Pa (Engr.) EDWARD OGBEMUDIA OJOMO, MFR, was born on 6th April 1915 into the Royal House of Ezomo of Benin Kingdom. His late father was Ezomo Omoruyi who reigned from 1914-1960 at the time of Oba Eweka II and Oba Akenzua II. His mother was Oloi Aiyomosa Omoruyi Ezomo, nee Erhumwunsee.
EDUCATION
Pa Ojomo was educated at Government School, Benin city 192 to 1930.
For his secondary school education, he attended the prestigious Government College, Ibadan, from 1930 to 1935. His School number at Government College was 61.
Papa, in 1935, had the unique opportunity of being offered a job in government services as a clerk but he turned down the offer believing that he would gain scholarship to study Engineering course at higher level. His dream was actualised as he got the scholarship to pursue an Engineering course at Higher College Yaba from 1936 to 1939.
Papa excelled in all his academic pursuits. In 1930, he took and passed the Standard VI Certificate examination; in 1935, the Class VI certificate. At the end of his post secondary education (tertiary) at Higher College, Yaba, in 1939, he obtained a Higher College Diploma in civil Engineering. In 1942, he obtained the London Matriculation Certificate Division II and in 1950, the Certificate in Town Planning and Drainage Course.
EARLY/MARRIED LIFE
Pa Ojomo in 1933 was baptized by Bishop A.B. Akinyele and confirmed on 8th December 1935 by Bishop Melvin Jones (Both of the Anglican faith). He joined the Methodist Church Nigeria. Yaba, in 1941 and remained a Methodist until death.
On 5th July 1941, he got married to late Mrs. Mabel Modupe Ojomo (Nee Akpata), a faithful, hard-working, God-fearing, and loving wife, who was the main driving force behind the successes recorded in their marriage. She was a pillar of strength to him both at home and in the church until she passed on to greater glory on 26th March 1999. It is little wonder that Papa lost the zeal to live after her departure. Their marriage of fifty-eight years was blessed with seven children: four males and three females.
CIVIL SERVICE CEREER
Pa Ojomo joinrd the then P.W.D. now the Ministry of Work in 1940 and served in Lagos, Ilaro (Ogun State), Ikom (Cross River State), Oshogbo (Osun State), Port Harcourt, and virtually the entire Eastern State of Nigeria for two decades.
As a public servant, Pa Ojomo had the unique honour of being the first engineer to successfully carry out the reconnaissance survey of the then proposed Lagos-Ikorodu Road in 1942. The job was so satisfactorily done that he became fondly referred to as “The Pioneer of Ikorodu Road,” He also constructed the first overhead bridge at Port Harcourt between 1947 and 1950 as well as the Edo Market, now New Benin Market, in 1967. His civil service career spanned a period of thirty-seven fruitful years i.e. January 15th, 1940 to April 6th, 1977. He was then appointed Engineer Grade IV in the Public Works Department (now Ministry of Works) on January 15th, 1940; promoted Engineer Grade III on January 15th, 1946 and Engineer Grade II in April 1949. In April 1955, Papa was again promoted Inspector of Work, a senior staff position and he was later converted to the post of Engineer Grade I. Because of hid dedication to duty and honesty, among other sterling qualities found in him, papa earned other promotions as follows: Higher Technical Officer in August 1960 and Senior Technical Officer in January 1962.
As a result of the Nigeria Civil War, Papa got absorbed into the then Midwest State Government in April 1967 and was posted to the then Benin City/Benin Division Councils as City Engineer. On April 6th, 1970, he retired voluntarily from the Civil Services. He was however re-engaging on contract on April 7th, 1970. In June 1971, the then Midwestern State Government established a vocational training school named the Building and Engineering Construction Training School in Benin City.
CULLED FROM VANGUARDNGR.COM
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