Celebrating a colossus: HRH Eze Friday Ubani @80
HRH Eze Friday Alozie Dimkpa Ubani was born on 11th May, 1945 in what is now Umuanunuikea village in Nenu Autonomous Community. He is the first child and son of the late Deacon Benson Ubani, an Isiko man of Umuolo extraction in Isiko village of obi Mgboko Mbu Autonomous Community and the late Mrs Mary Nwanyinma Benson Ubani nee Ezekiel Ihemere of Nenu.
Growing up, Friday, “Deyi” as he was called by his generation, had his primary education at Nenu group school; obtaining the First School Leaving Certificate in 1958. For his Secondary School Education, he had gained admission into Wilcox Memorial Grammar School, Etinan, in the present day Akwa Ibom State. After a successful performance he earned the West African School Certificate in 1963. He next proceeded to the prestigious Yaba college of Technology and after the requisite course of study there, he obtained the National Diploma in civil Engineering. He was still then an Assistant Technical Officer in Training in the Federal Ministry Of Works Establishment.
The Nigerian Civil War 1967-1970, truncated his career. He had in addition to this education and civil Engineering works training acquired experience while in the establishment. From July 1965- September 1966, as a Technical officer-in-Training with the Federal Ministry of Works, he did surveying and quantity surveying in the construction of the Gusau-Sokoto Road:
From May 1967 – October 1970, he did similar works in projects handled by the East Central State Ministry of Works, owerri, to which he had been relocated due to the civil war.
Hiring out his experience and expert training to private establishments, from October 1970 – August 1974, as the Technical Officer in charge of Surveys and quantities in Mansa construction Company Ltd, he handed all the all the elements of the contract works that was requisite for the reconstruction of KANO- KARI ROAD from mile 61 to mile 118 of the Trunk ‘A’ Road. August 1974- April 1975, now as acting site agent,his services were transferred by the same company, MANSA CONSTRUCTION CO LTD to their new contract: CONSTRUCTION OF a 3.5 km ACCESS ROAD OFF THE GUSAU – Sokoto Road to THE BAKOLORI DAM SITE near the town of Talata Mafara in the then North west State of Nigeria.
MOVING TO TAYLOR WOODROW OF NIGERIA, KANO In APRIL 1975 As SITE ENGINEER AND LATER AS CHIEF ENGINEER, he was in charge of the KANO for client KANO STATE URBAN DEVELOPMENT BOARD. In this capacity he completed the construction.
Then followed the construction of the GUMEL- MAIGATARI ROAD in KANO state for the federal Government of Nigeria. (1979-19810
His services always then in demand, in 1981-1983 he did the engineering services work on the contract CONSTRUCTION OF ZARIA ROAD GTY CENTRE INFRASTRUCTURE for Kano state Government.
1983-1989 he worked on the company, Taylor Woodrow’s contract for the construction KANO RIVER IRRIGATION PROJECT in kano stae for HADEJIA JAMAARE RIVER BASIN
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
From 1989-1995, now as director/ Project Manger of Royal And Blue Ventures LTD, he did the planning and execution of DFFRI Roads projects for the company in KAZAURE LGA; Township Roads Projects in ADAMAWA STATE; LANDSCAPING works in government House Senior Staff Quarters, the state Broadcasting Service Headquateras, Taraba State House of Assembly
1995-2003, As Project Manger of TRANSPORTERS AND UTILITIES CONSTRUCTION COLTD he was in charge of the construction of CALABAR- IKONETO ROAD with 3 Bridges along the road the road and sand filling 3.6km in the Cross River Swamp crossing in order to build the roads.
Having been presented to the Abia State Government as the Eze elect of the newly created Obi Mgboko Mbu Autonomous community , he was recognized and given his staff of office by the then governor of the state, Orji Uzor Kalu on Feb 2003. The pragmatic and honest monarch who has the milk of kindness in him has successfully overseen his community which is one of the largest kingdoms in Obingwa for about 23 years now.
Udo Mgboko 1 is a family man and got married in December 1976 to Ugoeze Rhoda Ubani nee adiemere Nworu of OKPUAMA UKWU Village Autonomus Community OBINGWA LGA. The marriage is blessed with 3 males and 3 female children all grown up with families of their own.