By Prince Charles Amadike-Otoboh, JP
Nigerians woke up on Wednesday 6th March, 2019 to hear the sad news of the transition of one of the Country’s superlative philosophers, patriots, philanthropist, community leader, a university scholar and administrator, Professor (Chief) Addison Mark Wokocha (Ikemba of Ogbaland).
He died at the International Hospital Abuja, at about 11:34am at the age of 71. His passage has elicited tributes from friends, colleagues, associates and benefactors within and outside Nigeria eulogizing his sterling qualities and mourning his painful exit BY his death. Nigeria and indeed Africa has lost a great intellectual.
The deceased served at one time Lecturer SBS now Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Port Harcourt, Lecturer RSUST now Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Provost, Federal College of Education (Technical), Omoku in Rivers State, Provost, former Rivers State College of Education, Port Harcourt now Ignatius Ajuru University of Education Port Harcourt, Registrar/CEO, Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) Abuja and retired at the Rivers State University in 2018 at the age of 70 years without blemish.
He served in the board of many National and International, Educational and Professional bodies like the NBTE, NAE, NIM etc and was one of the few Nigerian Scholars to acknowledge the significance of the past, in understanding the present, thus creating a brighter future.
Prof Wokocha was an academician par excellence; an administrator, the quintessence of philanthropy; a modernist yet a traditionalist; a fountain of inspiration to adults and youths alike; a community leader, patron, benefactor of individuals (author of this article inclusive) and associations; a man of vision and a man with a mission.
Born on June 6, 1948, he hailed from Okposi Town near Omoku in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of River State.
He attended St. Stephen’s UNA School, Omoku and Baptist High School, Port Harcourt. He was a student of the College of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, the forerunner of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt. He left the College in 1972 for the University of Nigeria, Nsukka where he obtained Bachelor of Science degree in Soil Chemistry in 1976. From high science to high arts, Professor Wokocha has straddled like colossus, the continuum of knowledge. In 1989, he registered for the Masters degree in Education with specialization in Philosophy of Education in the University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt. In 1989, he obtained the degree of Doctor of Philosophy of the University of Port Harcourt with specialization in Philosophy of Education. Also, the faculty of the Clemens University, South Australia, on reviewing his erudite treaties in philosophy awarded him the Doctor of Letters (D. Litt) in 2001.
Professor Wokocha had been in teaching most of his graduation life. He rose to the rank of Principal Lecturer at the Rivers State School of Basic Studies, Port Harcourt now (Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Port Harcourt before switching over to the Rivers State University and Technology, Port Harcourt now Rivers State University, Port Harcourt. With an avalanche of erudite articles in learned journals, books of readings and consistent attendance at academic conferences he had a meteoric rise from Lecturer II in 1988 to Professor in 1998, a time span of ten years.
Professor Wokocha’s responsibilities in the College of Arts and Science, University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, the Federal College of Education (Technical), Omoku, the Rivers State College of Education, Port Harcourt, the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, Abuja, national professional associations, communities, churches, clubs and so on; his status as patron of several associations and benefactor of persons (through scholarship schemes and related activities) and associations; and his patronage of sports can fill a book. As a matter of fact, his works are being compiled into a volume to be titled “Man, Philosophy, Education: The Thoughts of Addison Wokocha”. Another book based on his foray into rarefied world of legal thought and practice, was put together by a lawyer and academic.
Suffice it however, to mention that Professor Wokocha was half way through his second term as Provost of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Omoku, Rivers State when the government and people of Rivers State called on him to serve in the then Rivers State College of Education, Port Harcourt now Ignatius Ajuru University, Port Harcourt. This also implied handing over his position as Chairman, Committee of Federal Provosts of Nigeria, to become the Chairman, Committee of Provosts of all Colleges of Education (Federal, State, Private) in Nigeria, a position he handled effectively before the Federal Government appointed him the Registrar/CEO TRCN, Abuja. The same leadership qualities saw him into two national offices of professional associations; the philosophy of Education Association of Nigeria and the Institute of Management Consultants of Nigeria with headquarters at Kaduna. He has represented Nigeria in several international educational conferences and workshops in several countries of the world.
He was not new to awards and honours parading such credentials. These include among numerous others: Justice of Peace conferred on him in 1988 by the Rivers State Government; Chieftaincy titles of Ajie-Omekuba-Ohna of Okposi 1990; Aje-Egbeku of Obrikom, Ikemba of Ogbaland bestowed on him in year 2000 by His Eminence, the Oba (Eze-Ogba) of Ogbaland; Alabo Dirikiri Dau of Nembe; Onwa of Obosi, Omoku; Diocesan Patron, First African Church, Rivers Diocese; Fellow, Nigerian Academy of Education; Paul Harris Fellow, Rotary International; and Best Provost of Colleges of Education in Nigeria in 2004.
Professor Wokocha was an icon in the world of education, institutional administration and community development. His land mark contributions to the growth of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Omoku are easy to see and include among others a transformation of the system to high academic community; staff development with the high point being the growth from zero level of a Chief Lecturer to 15 within seven years; building of a befitting administrative block; and commencement of movement of some faculties to the College permanent site otherwise known, called and addresses as COLLEGE CAMPUS II.
A dedicated family man, Professor Wokocha is married to Nkechi with children and relatives, his father; Bishop Mark Egba Wokocha (first indigenous Bishop in Ogbaland) family of Okposi. He stands heads and shoulders above his peers. As Aristotle, the great Greek philosopher noted, “it is unjust to treat equals unequally and unequals equally”. A man who towers above his peers, a superlative philosopher, a quintessential academic, an extraordinary philanthropist, a community leader, an administrator par excellence and lover of humanity.
Professor Mark Addison Wokocha was a member of the Kitchen cabinet of the Oba (Eze-Ogba) of Ogbaland and former Chairman, Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council, His Eminence, Sir, (Dr) Chukumela Nnam Obi II (OON, DSSRS, AP, JP) the Eze-Ogba in his tribute said ‘Ogba Ethnic Nationality has lost one of its first eleven’ in the death of the erudite Professor.
We appeal to both the Rivers State Government and the Federal Government to immortalize Prof Chief, Sir A. M Wokocha in honour of his contribution to academic in Nigeria.
We commiserate with his family, associates, friends, benefactors and the entire academic community on this irreparable loss. May God grant his soul eternal repose.
Adiu: My godfather, goodnight – kachi bo till we meet to part no more.
