Late Prof. Isidore Okpewho’s Family Donates Books To DELSU

The family of late Professor Isidore Okpewho (NNOM), on Tuesday, February 15, 2022, donated twenty-four cartons of the late Professor’s books to the Delta State University, Abraka.

The books are specifically to be kept in the Department of English and Literary Studies.

Late Professor Okpewho was born in Agbor on November 9, 1941. His father was from Oria-Abraka while his mother was from Asaba. He was a renowned and leading authority in African Oral Literature and the author of popular novels like The Victims and The Last Duty.

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Before his death on September 4, 2016, Prof Okpewho was a lecturer at the University of Ibadan, where he had earlier graduated with a First-Class Honours in Classics. He was also a lecturer at the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Harvard University and Binghamton University, all in the United States of America.

The books the family donated were shipped down from the United States of America in December 2021 after they decided that a donation of that nature would be ideal for their ‘home institution’ where it would be studied for scholarship with nostalgia. The books were formally presented to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Andy Ogochukwu Egwunyenga at a ceremony held in the Vice-Chancellor’s Conference Room by a delegation led by Prof. Sunny Ahwefeada, the Dean of the Faculty of Arts. The immediate family members of late Professor Okpewho as well as his mentees and some scholars from the United State of America participated virtually in the ceremony. Some Principal officers of the University like Prof. Roseline N. Okoh, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Ochuko Anomohanran, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Mrs Rufina Ufiofio (University Registrar) and Prof. Steven Uwaifo (University Librarian) all witnessed the epoch making event.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Andy Ogochukwu Egwunyenga, who was very pleased, said that ‘Books are invaluable Treasures’.

He commended the family of late Prof Okpewho for their generosity.

He led members of the University community present at the ceremony to give a minute’s standing ovation to late Professor Okpewho and his family for their kind gesture.

The Vice-Chancellor who was visibly excited admitted that the books would contribute to knowledge and advance the quality of scholarship in the university.

The Head of English and Literary Studies Department, Dr. Enajite Ojaruega in her vote of thanks, promised that the books would be handled with utmost care and judiciously used by staff and students.

Prof. G. G. Darah, Mr. Prince Ohwavworhua, Mrs Mary Obiageli Okpewho (wife of late Prof. Okpewho), Mr Ediru Okpewho ( eldest son of late Prof. Okpewho), Mrs Onome Adejemilua (late Prof. Okpewho’s daughter) and Prof. Chiji Akoma, Chair, Department of Global Inter-Disciplinary Studies at Villanova University, Pennsylvania, USA, were all in attendance.