was in May – June, 1950 – a lapse of some six years.  When called to question at the 1950 Council, Mr. (now Chief) J. J. Okene, the then Honorary General Secretary, gave vague and indefensible reasons as to why the minutes were not compiled and issued.  This earned him a severe censure from the Council.

On the 20th June, 1945, Lagos was requested to book the passage of Mr. Ezekiel N. Igho[17]  who was to proceed to Cambridge on the Union’s scholarship commencing from the 1945-1946 session.  Igho arrived in England in September 1945.

In 1935 Mr. Igho had entered Christ the King’s College, Onitsha, where he came first in the School Honours List in 1938.  He passed the Government Middle VI Examination and the Cambridge School Certificate Examination, Grade I Pass with Exemption from London Matriculation.  Ezekiel joined in 1939 the Marine Technical Institute, Apapa, later resigning to enter the Telegraph School, Post & Telegraphs Department, from where he qualified to become postal clerk and telegraphist.

Six years later, Ezekiel was awarded one of the two Overseas scholarships by the Urhobo Progress Union with the ultimate aim of qualifying for Science Mastership on the staff of the proposed Urhobo College.  In October, 1945, Ezekiel entered Downing College, Cambridge University, graduating Bachelor of Arts in Natural Sciences in June, 1948, and obtained his Diploman in Education from the Institute of Education, University of London in July, 1949.  Ezekiel returned from the United Kingdom in September, 1949, and joined the Staff of the College as the Vice-Principal.  He died at an early age at his home town, Ohwrode Udu Clan, on Saturday, 5th May, 1956.  A grievous loss to the Urhobo people.

Urhobo Educational Scheme's
Ten-Year Policy: Its Content and Obstacles

 All along, the Education Committee was hard at work producing by August, 1945, the following detailed ten-year educational programme:

URHOBO EDUCATION SCHEME

1

CHANGE OF TITLE:-         

This Scheme formerly known and circulated as the “Urhobo College Scheme” should now by known and called the “Urhobo Education Scheme”.

2  

EFFECT OF CHANGE:-                          

The Urhobo College Scheme was wholly based on the building, equipment, maintenance of, and the training of staffs for the “Urhobo National College”.  But by the adoption of the new title, the scheme has opened up opportunities of granting scholarships to Urhobo deserving Youths to study abroad for such professions or degrees as the General Council may approve.  This change of title has strongly affected the fund. The target of  £12,000 for ten years plan was increased to  £60,000 at the same period.

3

DEFINTION:-

This scheme may be clearly defined as the Urhobo Education Scheme planned under the auspices of the Urhobo Progress Unionfor a period of ten years whereby certain sums of are estimated to be raised from among the Urhobo people towards the establishment of a National College and granting of scholarships to deserving Urhobo Youths to study abroad for chosen professions or degrees.

4

OBJECTIVES:-

There are three objectives the scheme is out to achieve:

(I)                 Founding of Secondary School

(II)              Granting of Scholarships for Higher Education

(III)            Raising of Funds.

5

FOUNDING OF SECONDARY SCHOOL:-

 

(I)   Building of College:- 

(a)   Acquisition of land:  Lease or freehold Survey of the plot Plan of the building.

(b)   Building: U Shape Storey Building according to the plan prepared by the Education Committee and submitted to the Executive Council for approval.

(c)   Houses for the Principal and Vice-principal to be concrete modern buildings and so are the houses for other tutors. There shall be built houses for gardener and cook and       Other members of the College.

(d)   Commencement of Building: As soon as funds are available, i.e. after setting aside total expenditure for Messrs M. G. Ejaife and Igho for period covered by their training and transport fares back to Warri, the building will commence.

(e)     Purchases of materials – Cement, sand, gravels, planks washers and nails

(f)     Block moulding and assembling of same.

(g)    Employment of Watchman and appointment of Contractor.  Agreement

With the contractor drawn and signed.

(h)    The Education Committee supervises the building.

(I)     The period 1945 to 1946 December set aside to complete the

Building, if not earlier.

(II)  STAFFS:  Employment of Tutors and opening of the College.

(III) January 1947:-  (a) Four Masters to be employed – College opens

with 120 boys (girls may be admitted as day girls in classes one 1

(a)    (b)  & II (a) (b) 30 in each.

(b)     Laboratory Instruments and equipments to be provided.

1948:-           (a)   Employment of more Tutors and opening of class III probably (a & (b).

                    (b)   More equipments and laboratory instruments.

1949:-           (a)   Messrs. Ejaife and Igho return and assume duties.

                    (b)   Opening of Class (IV).

                    (c)   Equipments, and Instruments.

                    (d)    Two students sent abroad for Education.

1950:-           (a)        Opening of Class (V).

                    (b)         More equipments and laboratory instruments.

                    (c)         Employment of more staffs.

                    (d)         Two students abroad for Education.

1951:-           (a)        Opening of Class (VI).

                    (b)         More equipments and laboratory instruments.

(c)                       Employment of more staffs.

(d)                      Two students abroad for Agriculture to be Tutors.

1952:-           (a)        More openings considered – Technical School attached.

                                         (b)         Two students abroad for Commerce (to be Tutors).

                                         (c)         1949 Students arrive and assume duties.

1953:-          (a)         1950 Students arrive and assume duties.

                   (b)         Two Students abroad for Education to Specialise in Technology

                                                       ( option Tutors).

1954:-          (a)         1951 Students arrive to assume duties.

                   (b)          Equipments and Laboratory – General Improvements.

1955:-         (a)          Ten years plan end in May 31st.

                  (b)          1952 Students arrive and assume duties.

6

GRANTING SCHOLARSHIPS FOR PROFESSIONS:-

(1)       As soon as 1945 funds are available by May 31st 1946 arrangements for grants of scholarship for two students shall be  made for 1947.

(2)              
In 1948 Two more students: one for Medicine and the other for Law.

(3)              
In 1949 Two students one for Commerce and Banking, the Other for social science to be employed by Urhobo N. A. For Welfare Works

(4)              
In 1950 Two more Law Students.

(5)              
In 1951 Two students all medicine or one to specialize in  dentistry.


(6)              
In 1952 Two more students – one Medicine the other for Law.
(7)              
In 1953 Two more students – all Medicine.

(8)      In 1954 Two more students – Commerce and Industry.

(9)              
In 1955 Three Students for general Education.

7

RAISING OF FUNDS

(1)               June 1st 1945 Raising of Funds Commences.

(2)              
The Target is £6000 a year.

(3)              
The Target is divided up a follows: (Clans 29 in number) £2,000 a year. Urhobo abroad including Warri and Sapele  £4,000 a year.

(4)              
This amount be made available by 31st May of each year.

8

This move is a National Concern

(1) The Scheme is a project to serve the educational need of the people of Urhobo.  Apart from its immediate attainments i.e. establishment of a National College at Warri, granting of Scholarships to U.K. and U.S.A. and the realisation of the fund estimated, the Nation will greatly benefit by the spirit of co-operation and unity the method of collection will bring about during the ten years the scheme remains operative.

(2) It should be borne in mind that any clan or group of clans desiring to operate a scheme of the nature scheduled above with the mind of giving up the payments of its quotas towards the Urhobo Education Scheme has violated a National pledge and the failure to carry out the scheme will be attributed to such clan or group of clans and the Urhobo Progress Union has the right of brining up such clan or group of clans before the Urhobo Native Administration Authorities for censure and redress.

 (3)  It is wise to sound a note of warning here that the success of this scheme depends largely on principally just two things:  firstly the degree of efforts by, and general activities of, the members of the Urhobo Progress Union as a whole; secondly the co-operative efforts of the Urhobo public backed up by their willingness to pay up quotas.

 

9

                                              

It would not be too much for a clan or group of clans to raise funds of their own for the purposes of granting secondary Education Scholarship or University Education scholarship if the sponsors would make the people affected by their move to clearly understand that their scheme would not prejudice the Urhobo Education Scheme Fund, nor would it in any why serve as an excuse of paying less quotas. 

10

 

In any further awards of scholarship either under 4 (1) or 4 (2) above, due advertisements By publications, circulars, open discussions at Mass Meetings, will be made in inviting applications, supported by testimonials from Clan Heads, Executives of Clan Unions, of Urhobo Progress Union branches and Headquarters: and from the Executive Boards in Townships.  No application will be accepted in cases where condition stipulated above is not satisfied.

11

 

 Selections will be determined by the Educational attainment, Conduct and Health.  In some cases advices of the Education Authorities may be sought either by way of Tests