Here was a Michael, when comes another

Indeed, it is with a heavy heart that the Ibru family, friends and well-wishers will gather at Agbarha-Otor community on December 14, 2016 to bid bye to a man of substance: OLOROGUN DR. MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER ONAJIREVBE IBRU, OFR. His body will be committed to the mother earth shortly after a funeral service that will be held at All Saints Cathedral Church, Ughelli in Ughelli North L.G.A. of Delta State. Expectedly, the Primate of All Nigeria, Most Rev. Nicholas D. Okoh, the Bishop of Ughelli Diocese, Rt. Rev Cyril Odutemu, Ph.D and other brother Bishops will be in attendance as a mark of honour to the departed.

Olorogun Michael’s passing unto glory is a monumental loss both to his family, native community Agbarha-Otor and humanity at large. To this head boy of Igbobi College, Lagos through the grace of God and share hardwork rose to prominence in business world. To the glory of God, he became chairman of so many boards in his conglomerate business.

Notice, from the home front, his siblings benefitted immensely. He guided them so well that all became successful in life. Michael Ibru helped his brothers with their education, gave them stakes in the Ibru organisation and helped them to establish on their own. I am sure, it is in recognition and appreciation of this doyen of faith, giant of human kindness and a worthy philanthropist that one of his siblings, Dr. Alex Uruemu Ibru, the donor and founder of the Ibru Centre, built and named a whole building in his name at the Centre, the building is known as: SAINT MICHAEL. Such was to serve later as a testament of the role he played in his life and the Ibru dynasty as a whole. Yes, that building will help to immortalise Michael as long as the Centre endures.

To his native community Agbarha-Otor, which he loved dearly and unselfishly, he made sure in his businesses, sons and daughters of the community were employed to give impetus to their living. Some of the organisations and institutions where he absorbed them include but are not limited to: Ibru fish, Ibru organisation, Ibru College and now MICHAEL AND CECILIA IBRU UNIVERSITY. It takes a man of such a great heart to work for and accommodate his people the way he did. Such men are very rare to find in this world of selfish and wicked people. More so, at this time of recession, some people have become more selfish to the effect that many are now wallowing in abject poverty. I wish they could borrow a leaf from Olorogun Michael on whose shoulder many cried upon.

However, let it be stated that friends, business associates and well-wishers were not left out in his touch also. He remained loyal and was committed to the development of human ideals. Despite, his financial standing in society, he was still accessible, humble and accommodating as many can testify. This was to further reveal that here was not only a man from a fine stock but had consideration for people around him and empowered them in the way he could to the glory of God. If not that it was time for him to go such men need to be around in order to continue their works of charity and love for humanity for, HERE WAS A MICHAEL, WHEN COMES ANOTHER.

Therefore, we are to be encouraged that he had gone to be with the Lord and what Saint Paul admonishes would be very apt to us at this point: “we are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord,” (2 Corinth. 5:8). May God in His infinite mercy, console his family and all who were touched in one way or the other through his philanthropic gesture.
Adieu Olorogun Michael Ibru.
Ven. Ernest Onuoha
Rector, Ibru International Ecumenical Centre, Agbarha-Otor, Delta State.
www.ibrucentre.org