Accountant, Administrator
Mandel Miene Charles Igbodo was a formidable accountant and financial icon from the Niger Delta. He was best known for being part of the winning team as an Executive Commissioner of Finance under former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan during his tenure as Governor of Bayelsa State from 2003 to 2007.
Who Was Mandel Miene Charles Igbodo?
MMC, as he was widely called, hailed from Twon Brass in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. He received his B.Sc. in Accounting from the University of Lagos in 1968 and was the first graduate accountant to be employed into the Civil Service of old Rivers State in 1968. Mandel Miene Charles Igbodo was one of the most judicious, professional accountants the Niger Delta has ever produced, known for his thoughtfulness and principled characteristics, though sometimes misunderstood and referred to as controversial.
Due to his dexterity and professionalism in accounting, the government of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as Governor of Bayelsa State, who later became the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, appointed him as Honourable Commissioner of Finance from 2003 to 2007. He performed optimally. He was a father of four resourceful children and, though a polygamist, was a Methodist by faith. On November 27, 2007, he passed away at the age of 68.
His Birth
Mandel Miene Charles Igbodo was born on April 22, 1939, into the Christian family of the late Mr. Charles Faghawari Igbodo and Madam Emily Ekitonmokuma Spiff, both of Ada-Ama, Twon Brass in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
Mandel Miene Charles Igbodo’s Education
MMC attended several Anglican schools in the Niger Delta, ending in St. Barnabas’ School, Twon Brass, where he completed his primary education. His frequent changes in schools were due to his father’s postings to various United African Company (UAC) locations, as his father, Mr. Charles Faghawari Igbodo, was then working as a UAC agent. After completing his primary education, he proceeded to Priscilla Memorial Grammar School (PMGS) Oguta, Eastern Nigeria (now in Imo State) for his secondary education. He later gained admission to study Accountancy at the prestigious University of Lagos, where he graduated within three years with a Bachelor’s degree in 1968.
Career Life
MMC worked briefly with the Customs and Excise Department in Lagos and later moved to the Nigerian Railways Corporation. He attended the Nigerian Railway Traffic School and then worked at Akere Railway Station (now in Niger State) as a Staff Clerk and later transferred to Lagos as a Traffic Staff, during which he combined permanent full-time night duty with full-time university education. This was a feat for which he was commended by his bosses at the Nigerian Railway Corporation. Upon the creation of 12 states in Nigeria in 1967 under Major General Yakubu Gowon, MMC was the first graduate accountant to be employed by the old Rivers State Civil Services Commission in 1968 and rose to the post of Deputy Accountant General before retiring. His working career with the Rivers State Government started with the Treasury Department, where he served in virtually all the professional ministries, departments, local governments, and boards, including Health, Works, Information, House of Assembly, Schools, Health Management Boards, and the Agricultural Production and Marketing Corporation, among others. In between his working career, he attended various professional courses at home and abroad, including a British Council sponsored Advanced Certificate Course in Finance and Accounting at the prestigious University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland. He attracted and earned very high commendations from his bosses. Dogged and principled in character, he was sometimes misunderstood and referred to as controversial.
Marital and Family Life
He was married to his first wife, Madam Isabella Thompson of Okrika, Rivers State, and that union was purposefully blessed with four children. During his lifetime, he was devoted to his family’s welfare. He loved and cared for all who came to him for assistance. Education was of utmost importance to him, and he encouraged everyone to achieve a good education, as that is one thing that, once given, cannot be taken back from you. He held family members in high esteem and always had the progress of the family at heart. The task of bringing up his relations was quite enormous, but with God’s guidance and grace, he was able to support their education and help them hold responsible or otherwise promising positions in life.
Christian Life
He was a devoted Christian and kept his faith in the Almighty God. In his youth, he was a member of the St. Barnabas Church Choir. He inculcated the fear of God in his children and other relations around him and helped propagate the Christian faith by making it compulsory for every member of the family to attend the daily early morning devotion. He believed in giving thanks to God Almighty in every situation. He was a very active member of the Methodist Church and was awarded the Diocesan Merit Award of the Methodist Church of Nigeria. He was the Financial Secretary of the Men Fellowship, Class Leader of Reuben Class of Wesley Methodist Church, Harbour Road, Port Harcourt, and IPSO FACTO, a Member of the Church Council, the highest decision-making body of the church. He was also a Member of the Wesley Methodist Committee of Friends. He also attended St. Barnabas Anglican Church, Twon Brass whenever he was at home and gave support to its growth.
Life After Retirement
Upon retirement from the Civil Service, both the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Bayelsa State Government saw the qualities in him and appointed him to serve in several capacities, such as:
- Chairman, Bayelsa State Family Support Trust Fund
- Member, representing Bayelsa State in the Technical Committee for the Sharing of Assets/Liabilities of the old Rivers State in 1996
- Federal Government Consultant/Member for Revenue Generation and Collection of Debts Owed to the defunct National Electricity Power Authority (NEPA)
- Pioneer Executive Chairman, Bayelsa State Board of Internal Revenue
- Commissioner of Finance, Bayelsa State under His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, former President of Nigeria, then Governor of Bayelsa State from 2003 to 2007
- Member, Federal Government of Nigeria delegation to the State of Israel to restructure the operations of Christian Pilgrimage.
Social Life
He was a very social person, a lover of peace, and friendly to all who came in contact with him. He was a lover of sports and a good social mixer. He was a member of the popular Twon Youth Club, Port Harcourt Polo Club, Honourable Commissioner of the Rivers State Boys Scout Movement, and Honourable Treasurer of the Port Harcourt Lions Club. He was a founding member of the Bayelsa Welfare Association (Methodist Church).
Lifetime Awards
During his life, he received several awards, including:
- Distinguished Leadership Award, Institute of Good Governance and Accountability in Public Service, Abuja (July 2000)
- Africa Meritorious Service Award, Africa International Media Organization (December 2006)
- Nigerian Best Performing Commissioners Award, Tell Magazine (November 2006)
- Niger Delta University Award in recognition of his contribution to the development of the university, Bayelsa State (2006)
- Gold Award in Leadership and Good Governance, African Achievers Award (2006)
- Diocesan Merit Award in recognition of his immense service and contribution to the church, Methodist Church Nigeria, Diocese of Port Harcourt (August 2006)
- Appreciation Plaque in recognition of his meritorious and devoted services to humanity and the work of God, Methodist Church Nigeria, Archdiocese of Ikot Ekpene (October 2007)
- Roll of Honour in recognition and appreciation of his contribution to the development of Twon-Brass (December 2005), National Union of Twon-Brass Students (NUTBS).
Professional Membership Associations
- Associate Member, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (ACIT)
- Fellow, Nigeria Institute of Strategic Management
- Member, Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN)
- Hon. Fellow, Nigeria Institute of Sales Management.
Chieftaincy
At the prompting and encouragement of some chiefs and elders of the Ada house community, a chieftaincy stool was created on July 23, 2005, to immortalize his grandfather, Elder Igbodo of blessed memory. Chief (Hon) MMC Igbodo was installed as Chief Igbodo II of Ada Ama. He was presented to the entire Twon Brass community by Chief Serena Dokubo Spiff, the ADA IX, and confirmed by King A.P. Diete-Spiff, the Amanyanabo of Twon Brass on February 4, 2006.
The late Chief (Hon) MMC Igbodo was also installed as Chief Egbo of Otuogidi in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State in a quiet ceremony attended by a few invited guests and family members.
Final Days
His health started to deteriorate rapidly, and with the very particular care of his children and other relations, he was rushed to South Africa with the hope of benefiting from modern medical expertise. However, he finally answered the call to glory to be with his Maker on November 29, 2007, at 10 AM at Christian Barnard Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.
His final wish as he was passing was for forgiveness from all those he had hurt directly or indirectly in his lifetime, as he had equally forgiven them. The story of Chief Mandel MC Igbodo, though immense, is still written in the hearts of everyone he impacted.
