A former commissioner for Information and Orientation in Bayelsa State, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, at the weekend said the late Professor Lawrence Baraebibai Ekpebu was an accomplished man who achieved so much within his lifetime.
He said aside his star feat of being the first African graduate of the prestigious Harvard University in the United States, Professor Ekpebu was a successful scholar and respected diplomat.
Iworiso-Markson stated this in Yenagoa, when he visited the widow of the late
Ekpebu who died on January 2, 2022.
He noted that his passing even though at a ripe age of 90, was shocking, painful and sad, adding that he will forever live in the hearts of all those he mentored in different ways.
Iworiso-Markson recalled that in 2018 while still serving as Commissioner for Information and Orientation, he invited the late Ekpebu to chair one of the days of the week-long inter-miniaterial briefing to give account of the various ministries and agencies to commemorate the sixth anniversary of former governor, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson.
“He shared his experience with us then and it was so much of a motivation for me personally and since then we became very close until he passed on”, he said.
The former Commissioner said he was always in touch with late Ekpebu and had hinted him last year of plans to put together a rich literature of all his achievements before his unfortunate demise.
He urged the bereaved family to be comforted by the admirable legacies and footprints he left behind which will always be remembered.
Iworiso-Markson also thanked the Bayelsa State Government for indicating its intention to give the illustrious Bayelsan a befitting state burial that he deserves.