Olorogun Peter Igho serenades friends, family members on 77th birthday, By Sufuyan Ojeifo

Going by the tone or tenor of the invitation sent via WhatsApp, the occasion was meant to be quiet and simple, certainly not a shindig. Read him: “On the 28^th of March 2025, I will be 77 years old. Please join me and my family in thanking the Almighty for getting me this far and hopefully for many more years ahead in good health, happiness and prosperity.  I truly appreciate the support of friends, family and colleagues on this journey that has been wonderful, epic and inspiring.  We give Gd the glory.  There will be no big party celebrations, partly out of respect for the Lent/Ramadan/obligations.  However, family members and friends are invited to my house…for light refreshments and some unique Northern and Southern delicacies! May the Almighty bless us all. Amen.”

Olorogun Peter Igho turned 77 on March 28, 2025, but he did not look it.  Friends of his who joined him in his modest residence attested to that fact.  His smooth and youthful look, perhaps, externalises and exemplifies the peace he enjoys within.  Incredible tributes to his peaceful disposition, charitable work and prolific interactions with different classes of people in an obtrusive fashion, regardless of age differences and accomplishments in life, always mediated by a large dose of humility, hallmarked the dinner. Present on the occasion were Otunba Olusegun Runsewe (DG, National Council of Arts and Culture), Alhaji Idi Farouk (former DG of National Orientation Agency), Professor Godwin Sogolo (Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at the National Open University of Nigeria), Chief Sam Nkire (a veteran journalist and politician),  Mr Dele Olowu (a public affairs analyst and writer of the utilitarian genre), representatives of alumni of Saint John’s College, Kaduna and some members of Urhobo Leadership Forum, Abuja, of which he is president.

Yours sincerely was there on the occasion, courtesy of a personal invitation by the Olorogun himself. The spirit behind that extension of invitation to me reinforced the assertion supra that the humility of the iconic producer of the very utilitarian hue has assumed a distinct life of its own. I got to know Olorogun Peter Igho while I was media honcho for Chief Anthony Anenih (of blessed memory).  He would in the course of his close and robust relationship with Chief Anenih consult for the Leader on his area of competence.  Chief Anenih was believed to have been instrumental in his appointment as Director General of the National Lottery Commission.  For me and others who were Anenih’s boys, that was more of a possibility that did not warrant any investigation. We could be right or wrong, it really did not matter.  Olorogun was a constant feature in the ecology of Anenih’s Asokoro, Abuja home.

In recent times, Olorogun has maintained a constant connection with me, leveraging our mutual relationship with the Leader to have his editorial materials published in THE CONCLAVE, which I superintend as publisher and editor-in-chief. I am always happy to oblige him, not necessarily because I owe him that obligatory duty to publish but because I am enamoured by his high sense of care and humility that runs through his request each time he reaches out for assistance. “My brother, kindly assist with the publication of this material.” He would always write. Pronto, I would always respond in accordance.

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Sitting quietly in between Otunba Runsewe and Mike Igho (his younger brother) where I was served a plate of salad by Olorogun himself, I enjoyed the banter between and among Olorogun’s circle of friends who are in their later 60s and early to mid-70s.  The only older friend of his on the occasion was Emeritus Professor Sogolo who clocked 79 years on January 4, this year.  It was a night of bliss. There was camaraderie on parade. There was love in the air.  Reminiscences of the good, the bad and the ugly experiences of the past added a significant spice to the dinner. The man who declassified the series of exploits and escapades was Mr Dele Olowu. As soon as the two birthday cakes arrived in the living room, one of them provided by Otunba Runsewe, the inimitable Olowu was summoned by Olorogun to take charge of proceedings as master compere.  Trust Olowu. He did a fantastic job of it.

He guided the post dinner tributes through the labyrinth of chatter and laughter before the cutting of the cake.  Indeed, one of the most significant highpoints of the night was the special tribute to Olorogun by Alhaji Idi Farouk, who attended the event in a wheel chair. The tribute that was couched in poetry and delivered in prose style elicited dramatic reactions from the small audience. Farouk, whose tribute was read on his behalf, captured the history and histrionics around Olorogun’s persona and accomplishments, particularly his imprimatur as producer of such NTA soap operas as “Cockcrow at Dawn”, “Things fall Apart”, “Sunnyside of Life”. “New Masquerade”, “Samanja,” “Mirror in the Sun,” “Village Headmaster”, and a host of others.

Runsewe described Olorogun as a detribalized Nigeria who knew how to relate and communicate across different age groups.  Read Runsewe: “He is not envious of anybody’s progress; his doors are always open to take in people.  He is a philanthropist.  I celebrate your life of service.  You are living well because you wish everyone around you well.  Olorogun is a great family man and champion of interconnectedness.”

Less than two hours hours after the outing, Olorogun, in his characteristically humble and appreciative disposition sent a WhatsApp message to me, to wit: “Thanks so much for honouring me with your presence tonight despite the short notice.  Much appreciated.  May the Almighty continue to bless you and the good work you are doing so admirably.  Best regards.” I believed I owed him a load of gratitude for inviting me into his circle and for some networking. Glad at the very warm reception accorded me by Otunba Runsewe. It was an opportunity to reconnect and touch base with Prof Sogolo.  I trust Olorogun to have sent individual message of appreciation to everyone who attended the modest dinner.

This is wishing the Olorogun many more years of service to humanity and God.  God bless you and your tribe, Sir.

■ Sufuyan Ojeifo, MNGE, is publisher and editor-in-chief of THE CONCLAVE online newspaper.