BY AWELE OGBOGU
Happily married into the ‘loving’ Ikorodu Royal Family of Lagos State, wife of former Minister of Works and Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) Worldwide Ambassador Plenipotentiary, Olorogun Dr. (Mrs.) Ambassador Fidelia Omodoro Adeseye-Ogunlewe, through her supportive husband, Senator Kingsley Adeseye-Ogunlewe, is fired by her full blooded Urhobo ancestry in her mission to take “Urhobo to the World.”
She believes it is time to challenge the ‘under-representation’ of the Urhobos in their country of birth and to rewrite the destiny of the fourth largest ethnic group in Nigeria, who Adeseye-Ogunlewe says deserves a better deal in the Nigerian project.
When she speaks, Olorogun Dr. (Mrs.) Ambassador Fidelia Omodoro Adeseye-Ogunlewe exudes love and patriotism for Urhobo land that one could say without apology that she speaks, eats, sleeps and thinks Urhobo development and progress. Indeed,, she is unapologetic about being Urhobo and doing everything humanly possible to see Urhobos take a pride of place in the Nigerian nation.
And guess who her greatest motivation is? Her husband, an Ikorodu Prince, a former Perm. Sec, Senator, university chancellor (FUNAAB), ex-minister of Works and an APC chieftain, who is a proud in-law of the Urhobos and whom she says is loving Urhobos with her. Her husband is presently a member of the Governing Advisory Council (GAC) of the APC and a close ally of Mr. President.
As the saying goes, ‘if a man/woman is willing, so will his or her spirit’, hence having dedicated herself to Urhobo advancement, she was given an impetus recently, with her appointment as Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) Worldwide Ambassador Plenipotentiary.
A letter to that effect signed by Chief (Barr.) Ese Gam Owe, President-General of Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) Worldwide said that it is hoped and expected that she shall put in her very best in promoting the interest of the Urhobo Nation anywhere and everywhere in the world.
In an interview with The Pointer via the telephone in faraway United States of America (USA), she said she received the appointment with pride and gratitude to the UPU led by Barr. Ese Gam Owe.
“I have hit the ground running. I have designated representatives in Europe and all parts of the globe to help me take Urhobo to the world. I am a proud Urhobo woman who cherishes her culture. I want to contribute my quota in seeing that Urhobos are seen and heard. I want people all over the world to understand why we are a major ethnic group and that we have the natural and human capital resources to take every opportunity that comes our way for our benefit and that of our dear country, Nigeria.”
She says that “We the Urhobos are about 10 million people. We are loving people, enduring, with vast farmlands and natural resources, we have a large heart and can succeed more if given the opportunity. That is why I have accepted this role as UPU Ambassador Plenipotentiary so that together we can fight for the opportunities that the Urhobos truly deserve.”
She further says that she will ensure that all Urhobos in the Diaspora transmit one voice back home.
“As UPU Ambassador Plenipotentiary, I will promote the culture of the Urhobos and what they stand for. I want the world to know about our foods, dressing, character and so on, to tell them that if they will test us and give us the opportunity, the Urhobos will thrive even more.”
“I want to attract growth to Urhobo land from all over the globe, using my influence and reach, working hand in hand with my people back home.”
She added- “I am grateful to the UPU. I can’t be prouder for being noticed. I want to add value to Urhobo development and well-being. It’s all about success. I am looking forward to government to support the UPU vision because we are not as developed as we ought to be.”
“One thing I learnt from my husband is enthusiasm and resilience and I want to put it into play. I want to bring every Urhobo together, including the politicians because we were all Urhobos before becoming politically inclined. We should be united. I am for peace, love, unity, prosperity and I will preach against the pull-him-down syndrome because what is paramount is being Urhobo.”
“A woman is the mother of the nation. So I pray and believe that they will listen to me and think Urhobo first. We are Urhobo and will stay united irrespective of social class. We must work as a people and encourage each other to grow.”
The Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) Worldwide Ambassador Plenipotentiary, Olorogun Dr. (Mrs.) Ambassador Fidelia Omodoro Adeseye-Ogunlewe hails paternally from Ononibe family of Orogun and maternally from Ayowe family of Ereni, both in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State. Her mother relates to the King of Ereni as a cousin, thus making Adeseye-Ogulewe a Princess.
A Ph.D holder from a US institution, she is an Urhobo chief- the E Gbo Rho of Orogun. She is actively involved in Urhobo State Creation agitation, saying that the Urhobo meet the criteria to have a state of their own, notably the mineral and agricultural resources to make an Urhobo State economically viable and sustainable, as well as the numerical strength, number of local government areas and with abundant number of professionals in all fields, assuring of the needed human resources.
The Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) Worldwide Ambassador Plenipotentiary, Olorogun Dr. (Mrs.) Ambassador Fidelia Omodoro Adeseye-Ogunlewe is above all, a philanthropist. She has donated educational items, aid and so many forms of assistance out of her love for giving and raising others, as well advocated against social vices among youths.
Hence, the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) Worldwide Ambassador Plenipotentiary, Olorogun Dr. (Mrs.) Ambassador Fidelia Omodoro Adeseye-Ogunlewe comes around as fully qualified to be a true Ambassador of the Urhobos, as she sets out on a mission to take Urhobo to the world.
