(iii) IGBINEDION AND THE WORLD

Chief Igbinedion also visited Oral Roberts University, Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1989. The warmth and glamour he exuded in his first two major trips to the United States, notably to Jackson State University, and Rust College, both in Mississippi, had prepared the ground for the Oklahoma sojourn. Stories of Chief Igbinedion's earlier performances had preceded his 1989 journey and his hosts, Oral Roberts of Oral Roberts University, having been a guest of the Esama of Benin at his residence knew well in advance what to expect and in fact how to go about getting it. They succeeded because the Esama remained as constant as the Northern Star.

Chief Igbinedion's visits to the United States are still being discussed today particularly amongst those who hosted him, not just because he is a first class African Chief but essentially because of the ease with which he shared his wealth with the needy.

A few points can be discerned from Chief Igbinedion's visits to the United States of America and the Caribbean. The first is that the visits were concentrated on academic institutions essentially to assist them in the development of one branch or another of their academic programmes. It will be recalled that Chief Igbinedion did assist a number of Nigerian higher institutions including the Universities of Nigeria and Benin, showing a consistent trend in his interest in the development of higher education. Secondly, Chief Igbinedion's American visits underlined an unusually elastic capacity on his part for philanthropy. He was gracious in magnanimity. Thirdly, the Esama's visits helped to rejuvenate the waning regard for African culture. Chief Igbinedion exhibited African culture both through his native costumes and through the elegant display of cultural values by the traditonal rulers and chiefs who accompanied him on those visits. And finally, by his visits, the Esama of Benin did Africa, Nigeria and Benin proud; the place of Africa in the world of culture was again underlined and through this, Nigeria, the single largest territory with the highest concentration of black population.
As a first class Chief of Benin Kingdom, one of the most prominent cradles of the black civilisation and culture, Chief Igbinedion by his visits successfully portrayed those cultural values for which Benin had been well known. In the final analysis, the Esama of Benin was a noteworthy ambassador of Benin, Nigeria and Africa during those momentous visits to the Americas.
Another remarkable visit undertaken by Chief Igbinedion was to Monrovia, Liberia on the 6th and 7th of December 1993. The visit acquainted the Esama with the stark realities of the Liberian Civil War and underlined his concern for the plight of the Liberian people. It would be recalled that he had earlier demonstrated his deep empathy by agreeing to Okada Airline being used to transport ECOMOG peace keeping troops to Monrovia. The Chief was, in his usual philanthropic spirit, so moved that he braved the visit to the ECOMOG troops.
The Liberian President, His Excellency, Amos Sawyer thanked Chief Igbinedion for his noteworthy support and hoped that the relationship between his country and Nigeria would grow with the years. Chief Igbinedion's visit to Liberia once again confirms his love and affection for those around him and his claim to world citizenship

His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales sharing a joke with Sir Gabriel and Lady Igbinedion on the Occasion of his visit to their daughter's school, Roedean School, Brighton for the Commmissioning of the Roedean Arts Theatre

IGBINEDION AND OKADA

IGBINEDION AND NIGERIA

IGBINEDION AND THE WORLD

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CONCLUSION

This website has attempted to unfold Chief Osawaru Igbinedion from the cradle to manhood and from a humble beginning to a position of enermous affluence...READ ON