Teacher, Principal, Administrator
Chief Samuel Fieteboghabofa Kombo-Igbeta was a great tutor and an influential chief from the Niger Delta. He was a teacher, principal, and administrator.
Alabo Samuel Fieteboghabofa Kombo-Igbeta was a qualified and single-digit registered school teacher from the Niger Delta who left a significant mark during the colonial era. His deeds as Honorable Commissioner are notable in the old Rivers State in the 60s and 70s.
Synopsis
Alabo Samuel Fieteboghabofa Kombo-Igbeta was born in 1909 in Nembe community, southern Nigeria. He was an elegant and flamboyant school teacher in the 1920s and 1960s who might have tutored over 1000 great minds. His influence as a Commissioner under the executive council of Alfred Diete-Spiff’s military government from 1967 to 1975, and as a community chief from the Niger Delta, knows no bounds. Alabo Samuel Fieteboghabofa Kombo-Igbeta was a faithful Anglican, and he died in 2005 at the age of 95.
Early Life and Education
Samuel Fieteboghahofa Kombo was born on September 23, 1909, in Nembe into the Oruwari family. His father was the late Pa Jonah Ngokombonimibo Oruwari of Yekorogha’s House. Pa Oruwari’s father was the late Chief Ala-Igabo of Kulo Chieftaincy House. His mother was the late Hannah Akonigha Ndori of Sabatoru, who died in 1975.
Samuel Fieteboghahofa Kombo’s schooling was by accident, as fathers in those days did not like to send their industrious sons to school but would always use them as helpers. However, because a clerk working in a European Trading Company at Kiabodo-Delta State insulted his father Pa Kombo during his trading expedition, he decided to send his son to school.
He attended St. Luke’s School, Nembe from 1918 to 1925. It is noteworthy that in 1925, when he was in standard five, because of his brilliance in the class, he and two others were recruited as pupil teachers in 1926. He gained admission to the then-famous Teacher Training College, Awka, and attended the college from 1928-1929, passing out with a teacher’s grade III certificate in December 1929. Samuel Fieteboghahofa Kombo was an ambitious man, and this virtue led him to engage in intense private studies, leading to his attainment of the following qualifications: Senior Teacher’s Certificate (History, Geography) between 1933 and 1935; A. C. P. (London) 1942; L. C. P. (London) 1944; Inter B. A. (London), 1948-1949; and B. A. Hons. (London) June 1953.
Career Life
Samuel Fieteboghahofa Kombo had a knack for teaching and was a prolific teacher with charisma. After his teacher’s training college, he had a brilliant teaching career as follows:
- St. Luke’s School, Nembe (Pupil Teacher) Eastern Nigeria 1926-1927.
- St. Luke’s School, Nembe (2nd Master), Eastern Nigeria 1930-1931.
- Boyle Memorial School, Bonny (Headmaster), Eastern Nigeria 1931-1935.
- St. Luke’s School, Nembe (Headmaster) Eastern Nigeria 1936-June 1938.
- Qua-Ibo Secondary School, Etinan, Eastern Nigeria (June 1938-July 1938)
- Methodist College, Uzuakoli, (Senior Master, History) July 1938-1944.
- Oduduwa College, Ile-Ife, Western Nigeria (Senior Master, Geography) Aug. 1944 to January 1950.
- Ahmadiya College, Lagos, (Master) Jan. 1950 to March 1950.
- Government College, Umuahia, Eastern Nigeria (April 1950 to Sept. 1950)
- Government T.T.C., Uyo (1955-1957).
- Provincial Education Officer, Eastern Nigeria (1957-1965).
- Principal, Government College, Owerri, Eastern Nigeria (1965-1967)
Chief S. F. Kombo-Igbeta was selected in 1951 to teach the Nembe (Ijoh) language in the School of African and Oriental Studies, University of London, from 1951-1953.
His Retirement
Samuel Fieteboghahofa Kombo retired meritoriously from the Civil Service of the then Eastern Region in 1967.
As a Commissioner
Chief S. F. Kombo-Igbeta served as a pioneer Commissioner under Alfred Papapreye Diete-Spiff’s military government of old Rivers State, Nigeria, from 1969 to 1974. He was involved in several ministries, including Health, Establishment, and Trade and Industry, and influenced many laudable projects that have stood the test of time in Rivers State and Bayelsa State.
His Christian Life
Chief S. F. Kombo-Igbeta, a trained teacher in the Anglican Church, particularly in Teacher Training College Awka, was a devoted Christian. As a teacher and headmaster, his commitments included conducting church services, preaching in church services, and being an organist. He continued to play an active role in the affairs of his home church, St. Luke’s Cathedral, Nembe, until his death. In 1978, the Rivers State Government awarded him Justice of Peace (J.P.).
Traditional and Social Life
Samuel Fieteboghahofa Kombo was one of the founding fathers of Nembe National Union, Lagos, the Nembe (Ogbolomabiri) Descendants Union Lagos (now Opu-Nembe Descendants Union), along with Mr. Teteiyai Decorse, the late Richmond Bonnie, and others. He joined the Nembe Opu-Sekiapu Society at the age of sixteen.
As a Chief
In July 1959, His Royal Majesty Francis O. Alagoa (late), Mingi X, Amanyanabo of Nembe, appointed Samuel Fieteboghahofa Kombo as Head Chief of Igbeta House in December 1958, and he was chalked in July 1959. During the Nigerian Civil War of 1967 to 1970, Chief Kombo-Igbeta was the administrator of Nembe after its liberation by the Federal troops in 1968.
He was also the Chairman of Nembe Chiefs Council and the Chairman of Nembe Divisional Council of Chiefs for several years. It was during his chairmanship that the Chiefs built the Mingi Hall and the Duweisun Wari.
His Legacy
Chief Kombo-Igbeta pioneered the establishment of the Nembe National Grammar School in 1965.
Family
Chief Kombo-Igbeta married Mrs. Eugenia Theresa Meremu Kombo-Igbeta in May 1937. She was the daughter of the late Mr. Frederick Adaeri Macdonald Spiff of Gbobokiri, Twon Brass, and the late Madam Temenengiagha Comfort Spiff, a grand-niece of the late Chief Lokobite Igbeta Ombu. She died around 2006.
Chief Kombo-Igbeta had 14 children whom he loved dearly; he gave them every opportunity, particularly in education, to progress in life. He was always approachable, humane, philanthropic, and gave wise counsel to relations, friends, and even foes alike. He lived a peaceful life and was the most flamboyant Chief in Nembe Kingdom and old Rivers State.
Date of Death
Alabo Samuel Fieteboghabofa Kombo-Igbeta died on Wednesday, January 26, 2005, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. He was 95 years old.
