TRIBUTE TO PROF. PETER PALMER EKEH - A GREAT NIGERIAN SCHOLAR
March 26, 2021 | News
As Prof. Peter Palmer Eke is laid to rest this weekend, I believe it is necessary to re-echo some aspects of the life and times of this great Nigerian Scholar, who also created a significant positive impact in the Urhobo nation.
TRIBUTE TO PROF. PETER PALMER EKEH - A GREAT NIGERIAN SCHOLAR
As Prof. Peter Palmer Eke is laid to rest this weekend, I believe it is necessary to re-echo some aspects of the life and times of this great Nigerian Scholar, who also created a significant positive impact in the Urhobo nation. For one, his research and intellectual capability revealed a lot of hidden information and truths, about Treaties between the Europeans and the Urhobo locals in the 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th Centuries, and how the Europeans came into the Urhobo Land and the entire Delta region.
I met Prof. Peter Palmer Ekeh for the first time as an undergraduate in the University of Ibadan, when he was an academic professor then. He was indeed an exceptional person, whose exit has left a hole and gap that won't be easy to fill, especially being the founder of the Urhobo Historical Society (UHS).
Prof. Ekeh spent his entire adult life in promoting the Urhobo cause with his brilliant mind. Prof Ekeh was an Urbobo patriot to the core, and during my university days in Ibadan, he was always supporting Urhobo Students Activities in the University of Ibadan (UI) then. Ekeh, Otite, and Okpako. I still remember when myself and Efe Itoje met him to discuss about 'Urhobo Day' in UI then in his office. I was the Publicity Secretary then, and Efe Itoje was the Social Secretary of Urhobo Students Association. Prof Ekeh quickly told us to put Prof. Frank Ukoli on top of our Patrons list. Prof. Frank Ukoli was last on the list in our Urhobo Day programme on that event. And he told us Ukoli would be angry to see his name under, since he was already a PHD holder and a Senior lecturer in UI, when he was admitted for his undergraduate course. When both of us went to the faculty of science and luckily, we saw him in front of the class teaching, we wanted to turn since he was busy in the class. But surprisingly, Ukoli called two of us and asked why did we come? And we showed him the program because it was already printed. He said that he was the most Senior Urhobo lecturer at that time, so we apologised.
Prof. Ekeh later relocated to US and lived in New York with his family. I was later told he had retired, but was advised to stay behind due to medical reasons, hence he remained in the US. But without a doubt, Prof. Ekeh lived an accomplished life and a proud Urhobo intellectual. Urhobo nation will miss this great Urhobo patriot. He did a lot of researches on Urhobo people too. May his soul rest in peace.
Zik Gbemre
March 26, 2021
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes
As Prof. Peter Palmer Eke is laid to rest this weekend, I believe it is necessary to re-echo some aspects of the life and times of this great Nigerian Scholar, who also created a significant positive impact in the Urhobo nation. For one, his research and intellectual capability revealed a lot of hidden information and truths, about Treaties between the Europeans and the Urhobo locals in the 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th Centuries, and how the Europeans came into the Urhobo Land and the entire Delta region.
I met Prof. Peter Palmer Ekeh for the first time as an undergraduate in the University of Ibadan, when he was an academic professor then. He was indeed an exceptional person, whose exit has left a hole and gap that won't be easy to fill, especially being the founder of the Urhobo Historical Society (UHS).
Prof. Ekeh spent his entire adult life in promoting the Urhobo cause with his brilliant mind. Prof Ekeh was an Urbobo patriot to the core, and during my university days in Ibadan, he was always supporting Urhobo Students Activities in the University of Ibadan (UI) then. Ekeh, Otite, and Okpako. I still remember when myself and Efe Itoje met him to discuss about 'Urhobo Day' in UI then in his office. I was the Publicity Secretary then, and Efe Itoje was the Social Secretary of Urhobo Students Association. Prof Ekeh quickly told us to put Prof. Frank Ukoli on top of our Patrons list. Prof. Frank Ukoli was last on the list in our Urhobo Day programme on that event. And he told us Ukoli would be angry to see his name under, since he was already a PHD holder and a Senior lecturer in UI, when he was admitted for his undergraduate course. When both of us went to the faculty of science and luckily, we saw him in front of the class teaching, we wanted to turn since he was busy in the class. But surprisingly, Ukoli called two of us and asked why did we come? And we showed him the program because it was already printed. He said that he was the most Senior Urhobo lecturer at that time, so we apologised.
Prof. Ekeh later relocated to US and lived in New York with his family. I was later told he had retired, but was advised to stay behind due to medical reasons, hence he remained in the US. But without a doubt, Prof. Ekeh lived an accomplished life and a proud Urhobo intellectual. Urhobo nation will miss this great Urhobo patriot. He did a lot of researches on Urhobo people too. May his soul rest in peace.
Zik Gbemre
March 26, 2021
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes