Olorogun Kenneth Oghenerhoro Okpara, a former Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning in Delta State and a Governorship aspirant is dead.
The international financial expert, astute political leader, Urhobo patriot, and pan-Deltan died in Warri on Friday.
Okpara, who had made known his intention to run for governor in the 2023 gubernatorial election in Delta state, had, before his death, been shown support across the state. He was a grassroots politician who showed so much love for his people in Eku, his hometown, and earned their steady support.
He was also Commissioner of Finance and Economic Planning during the Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan-led administration in Delta State, and also left his footprints.
Born into the great Okpara Dynasty of Eku on February 8, 1961, in the Eku Community, Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, he had his Primary Education at C.M.S, in Eku.
He attended the prestigious Saint Peter’s Claver’s College, Aghalokpe, a school that produced Prof, P.P Ekeh, an internationally-acclaimed Sociologist and scholar and other outstanding leaders in Nigeria’s public and private sectors. He later proceeded to the University of Maiduguri, Borno State, where he bagged (Bsc. Accounting) in 1987.
He later bagged a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) degree at the prestigious Cambridge University, Cambridge, United Kingdom (UK).
Okpara was a product of Havard University, JFK School of Government Executive Education (Cutting Edge of Development Thinking Program) May 2013, and Cambridge University London, Judge Business School, April 2011.
He was an Associate Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria,1999, a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation 1998, Microsoft Professional-Internet (MCP- 1) 2000, Microsoft Certified System (MCSE) 2000.
He was also an International Financial Expert and a Chartered Accountant with strong leadership and analytical skills.
The late Senior Financial Management Specialist with the World Bank was imposed with the responsibilities of Financial Management, implementation support, and supervision of its funded and multi-donor trust fund investment projects in Afghanistan, South Asia.
He worked as a co-Task Team Leader / Manager for Public Financial Management Projects funded by the World Bank here in Nigeria as well.
He was Commissioner for Economic Planning and later, Commissioner Finance under former governor Uduaghan.