MAZI PROFESSOR PIUS MBONU IGBOKO
Mazi, Professor Pius Mbonu Igboko popularly known as P.M. by his peers and colleagues was born in Makurdi, Benue State where his parents Mazi Igboko Okereke and Madam Hannah Mgboro Igboko (nee Okoro, of Okoroavigbo dynasty) resided as great merchants of the time. After dwelling in Makurdi for a long while, young P. M. and his parents relocated to Amokwe in Udi Local Government Area in present day Enugu State. In fact, while in Makurdi, his father participated as a foreman labourer in the construction of the first bridge over River Benue in Makurdi. That act (participation) earned him the title Omere Anyim Makurdi (meaning conqueror of Makurdi River). We, the children of Mazi P.M. Igboko still remember what his father, i.e our grandfather told him (Pius) he learnt from the European engineers who constructed that bridge. Precisely his father told him that foreigners (Europeans) abhorred dragging-feet (laziness), falsehood and telling stories while on duty which he captioned “tori na duty”. Such misdemenors earned one instant dismissal from work.
Through hard work and determination P.M. went to one of the local “universities” at the time, Saint Charles College Onitsha to qualify as a trained High Elementary teacher. His contemporaries include the late Bishops Nwedo and Unegbu, Chief (former minister) P. N. Okeke, Sir Sylvester Nwapa, Messrs Francis Mgbulu (Amadi) and F. N. Ugwu Oju, Chief Casmir Okoli, and Dr. Ethelbert (Ezenta) Eze as well as Mr. Martin Nnadozie and Mazi Joseph Igboko (his older brother), whereas Francis Cardinal Arinze, Sir John Obidiegwu, Prof. Martin Ijere, Col. Mike Ivenso, Prof Godwin Odenigwe, Sir F. U. Ihe were some of his students! After graduating from St. Charles, he taught in a number of primary and secondary schools including College of the Immaculate Conception (CIC) Enugu and his alma mater St. Charles College Onitsha.
Due to his unquenchable thirst, and avid desire for knowledge and mental development, P.M. was able to secure scholarships at various times to study in three leading British universities of Southampton, Oxford and Birmingham. He believed that no society can be transformed without a balanced education. His life and career emphasized the ennobling and liberating effect of education. This his conviction was duly bequeathed to his children.
In 1957 when he returned from Britain, he went straight to Aggrey Memorial College Arochukwu on a rescue mission. He made immense personal sacrifice by rejecting his appointment as the first indigenous (black skinned) principal of the prestigious Kings College Lagos. That was a rare mark of self-sacrifice cum denial, given the facilities and prospects of Kings College then, especially when juxtaposed with the conditions of service in Aggrey Memorial College, Arochukwu. Little wonder Governor James Robertson wrote that “it is much more commendable than condemnable to see a man like Pius Igboko turning down such plush appointment in Kings College Lagos in preference to a teaching position in mosquito stricken area such as Arochukwu”. This was in reaction to the ignoble moves to get P.M. to rescind his Aggrey Memorial College decision, in view of his Government Scholarship. But the truth of the matter was that Aggrey had been pencilled down for closure in January 1957 by the political opponents of Dr. Alvan Ikoku for lack of the requisite two graduate teachers, had P. M. not come board timeously!
At Aggrey P.M. taught Mathematics, English Language and Literature, Latin, Music then known as sing song. That was an act of total commitment and self-donation. He was Vice-Principal to the Great Alvan Ikoku, as the Principal.
In 1965, when P.M. felt that Aggrey had stabilized enough for him to optimize his chain of qualifications, he went first to the University of Lagos and later to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He was among the crop of scholars that developed and promoted Modern Mathematics in Nigeria, and indeed Africa, Christened the Entebbe Mathematics Series. He published widely in books and journals. He also served at various times as the National President Mathematics Association of Nigeria (MAN). In fact, the Association immoratalized his name by instituting the P. M. Igboko Annual Mathematics Award/Scholarship to Secondary School Students. He was also the President and National Patron of the Philosophy Association of Nigeria.
In 1976 P.M. was appointed a Commissioner in the East Central State Public Service Commission. In his short stint with the Commission he helped to uplift it in line with global standards and best civil and public service practices.
Mazi Pius Mbonu Igboko served as Secretary General Amuvi Welfare Union from 1940 to 1952 and President from 1974 till death in November 1977, having taken over from Mazi E. O. Ume (whom our grandmother fondly called Ume Nwa Ugo). P. M. was also Secretary of Arochukwu Development Union (1960-1962) and equally served as a personal secretary to the late Eze Aro, Mazi Kanu Oji. As Onoh 2002:180 recalls;
As the Secretary of Arochukwu Development Union he worked hard and travelled to places – rural and urban – to alert Aro people of the danger of allowing their neighbours to remove the headquarters of the Local Government administration from the town. He applied to the Colonial Office then with others to make Arochukwu an urban town, which materialized in 1971.
Mazi P. M. Igboko and his wife, Madan Esther Nnennia Igboko (nee Okoro from the respected Okoroji royal family of Ujari, Arochukwu) have five children. We the children and our spouses, namely, Professor Nnenna Kanno, Barrister Gabe & Dr. Obioma Igboko, Dr. Ogo & Architect Chijioke Kanu, Dr. Ebere & Dr. Abel Ekpunobi, Dr. Agodi & Pharmacist Bisi Alagbe.