BY CHARLES EMENI
HON Ben Rolands Igbakpa, a humble team player was born into the Igbakpa family of Ovade – Oghara in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State in 1966. He rose against all odds to become a source of inspiration and hope to many who have crossed his path.
With a strong view that, success is not a question of where we come from, but which way we decide to take in our journey of life, Hon Ben Igbakpa believes that, we are first and foremost human beings, who are naturally unlimited, free-roaming and guided by personal principles. And all we eventually become, and the meaning we make out of life and what people eventually remember us for must be guided by our personal rules of behavior.
Hon Ben Igbakpa also holds the view that, the most decisive aspect is life is not the accumulation of wealth, prominence or being perfect; it is about being lawful, humble, selfless and able to touch the lives of other people positively.
He attended Onogborhe Primary School, Ovade – Oghara and Ogini Grammar School, Ogharefe, where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate and West Africa School Certificate respectively. He holds a Diploma Certificate in Computer Science, Computer Programming and Information Technology/Data Processing. As an early riser, he got his first employment as Management Information Officer (MIO) in 1988 with a Pharmaceutical Company in Lagos- Chemiron International Ltd, before proceeding to Vego Cosmetics Products Ltd in 1992; and in 1999, he got employed as an Assistant Safety Officer (ASO) in an oil/Gas Company – CGG Nigeria Ltd.
Hon Ben Igbakpa holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from the Delta State University, Abraka, graduating in 2004, and a Masters Degree in Public Administration (MPA) from the same University. He also holds a Ph.D in Public Administration from Novena University, Ogume. His venture into politics began during the tenure of His Excellency Chief James Onanefe Ibori as the Executive Governor of Delta State that spanned between 1991 through to 2006. In 2001, he served in the Governor’s Office as Executive Officer, Special Project Unit. Thereafter, he was elected as a lawmaker in the Delta State House of Assembly under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to represent Ethiope West Constituency. As a result of his enviable performance in the House, he was deemed worthy for the position of Deputy Chief Whip and Deputy Majority Leader.
Under the former Gov. Emmanuel Uduaghan’s administration, Hon Ben Igbakpa was appointed Commissioner for Transport. And being a jolly good fellow that is focused on achieving positive results, he succeeded in turning around the fortunes of the Directorate of Transportation under his watch. Within a short period in office, he revived the then Urban City Transport Scheme in Delta State. He introduced the Delta State Intra- City and Inter-state Modern Bus Terminals in major cities of the State, and brought Ultra-Modern Buses to ease the era of stress- filled public transportation; with a sharp reduction in transport fares and created a massive job opening through the revamped transport Commission. Hon Ben Igbakpa took his journey into politics a step higher as he was elected as a lawmaker into the House of Representatives, representing Ethiope Federal Constituency, where he distinguished himself as a worthy representative of his people. He will be remembered for, among other things, his tactical interrogation of the former Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Prof Kemebradikumo Daniel Pondei, who slumped while being questioned by a probing panel in the House of Representatives over an alleged N81.5 bn between October 2019 to May 31, 2020.
After a successful completion of his tenure in the House of Representatives, Hon Ben Igbakpa set up a viable indigenous biscuit company in Sapele, with the brand name – Memories Foods, producers of Lilly Cookies, Fresh Butter Biscuit, Fresh Chocolate Biscuit and Lucky Bite Milky Cookies, thus creating employment for a good number of people in the State. He is happily married with very promising children, and still maintains a strong link and relationship with his old-time friends, a unique quality that stands him out, not only as a leader, but as a good, reliable and trusted personality in one man.
