It was a gathering of top-class politicians, government officials, captains of industries, members of academia, legal luminaries, religious leaders, well-wishers, and more on January 5, 2025, at the popular L.A. Kings Event Centre, Port Harcourt, venue of the book launch/symposium, which marked the grand finale of the week-long 60th birthday anniversary of a serial cabinet member in the Rivers State government and member of the 4th Governing Council of the Federal Polytechnic, Ukana, Akwa Ibom State, Hon. Osima Ginah Esq, FCIM (JP).
The book launch, chaired by a foremost lawyer and former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief O. C. J. Okocha, SAN, DSSRS, had as a special guest the FCT Minister, Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, who was represented by Hon. the Director of Finance in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Barr. Boma Iyaye.
Other dignitaries who graced the occasion include Chief Ferdinand Anabraba, Sen. Magnus Abe, Mr. Zacheaus Adango, former Commissioner for Justice, Rivers State, Members of the National Assembly, former Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Dumle Moal and his former colleagues, former colleagues of Osima in the state cabinet, former council chairmen, old boys of the Kalabari National College class 85, legal practitioners, businessmen, traditional rulers, and friends from all walks of life.
In his speech, the Chairman of the occasion, Chief OCJ Okocha SAN. recalled his encounter with Barr. Osima when he held sway as Commissioner for Urban Development under the administration of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi and described him as a determined, strong-willed fellow. On his part, the book reviewer and former Commissioner for Education, Rivers State, Prof. Kaniye Ebeku, described the literary piece titled “THE AUDACITY & INSCRUTABILITY OF OSIMA GINAH ESQ, FCIM JP”
as a compendium of history chronicling historical accounts of the various aspects of Osima, likening it to Obama’s “Audacity of Hope.” The FCT Minister described Osima as a composite gentleman and a dependable ally.
The book launch/symposium was preceded by a special Thanksgiving church service held at St Paul’s African Church Cathedral, No. 18 IB Johnson Street, Port Harcourt Township, where Osima led family, friends, associates, and others to offer gratitude to God for His abounding grace and mercy over his life.
A community-wide crusade/revival program, novelty football competition among the Six Central Group Communities, and empowerment of forty (40) petty traders from the Six central group communities with the sum of Fifty Thousand Naira (#50,000) were part of the week-long event marking the 60th anniversary of this proud son of Niger Delta.
HON BARR OSIMA GINAH FCIM, JP. AND HIS APPRECIATION:
Barr Osima Ginah in his appreciation stated, “On behalf of my family, friends and associates, I want to express my heartfelt appreciation to each and everyone of you who took out time to join me on the thanksgiving service of my 60th birthday and book unveiling. I want to specifically thank, His Excellency, Chief Barr Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, CON, GSSRS, Former Governor of Rivers State and incumbent Minister of FCT, I also want to thank, Chief O.C.J. Okocha (SAN), Chief Ferdinand Alabraba and other elders, Chief Boma Iyaye, Prof. Kaniye Ebeku, Chief Lesi Maol,Sen. Magnus Abe, Chief Frank Owhor, Chief Henry Ogiri, Rt. Hon. Dumle Maol, Hon. Igo Aguma, National Assembly Members, Rivers State House of Assembly Members, LGA Chairmen, Angulama and Central Group Council of Chiefs, clergymen and a long list of others. Your kindness, generosity and support mean everything to me and I am truly humbled by the outpouring of love, turnout and well wishes. I am grateful for the memories we created together.
With deepest gratitude and appreciation”
Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze the Author of the book, “THE AUDACITY & INSCRUTABILITY OF OSIMA GINAH ESQ, FCIM, JP” in his brief comment expressed his profound gratitude to Barr Osima Ginah who considered him worthy to write such a book that contains all that one needs to know about his birth, education, challenges, his love for Christ, his inputs and contributions towards the development and emancipation of Rivers State particularly his beloved community Angulama.
My thanks also goes to Dame Deaconess E.Ginah and Dr. Robinson Gbaranem who encouraged me in many ways to get this book done.
May God bless all the Legal Luminaries, Rt. Hon. C. R. Amaechi , Chief Nyesom Wike, Osima’s colleagues in the Rivers State Cabinet and all the opinion leaders that made contributions to the book.
My thanks also goes to my friends, Prof Innocent Agu, Prof Nwachukwu and Dr Anyalewechi who edited the book including Prince Tonye Princewill who wrote the Foreword of the book.
My wife, children and Media Aides inputs need not be overemphasized
