Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” as Elder Dr. Benson Nwaigburu reflect on God’s mercies and grace”
Edited for use by Njoku SaintJerry A.
In the words of Melody Beatie,’ gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”
25th November 2023 would not only be a moment of sober reflection on grace and mercies of God so far in the life of, Elder Dr Benson Kinsley Obinna Nwaigburu, an erudite scholar and an achiever but also a time to redouble commitment in the service to God and humanity.
In the words of literary giants of all times, ‘some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them.’
Elder Dr Benson Kinsley Obinna Nwaigburu is among the rare breed who has achieved greatness through dent of hard work, persistence and perseverance.
Henry Longfellow once said; “the heights by great men reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight but by toiling upward in the night’
While Dr Benson Nwaigburu contemporaries were busy with frivolities of life, he took the pains to define his purpose and vision in life at the early stage.
Born into the family of Late Mr Benson Nwaigburu Ugannunu and Deaconess Victoria Ugochi Nwaigburu of Okpuihie village in Okoroahaba Ancient Kingdom, Isiala Ngwa South, Abia State. He was enrolled into Okpuihe-Umueze Central Primary School where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate with Distinction.
Immediately after his primary education, the youthful Benson succeeded in enrolling at West African Commercial School, Omoba, albeit extreme lack of finance nearly prevented him from attending. In order to prevent him from dropping out, the Management and the late Eze Mgbahauru of Umuoleke, the school’s owner, formally approved that he teach Mathematics and Accounting to junior students while still in SS1.
He accepted this offer right away, and the stipend he received was collected at the source as school fees while he augment with the small token his impoverished parents used to give to enable him complete his secondary school education.
Registering for WAEC exams turned out to be another difficulty. While his classmate registered for the West African Examination Council, (WAEC) he was unable to do so.
Looking for a way forward, he contacted his maternal uncle who used to reside in Benin City, Edo State. It was the Uncle who completed the fees saved from his two years of tutorial classes and got him registered for the exams in 1993 at Mid-West Secondary School in Benin where he was teaching. During the course of the exams, the young Benson lost his father to the cold hands of death.
Despite the sudden demise and the pains of losing his father while writing the WAEC exam, he cleared all his papers at one sitting.
Hungry for higher education but faced with paucity of funds as a result of the sudden death of his father, his dream of acquiring higher education was bleak as his only sponsor was gone.
Being a courageous young man desirous of a brighter future, the young Benson took up teaching appointments in various private schools within the state temporarily from 1993 to 2004. While teaching in private schools, he embraced prudent management of financial resources early enough and was able to manage meagre resources at his disposal then and still saved for his much desire higher education.
Holding on to rare courage and persistence to advance in his pursuit of knowledge, the young Benson obtained the Higher National Diploma (HND) in 2004 from Abia State Polytechnic, Aba.
He proceeded to Usman Dan Fodioyo University where he obtained Postgraduate Diploma in Education in 2006 and in 2007 he obtained Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting from Rivers State University of Science and Technology.
In 2009, He had achieved great academic milestone with a Masters Degree in Education and Management from the University of Calabar, Cross River.
In 2014, he added another feather to his cap by obtaining another Masters (M.Sc. in Accounting) from Abia State University, Uturu.
Owing to his unparalleled quest for knowledge, he pushed further for the highest academic qualification and in 2022, he obtained a Ph.D in Accounting from the prestigious Chukwemeka Odemegwu Ojukwu University, Anambra State.
Dr Benson Kinsley Obinna Nwaigburu, now a Phd holder and two Masters Degree added to his academic feat joined and became a member of many professional bodies namely.
- 1. Fellow, Institute of Policy Management Development (IPMD).
- 2. Member, Chartered Institute of Cost Management Accountant (CICMA).
- 3. Associate Member, International Research and Development Institute (IRDI)
- 4. Member, Teacher Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN)
- 5. Member, Nigerian State and Local Government SSME’s Development Scheme among numerous others.
A renowned author and prolific writer, Dr Benson Nwaigburu has published numerous well researched articles in eminent journals and has presented papers in many academic conferences and workshops locally and internationally.
He has authored and co-authored many academic books in his chosen field to his credit.
He is a recipient of numerous awards. Including the best served Accreditation Committee Chairman by School of Vocational and Technical Education, Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education Owerri in 2017.
Meritorious Award of Excellence in recognition of Accounting Skill Development and Ethics by Nigeria Students Union of University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
These giant strides of Dr. Benson Kinsley Obinna Nwaigburu in academics are born out of his persistence and perseverance that confirms the position of the former United States President Calvin Coolidge that ‘nothing in this world can take the place of persistence.
Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.
The slogan ‘Press On!’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.” A courageous and indefatigable personality, who has become popular for his life principle of straight forwardness, impeccable integrity and fear of God, he has served the society through various institutions at varying cadre and also served in many establishments in various capacities.
He served as Account Officer: First Bank of Nig. Factory Rd branch Aba in the year 2000, Principal Accountant, Abia ADP, Umuahia, 2006 to 2012. Senior Lecturer, Department of Accountancy, ALVAN Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri, 2012 till 2022, Visiting Lecturer: Clifford University Owerrinta, Abia State, Nigeria, 2022 till date.
He is the former HOD, Department of Accountancy, Alvan Ikoku University of Education, Owerri, 2017 to 2020, Faculty Teaching Practice Coordinator 2019 to 2022 to mention just a few.
Ordained as Elder in Seventh Day Adventist Church, Dr Benson Kinsley Obinna Nwaigburu is a humble servant of God, compassionate, a consummate leader, approachable, accommodating, creative and outspoken.
He is a defender of the defenceless and a philanthropist. His love for service to humanity pushed him into the political arena where at the moment he has applied his ingenuity, academic excellence and result-oriented attributes to make a difference in the present government of Abia State being piloted by a first class Economist, Dr Alex Chioma Otti (OFR) under the Labour Party administration.
Currently, Elder/Dr Benson Kinsley Obinna Nwaigburu is the General Manager, Abia State Debt Management Office/Ministry of Finance Incorporated.
As a Chartered Accountant of repute, since assumption of office as the General Manager of the Office, he has introduced various reforms as well as making accountability and transparency the watch-word of Abia State Debt Management Office.
For the records, it is worthy of mention that Elder Dr Benson Kinsley Obinna Nwaigburu is among the very few Abians who identified with the vision of Governor Alex Chioma Otti (OFR) for a new Abia as far back as 2015 under the platform of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) when Dr. Alex Otti contested for the governorship of Abia State in 2015.
In 2019, under APGA, Elder Dr Benson Kinsley Obinna Nwaigburu, continued to keep faith with his friend and brother Dr Alex Chioma Otti.Dr. Alex Otti when he re-contested and lost the victory to the ruling PDP government at the time
He had remained with Dr. Alex Otti till date, arriving at the 2023 gubernatorial elections where Dr Alex Chioma Otti (OFR) won the elections by unanimous decision under Labour Party.
The unflinching support of Elder Dr Benson Kinsley Obinna Nwaigburu to the electioneering of the present government was visible as he was seen in all nooks and cranny of the State campaigning for the enthronement of good governance devoid of godfatherism in Abia State.
To the glory of God, this vision has come to fruition as Elder Dr Nwaigburu no doubt has proved that he is a dependable ally, trustworthy and is such a personality who can sacrifice all to fight for a just cause.
Dr Benson Kinsley Obinna Nwaigburu is a devout Christian of Seventh-day Adventist Church, where he was ordained as Elder. He is a Master Guide and an ordained Elder of the church. He is a member of Aba- North Conference of Seventh-day Adventist Church Executive Committee as well as the incumbent Education Director of the Conference.
He is happily married with Mrs Adaeze Nwaigburu and the marriage is blessed with three (3) children.
On this date, the 25th November, 2023, in recognition of God’s grace and mercies upon his life so far, Elder Dr Benson Kinsley Obinna Nwaigburu invites friends, well-wishers, professional colleagues and indeed the entire Abians for a Thanksgiving Service at the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Okpuihe, Isiala Ngwa South, Abia State for his Academic success alongside the Victory of Labour Party in Abia State.
Special Guest of Honour would be His Excellency Dr Alex Chioma Otti (OFR) Executive Governor of Abia state and his wife, Her Excellency Mrs Priscilla Chidinma Otti.
The Guest of Honour includes His Excellency Engr Ikechukwu Lekwachi Emetu, the Deputy Governor of Abia State, Secretary to Abia State Government, Prof. Kenneth Kalu. Chief of Staff to the Executive Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, Ph.D , Rev. Fr Anokwuru Christian Uche, Ph.D, Special Adviser to the Governor on Policies & Intervention, the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Mike Okpra, the State Head of Service, and members of Abia State Executive Council.
The Royal Father of the day include His Royal Majesty,Eze N.A. Nmerengwa, Eze Isiala 1 of Isieketa Autonomous Community, Isiala Ngwa South, the Deputy Chairman, Abia State Traditional Ruling Council and HRM Eze Adolphus Esinwoko Abakwuo, Ugochinyere 1 of Isiala Itu Autonomous Community and Chairman, Obingwa Traditional Rulers Council among others.
Royal Mother of the Day is Deaconess Victoria Ugochi Nwaigburu – the mother of Elder Dr Benson Kinsley Obinna Nwaigburu.
Congratulations!
Original article by Elder Dr Fineboy Ikechi Joseph Clifford University, Owerrinta, Abia State
