Osagie Ize-Iyamu Explained

Osagie Ize-Iyamu
Honorific Prefix:Pastor
Office1:Chief of Staff to Edo state government
Term Start1:1999
Term End1:2003
Office2:SSG of Edo State
Term Start2:2003
Term End2:2007
Birth Place:Benin City, Edo, Nigeria
Home Town:Iguododo, Orhionmwon, Edo, Nigeria
Spouse:Professor Idia Ize-Iyamu
Occupation:Pastor, Politician, Lawyer and Farmer
Nationality:Nigerian
Party:All Progressives Congress (APC)
Children:4

Osagie Ize-Iyamu is a Nigerian pastor, politician, and a former Chief of Staff and Secretary to the Edo state government. He was the gubernatorial candidate of the Edo state People's Democratic Party for the 2016 Edo state gubernatorial election.[1] He is currently a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).[2] Ize-Iyamu was the National Vice-Chairman, South-South Zone, of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).[3]

Ize-Iyamu served as Director General of Adams Oshiomhole's 2nd term Campaign Organisation. He was also the Coordinator of Goodluck/Sambo Campaign Organisation in Edo State, 2015. Recently, he was honoured by the Benson Idahosa University[4] [5]

Early life and family

Osagie Ize-Iyamu was born in Benin City to Chief Robert Osayande Ize-Iyamu and Mrs. Magdalene Naghado Ize- Iyamu (née Obasohan). His father was a revered high chief of the Oba of Benin, ranking second in command until his demise as the Esogban of Benin. His mother was a trained teacher who later transitioned into trader.[6]

A most significant aspect of the history of the Ize-Iyamu family is that it holds the record of building and owning the first storey building "Egedege N'Okaro"[7] [8] in the whole of the Mid-Western Region, Nigeria which is the present day Edo and Delta States. It was built in 1906 by Osagie's great grandfather Late Chief Iyamu, the Inneh of Benin Kingdom.[9]

Education

Ize-Iyamu attended St. Joseph Primary School and Ebenezer Nursery and Primary School in Benin City. He had his Secondary education at Edo College and passed out with grade I in his West African Examination Council (WAEC) examinations.Iyamu attended the University of Benin where he graduated with an LL.B (Hons) and proceeded to the Nigerian Law School where he was awarded the Bachelor of Law (BL) qualification and called to the Nigerian Bar in 1987.

He is an honorary doctorate degree holder of the Benson Idahosa University, Benin City. On July 1, 2019, he was recognized for his contribution to the development of Nigeria's democratic process and rule of law when he received the Life Time Achievers Award by the Nigerian Bar Association, Benin (Lion) Branch.

Personal life

Osagie Ize-Iyamu is married to (Dr.) Idia Ize-Iyamu, a consultant orthodontist with the University of Benin Teaching Hospital and a professor at the University of Benin.[10] They have four children.

2024 Governorship Race

On 17th February 2024, Iyamu withdrew from the governorship race 24 hours before primary election. [11]

Notes and References

  1. News: Breaking News: Osagie Ize-Yamu wins Edo PDP primaries. 20 June 2016. Vanguard. 20 June 2016.
  2. Web site: Edo 2016: I am the most qualified to succeed Oshiomhole – Ize Iyamu – Vanguard News. 31 January 2016. vanguardngr.com. 9 September 2016.
  3. Web site: Why we dumped Edo APC —Ize-Iyamu • Latest News • DAAR Group • DAAR Communications. daargroup.com. 9 September 2016.
  4. Web site: I drank and womanized, but accident brought me closer to God—Ize Iyamu – Vanguard News. 14 December 2012. vanguardngr.com. 9 September 2016.
  5. Web site: Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu donates to internally displaced persons - Independent Television/Radio. itvradionigeria.com. en. 2017-12-20.
  6. Web site: Pastor Ize-Iyamu Biography. 2021-01-22. Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu Official Website!. en-US.
  7. Web site: Details – The Nation Archive. thenationonlineng.net. 9 September 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160819050035/http://www.thenationonlineng.net/archive2/tblnews_Detail.php?id=67740. 19 August 2016. dmy-all.
  8. Web site: Benin Kingdom Historical Sites. edoworld.net. 9 September 2016.
  9. Web site: A Connection to Cherish: My Relationship with Oba Erediauwa. Online. Editor. 14 May 2016. thisdaylive.com. 9 September 2016.
  10. Web site: Dr. Idia Ize-Iyamu . July 7, 2024 . Vanguard News.
  11. Web site: Adedipe . Adeyinka . 2024-02-17 . Why I withdrew from Edo gov race – Ize-Iyamu . 2024-07-07 . Punch Newspapers . en-US.