Head Christian, Pa Sunday Anthony Ekam Onwubuya dies at 96.

The death has been announced of Pa Sunday Anthony Ekam Onwubuya. The revered community leader according to the family transited on Monday, September 30, 2024 at the age of 96 years. Pa Onwubuya was before his demise the Odion of Ogbeisogban Community, Ime-Obi, Agbor, Delta State. In a statement by his eldest son, Mr Joe Onwubuya, the late nonagenarian will be buried on the following dates: Service of songs – 7th of November, 2024. Funeral Mass and Interment – 8th of November, 2024.

PA SUNDAY ANTHONY EKAM ONWUBUYA BIOGRAPHY

EARLY CHILDHOOD

Pa Sunday Anthony Ekam was born in 1928 into the family of Mr. Onwubuya Eghoma and Mrs. Izegbe Ataka, in Ogbeisogban, a small but very powerful village in Agbor kingdom.

It was in Ogbeisogban Village that he grew up. He took part in every communal activity such as building houses, clearing farm roads, and harvesting palm fruits (Ekwu Otu). Hewas proud to say that among his age group, he was the first to climb and harvest a ripe palm bunch. This fit was pride from parents who saw their children as brave and hardworking.

After the death of Obi Igbenoba, the heir, Obika, his mother, his wives, his male and female servants were brought to Ogbeisogban.

They were settled in Ohiaru’s house in Idumuje-Ogbeisogba. Pa Onwubuya had a common boundary with Ohiaru, he was his close relation. They were known as (Umu-Iroh).

EDUCATION

Pa Onwubuya graduated from the University of Wales with a Bachelors of Education (B. Ed) in 1981 after many years of dreaming of becoming a graduate, this was due to lack of funds and encouragement. He went through tough times to actualize his dreams as enumerated below.�

At that time, Obika was attending Government school, Agbor. So, Pa Onwubuya became an errand boy to him, he was going to invite his first wife, (Edeki), and collect balls for them when they were playing. However, each time Pa Onwubuya misbehaved as a child, he would take him to his house where he was made to sit at the door till late in the night before releasing him.

By 1935, Obika was installed as the Obi of Agbor. He then left Ogbeisogban to the present palace. His relations among who were Boi Omu, his friends and servants were still coming to Pa Onwubuya father’s house to drink palm wine in the evenings.

It was there, Boi Omu picked up Pa Onwubuya and asked him to serve them palm wine. Boi Omu then asked Pa Onwubuya’s father to send him to school, boasting that he would never fail any examinations. He continued to repeat the suggestion each time he visited him. After several years, in 1941, Pa Onwubuya’s father seemed convinced. He then communicated the message to Pa Onwubuya’s mother who refused that her young son should be sent to school. Her reason was that as a boy, he should farm for her, cut palm fruits, and stay with her in the village.

Pa Onwubuya’s father did not take it lightly, so he reported the matter to chief Ojemudia, the Ekpe of Agbor. All chief Ekpe’s children were attending school. It was he who convinced Pa Onwubuya’s mother of the need to send him to school. In January 1941 while schools were on holidays, he sent Pa Onwubuya and his first son, Abiamuwe to the headmaster of Government School in Agbor. The Headmaster, Mr. Iyamu, took Pa Onwubuya’s right arm and passed it over his head and said he had over-grown the primary school age.

However, when the schools reopened, Pa Onwubuya went to government school for admission but he was highly disappointed and cried all the way home that day.

On the next day, the same Chief Ojemudia handed Pa Onwubuya over to Mr. Imudia who was then attending St. John’s Catholic School Boji Boji, Agbor. He took Pa Onwubuya to the school and without any ceremony, he was admitted into class one. It was in January 1941 that his educational career started.

In those days, it took eight years to go through a primary school course. But because of Pa Onwubuya’s age, he went through the course in seven years. Pa Onwubuya washappy to recall that late Boi Omu who first suggested that he should be sent to school always came to know his progress at the end of each year. He was always happy that he did not disappoint him. He would then remind Pa Onwubuya’s father of his earlier assertion that his son would not fail at school.

WORKING CAREER

To the average Agbor man standard six certificate in those days was a great achievement. Every person will want you to take up an appointment with such a certificate. Because of this belief, he was asked to apply for a teaching job in January 1948. He did apply but the then priest/ manager, Rev. Father Kenan refused to employ him because according to him, he was too small to teach.

Pa Onwubuya’s duties under the chief, who was incidentally a contractor comprised of running errands, supervising his workers, preparing vouchers, writing tenders, and dealing with correspondences. He did this work on an initial salary of five shillings (5|-) before he got the teaching job in October 1948.

He then stayed in the village doing menial jobs and cutting palm fruits to get some money. But early March 1948, his relation, Mr. Ojeifoh Ugeh visited them on the farm and learnt that he had passed his standard six examinations. He promised to take him to Chief Ben Osegi who was establishing a shop in the town. He did so, but before they arrived, Chief Osegi had employed one, Mr. George Agbamuche as a shop attendant. Chief Osegi, however did not drop him but employed Pa Onwubuya as his clerk. So, he moved to the town and stayed in his brother’s house.

TEACHING CAREER

Pa Onwubuya was posted to the catholic school, Umunede, under Mr. CFG Sidi. He reported for duty on 3^rd of October 1948. He taught for only two years and three months and left the job. But public opinion was against him for leaving the job that lifted him to greater heights. He then sought another means to go back to teaching after trying his hands on rubber trade and other materials.

In 1953, he took entrance examination to the provincial Teacher Training College, Abudu. He was admitted in January,1954. By 1955, he qualified as a grade three teacher and was posted to L.A school Aliokpu as the Headmaster. He headed the school for two years, 1956 and 1957. It was in 1956 that his wife, Miss Roseline Ugochukwu Mormah was posted to Agbornta. As God would have it, she could not find a suitable accommodation at Agbornta so she found one at Aliokpu, in the same compound where Pa Onwubuya was living, there the courtship started. But in 1958, he left for Assumption Teacher Training College, Uzairue, Auchi. By 1959, December, he bagged his grade two Teachers’ Certificate and General Certificate of Education (GCE) in January 1960.

In the same month, Pa Onwubuya was posted to L.A Modern School, Ekuku Agbor. While he was there, his parents-in-law were also posted to EKuku Agbor. So, he was still very close to his fiancé. After two years stay at Ekuku Agbor, he was posted to L.A Modern School Agbor. He taught there for two years and when Modern Schools were phased out, he moved to L.A primary school, Boji Boji, Agbor.

Year 1973 Pa Onwubuya moved from Orogodo Primary School to college of Education, Abraka for a short course on Primary School Science. On his return after three months, he was sent to the Local Ministry of Education Board at Agbor as an Education Officer, Primary School Science

In 1979, Pa Onwubuya got admission to study, Bachelor of Education (B. Ed) at University of Wales, Wrexham Campus, United Kingdom. He left the shores of Nigeria September 1979 in search of the Golden Flees abroad. He graduated in July 1981 and returned to serve in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). He did his orientation in the College of Education, Abraka. He was later posted to Martins Teacher Training College Issele-Uku to do his primary assignment. After the National Service, he was posted to Owa-Alero commercial secondary School where he worked as a class teacher and Vice Principal until he was compulsorily retired on 28th December 1984 due to his age.

LIFE AFTER RETIREMENT

While Pa Onwubuya was on active service, he thought it was impossible to live a normal life in the absence of salary. But he found out that it was not true because with God nothing is impossible.

After one month of spending his time sleeping, he was bored and started thinking of what to do. He attached himself to a Patent Medicine Dealer  Mr. Chukwuka Onoreje (Late), popularly known as courage as an apprentice. He understudied him for five months and went to establish his own. By September 1985 he started his patent Medicine trade.

When it was no longer easy at Finsenod, Pa Onwubuya had to look for an alternative job. By 1990, he sat for a very competitive examination for an appointment as a member of the Customary Court. He did well and was posted to Ika Area Customary Court, Agbor-Obi in August 1990. He did this job up to 1999 when his appointment was terminated because of age. By this time his palms were growing, so he busied himself with farming and his Patent medicine trade.

In 1987, Pa Onwubuya joined the Finsenod company as a committee member under the Managing director, Chief. Francis Ikenchuku Mormah (Late). He was the trusted Treasurer, and all the money used in the establishment of the farm passed through his hands. While he was doing all the above, he was farming also and started planting   Palms in 1986 and by 1992, he had three small oil palm plantations.

MARITAL LIFE AND FAMILY

On May 3rd, 1964, Pa Sunday Anthony Ekam Onwubuya got married to Miss Roseline Ugochukwu Mormah at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Boji Boji, Agbor. By this time, his wife was teaching at Alasi Primary school, Boji Boji Owa. They were happily married and blessed with six children..

CHRISTIAN LIFE

Pa Onwubuya was a head Christian, and he devoted all his entire life as a communicant of the Catholic Communion. He lived a true Christian life both in his home, church, and society. He was an active and financial member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Agbor.

In 1983 St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Okwuijen street was opened by Rev. Father John Ibude (Late). Pa Onwubuya became one of the foundation members of the church. It was then nicknamed ‘OKA UKUN OTOSI’. As the Mass center grew, He became the chairman of the church committee, a post he held up to 1993. After a serious trying period for the church which almost ruined the church, he was made the Head Christian in 1996.

He was made “Nedi Wu Oghor” on the 25^th of June 2017 by Monisignor, former Rev. Father in charge of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Agbor.

COMMUNITY LIFE

Pa Sunday Anthony Ekam Onwubuya was a community leader, the oldest in Ogbeisogban Village and the current ODION of Ogbeisogban. He was installed ODION on the 16^th of December 2016. Before and after he became ODION of Ogbeisogban, he played prominent roles in stabilizing the community and maintaining peace.

He contributed massively financially from his pocket to start the Ogbeisogban community hall at Agbor and sustained the temple to make sure there is progress towards its completion.

He was humble, logical, and compassionate in his judgement and was loved by his community.