By Tony Ugbejie

The personality of His Excellency, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, former Delta state Governor, from his early days has not changed. In politics and as a private citizen he is a meek and loyal person, however what has really distinguished him from the pack is his deep intellect and his capacity to put in the real hard work. Regardless of his unassuming appearance he’s tough on himself and at work, hence his success to the level he has attained.

Over the years, I’ve looked in admiration at Senator Okowa especially judging what he has been able to achieve for his people and his personal character and charm- I’ve come to adopt him as my role model and mentor.

In a conversation with a senior friend in Lagos to Xray the ex governor of Delta state- the life he is living today, his upbringing, his secondary to university success, the life before and after politics, we couldn’t point to a single decisive factor, that prepared him for what has become an exceptional successful life.

In our musings, we wondered whether his training as a medical doctor ( no Ivy League institutions attended had such influence, but we looked around and that postulation was unconvincing-all the institutions he attended were in Nigeria) and no foreign work experience. We concluded that he must have come into life prepackaged with these special qualities endowed by God.

Born by a teacher father and a nurse mother coupled with personal hard work and discipline must be the secret we concluded.

As he returns to the senate , I look forward to a robust performance, and hopefully with his concurrence an inauguration of a school/ institute of leadership training where DR Ifeanyi Okowa’s school of leadership will come to fruition.