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ANIOMA MOURNS AS OKPANAM LOSES ELDER STATESMAN AND OBODOAGBA IYASE, SYLVAN EBIGWEI

 ANIOMA MOURNS AS OKPANAM LOSES ELDER STATESMAN AND OBODOAGBA IYASE, SYLVAN EBIGWEI


- Emeka Esogbue

The Anioma nation was yet again thrown into mourning following the reported demise of Elder Statesman and prominent indigene of the Okpanam community, Chief Dr Sylvan Ebigwei, MON.

Chief Dr. Sylvan Ebigwei from Obodoagba Quarters of the Okpanam community, a distinguished dental practitioner and one of the greatest Okpanam indigenes to have lived, died in his Okpanam hometown, on Saturday, according to information gathered by PEN MASTER.

"He was actively seen in attendance of events in the community, a few days ago, particularly at the marriage of his cousin," a source close to the family confirmed to PEN MASTER.

Sylvan Ebigwei, a lover of the Okpanam people, was an advocate of good governance in the community who spoke the minds of other proponents and was greatly admired by the youths of the community. He was also a lover of peace who championed several developments in the community.

"Daddy Sylvan stood for truth but now, he is no more," another mourner who reached out to Pen Master lamented.

The demise of Ebigwei, a stronger pillar of Okpanam, a community flanked by Asaba, the state capital, and Ibusa, two of which she shares homogenous cultures, was welcomed with disbelief by the indigenes.

Born in 1946 in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria, Ebigwei attended St. Michael's Catholic School, Okpanam, and later, St Patrick's College, Asaba. From 1960 to 1966, he attended the Southern Police College, Ikeja, Lagos, and in 1968, the College of Medicine. He proceeded to the University of Lagos, and the Post-Graduate Medical College of Nigeria for studies in Dentistry.

Ebigwei would later travel to the USA for further studies returning, to work briefly as a teacher at Osadennis High School, Asaba.

Other places he worked include the Immigration Office, Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs, Lagos, General Hospital, Lagos, and Massey Hospital as Dental-Officer-in-Charge, among others.

He was a former National President of the Nigerian Dental Association and President, of the African Chess Federation to mention but a few.

Chief Dr Sylvan Ebigwei, until his death, was the Iyase of Obodoagba, Okpanam.

The wealth of stately experience Chief Dr. Sylvan Ebigwei, MON, will be missed by the people of Okpanam with the vacuum created by his loss, left open perhaps.

Recall that the remains of CP Frank Odita, another indigene from neighbouring Ibusa were laid to rest on Friday.

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