Juliet Uduji
Professor of Educational Psychology from University of Abuja, Angela Orengwu Okatahi, who retires on June 1, after a mandatory retirement age of 70.
From today, June 1, 2020, therefore, her service comes to an end, having attained the mandatory retirement age of 70. Balogun has this to say about Prof Okatahi: “I first came across Prof Angela Okatahi in the home of the Adabas. This was on the occasion of their 50th wedding anniversary in December 2016.
She came in like every other guest. However, when she stood to speak, it was different and that gave her out. “There was strength in her communication. Her words were simple but penetrating and of course, she dropped this. “…teacher Tom Adaba…..was my teacher in primary school.
He taught me Arithmetic…” That is the woman we celebrate today – a blend of urban and rural configuration.” Within the space of her 40 years in the university, she had produced 54 postgraduate students and mentored a number of people, some of whom are professors and senior administrators in various institutions/organisations in Nigeria and abroad.
Her 51 years of teaching career have produced and touched the lives of many captains of industries, such as CG, Rtd Generals, and many other high net worth personalities. At a time, her services were extended to other federal parastatals, which included board membership.
She was also one of the eight pioneer members of Kogi state government council in 1992 when she was eventually appointed a special adviser. She was saddled with the responsibility of establishing the Kogi state polytechnic, Lokoja, which recorded astounding success. She said: ”Where ever I went, north or south, east or west, especially at the airports, someone would always walk up to me and say, Prof, l know you do not reçognise me anymore. You taught me at Ahmadu Bello University many years ago. For me, this is an earthly reward that cannot be quantified or bought with money in the market.”
She has held numerous leadership positions in the universities including deanship and has many national and international researched publications to her credit. She has been awarded many academic awards and chieftaincy titles, including one from the council of chiefs in Ebiraland, which she cherishes so much. That title is – “Ometere of Ebiralnad (Daudu)”, meaning “one who does good” and another Christian title bestowed on her by St Paul Anglican Church, Okene Diocese in 2010 titled “Oniwoji Iragu.”
Speaking on her life after retirement, Prof Okatahi said: “l run a community-based service under the name – Okatahi Foundation, which offers, among other humanitarian services award of scholarships to indigent students and empowerment of youths and widows.”
Prof Okatahi was married to late Rev Dr. Stephen Okatahi in holy matrimony in 1970 and blessed with five adorable children, six adopted children, and eleven grandchildren. Each of these children is doing well in their respective chosen disciplines.
She was the first female to have obtained Ph.D., consequently a professor in Ebiraland. Her hobbies, unbelievable – cooking and visitation to orphanage homes.
Credit: UCG