Showers Of Encomiums As Chief Ted Inegbedion Clocks 80...

Showers Of Encomiums As Chief Ted Inegbedion Clocks 80...

By: Oriaifoh Godwins

All roads led to the home of Chief Thaddeus  lnegbedion in Eror-Uromi on Sunday 16th June, 2024 where he celebrated his 80th Birthday anniversary, even as family and friends of the Octogenarian appreciated him for the several ways he touched the lives of different people.

The celebration of the 80th birthday of Chief Inegbedion started with a Thanksgiving service, that held at Saint Joseph Catholic Church, in Eror - Uromi.

At the homily, the officiating Priest, Rev. Father Peter Amadi,  who said; "Christianity in Esanland  is hampered by the culture and tradition of the land", added that, since he resumed at the parish, Chief Ted Inegbedion has been very close to him; saying, everytime they go for evangelism, Chief Ted Inegbedion is always fearless and in the forefront, especially in the destruction of oracles and idols.

Today, the Parish Priest said, "we are celebrating a man that stood firm in his faith, and as we are gathered to celebrate this man of exemplary character, we should be reminded that, our final destination is heaven. As everything in life, is vanity.

After the Church service, a well organised reception was held at Chief Ted's compound, for guests that came from far and near  where they were treated to assorted  foods and drinks, as traditional dancers, a Dee jay and the St. Joseph Catholic Church choir, Eror, were also on ground to entertain guests  to variegated "colours" of entertainment.

Speaking with Esan Magazine on the kind of person that his father is, Chief Ted Inegbedion's first son, Mr. Eromosele Inegbedion, who had earlier during the church service, described his father as a rigid man when it comes to a cause he believes in, again described his dad as someone who is always very clear about what he was doing, where he was going, and what he wanted. "You can say, Ted likes what he likes, with this, you could say he is inflexible, but at the same time, he is someone  who is very certain of his convictions".

"My father is a keen church goer, but more than that, he is a man of faith who is involved in several aspects of evangelism".

Continuing, Mr Eromosele said; "discipline is another character trait that I learnt from my dad..."

"...I am not presenting my dad as a saint though, but I  can say, along the line in his career, he has presented himself as incorruptible, sometimes, to the detriment of his career progression, and that exemplifies how much principles meant to him and in a way that is being positively stubborn".

Finally, Mr Eromosele said even though his father was at times rigid in dictating the direction they, the children will go, just like a typical Nigerian parent of a certain generation would do, but as they grew older, they began to have their independent  thinking and way of life that today, they sometimes laugh over such experiences.

"...I want to use this opportunity to thank God  for my father's life, his health, and the  family around him..."

Mr. Ehimen Inegbedion, the second son to Chief Ted Inegbedion, said; "... growing up, my father was a scary man, but as I grew up, we became friendly..." 

"... people have said several lovely things about him, but I must say, this is not the first time I am hearing people saying good things about him, and it is great having him as my dad..."

"...my dad is a honest person, a godly man, a man of strong faith in God, and one that believes that, you can achieve whatever you set your mind to achieve, if you work hard..." 

Mr. Ehimen thanked everyone for their love in celebrating his father; saying; "I thank God for giving my dad the grace to make a better version of himself despite his lowly background, and I also thank God for the way he used his position to positively affect other people's lives".

Eghonghon Inegbedion, Chief Inegbedion's third son, described his father as a man that inspired many people in Several ways. He said, sometimes, he agrees and at other times, he disagrees on a number of issues with his dad. Saying; "my father is a man with strong conviction who believes in what he believes and holds on to it, and this has inspired me a lot......"

"....he also has very strong faith in God. He works his words and not just talk the talk. He is generous. The array of people that have come out to celebrate him today, is a testimony to this fact".

Mrs. Enimielen Inegbedion, one of the daughter inlaws to Chief Ted Inegbedion, described her father in-law as a man of integrity, a very strong man who has gone through a lot in life, and has been able to weather all the storms that he has faced.

She said; "...my father in-law is a very cheerful and charitable man. Like you can see from the number of people in attendance, that he is a very good man in his community..."

"He is a great father and a wonderful father in-law and grandfather".

Again, another daughter inlaw to Chief Inegbedion, Mrs. Queensley Inegbedion, said; "...my father in-law has the face of God and the heart of Jesus. I have heard so many people preach that love is patience, but my father in-law, is love himself. I have seen it, and i can feel it..."

Mrs. Queensley said, she learnt the importance of prayers from her father in-law, as he often tells her that, "if you must live, you must pray".

Continuing, she said; "...my father in-law is a super hero who loves me unconditionally. I can't remember when last he called me by my name; rather, he calls me 'my daughter'.

"Today, I thank God for giving me the opportunity to be part of this celebration, to celebrate him. I thank God for making him my father in-law, who has eventually fit into the position of my biological father, who I lost last year..."

Mrs. Queensley, who described her father in-law as an angel sent to her by God in 2016, said; "I love this angel... Happy 80th birthday daddy..."

Mr. Phillip Inegbedion, one of Chief Ted's younger brothers, described his elder brother as a strong-willed man who not only have a clear vision of his destination, but also consciously and consistently work hard on his road this destination, disallowing any distraction on his path. "

...he is a goal-getter", Mr. Phillip said.

Also, Sir Peter Inegbedion, another of the octogenarian’s younger brother, described Chief Ted as a brother to everybody he comes across.  “he is a humble and gentle man, highly disciplined, forthright in everything he does, very charitable and an evangelizer; in fact, I call him the saint Paul of our time, he is a very devoted Christian, highly committed to the activities of the church. He is the Chief benefactor of the family”.

Sir Peter continued by saying, Chief Ted struggled to achieve everything that he achieved. Saying; “and in the course of that struggle, he took us along”.

Mrs. Christy Oifoh, nee Inegbedion, a younger sister to Chief Ted, said; "... Chiet Ted Inegbedion, is a very disciplined man, who will stop at nothing in rendering assistance to those he could render it to..."

"The very least he will do, is to give you a vital advice that will solve the problem, if you follow his advice. I thank God for the way he used him as a channel of blessings to many..."

Mrs. Margaret Uche, nee Inegbedion another younger sister to the celebrant, described Chief Ted as; “a man with a lot of graces that only God can define”.

Continuing, she said, Chief Ted is pivotal to her achievements today. 

"He is so proactive, as he can think of so many years to come, and advice you accordingly, so you can fit into the trend of things in the future”.

Mrs. Esther Omofoma, Chief Ted's cousin, said; "...I cannot just talk about the goodness and generosity of Chief Ted, in isolation of his humility, meek and empathetic nature". He is an upright man, very unassuming. I thank God for giving him the grace to be what he is to many people today. 

Mr. Anetor Ebhabha, a Lagos based business man, said; "uncle Ted has touched several lives irrespective of whether you are close to him or not. He is not a selfish man. When it comes to guiding one to the right path, he is divinely blessed on how to give the right and very accurate advice to people that he come across, and that has actually in several ways helped to mould me and guided me through in my career, finances and even in  my family life..."

Mr. Lucky Inegbenosun, the Managing Director, Palmera Microfinance Bank, a Microfinance Bank that was promoted by Chief Ted Inegbedion, also spoke on the kind of person that Chief Inegbedion is.

 

According to Mr. Inegbenosun; “…as a result of Chief Ted’s initiative, about sixty five persons, a number of them, Ibos and Yorubas, are today employed by the Micro Finance Bank, and the Bank has been operating for the past 32years now”.

“…you can imagine how many people, including myself, that have been earning their living from this his initiative…”

“Chief Ted Inegbedion, is a father to all. He is in the business of humanitarian service of assisting those that come in contact with him, irrespective of whether such person is a close relative to him or not…”

The Publisher and Chief Executive Officer of Esan Magazine, Mr. Peter Odianosen Iwelomen, a cousin to Chief Ted, also expressed how he benefited from Chief Ted’s benevolence.

Mr. Iwelomen, aka Wello, recalled the pleasant memory of how in January 1976, Chief Ted took him from Esanland to Lagos.

Wello said; ‘……our relationship has been very fertile. Chief Ted is blessed with the wisdom to advice and guide you to success. He is highly principled’.

‘He is a very simple and contended man. He is down to earth, and trustworthy. He has an ever available broad shoulder that many leaned on and like a rock, he stood very firm especially in carrying everyone along…..’

Speaking with Esan Magazine, the Octogenarian celebrant, Chief Thaddeus Inegbedion, aka Ted Inegbedion, a trained Chartered Accountant, who retired from active service after rising to the position of Managing Director, MD, and becoming the MD of a number of banks, in the course of his career, and eventually retired about thirty years ago, said; “…people actually thought I wouldn’t go to school, but here I am today….”

“I give God all the glory for my life, because, when I see all these children and grand Children, when I look at this house, on which I don’t pay rent, all I want from God now, is for God to give me the grace to do his will for the rest of my life”.

Speaking on factors that are responsible for a man’s longevity, Chief Ted said;  “…genetic, and moderation in everything that one does, could be possible factors, above all, let everything you think, and do, be pure, and leave what you cannot change”.

Speaking on his benevolence attitude to people around him, he said, “the spirit of giving is a gift from God. You don’t have to be rich to give, and if you give for a good cause, you will not be hungry. If you give, God will give you in return. Nobody can outweigh God in giving”.

Finally, Chief Ted advised young people to be focused. He said; “tell God what you want in life, and pursue that goal with determination. For the leaders, they should give good examples by what they do, and not what they say; because what the leaders do is what the people read, and the leaders should be ready to give account on the responsibility that God has given them. For parents who have children to raise, pampering them is not the solution. Both parents must be united in disciplining their children…” 

He concluded by saying; “life is good if you live a good life yourself”.

The entire Management and Staff of Esan Magazine, wish Chief Ted Inegbedion, a rare gem of no small value, who rose from "rags to blessings" a HAPPY AND GLORIOUS BIRTHDAY.