Political Scientist, Lawyer, Administrator
Marsh Sylvester Amafaotu Ebimoghan was an accomplished administrative officer and Permanent Secretary of old Rivers State and Bayelsa State, who rendered selfless service. He was best known as the former Head of Service of Bayelsa State.
Synopsis
He was a notable administrative officer in the public service of the Niger Delta, Nigeria. Mr. Marsh Sylvester Amafaotu Ebimoghan, a graduate of Political Science from the prestigious University of Lagos, later graduated with a law degree from the Rivers State University of Science and Technology. The Ekeremor-born Permanent Secretary attained the zenith of his civil service career when he was appointed Head of Service of Bayelsa State. He was often misunderstood by many. Dr. Barr. Marsh Sylvester Amafaotu Ebimoghan passed away five months after his retirement from the civil service in 2010, at the age of 60.
Birth and Parents
Marsh Sylvester Amafaotu Ebimoghan was born on the 8th day of March, 1950, to the union of Pa Tuayeringhan Ebimoghan and Mrs. Bomoundiere Ebimoghan (née Omukoro) in Ekeremor town, the headquarters of the present Ekeremor Local Government Area, formerly in Mid-west Nigeria but now in Bayelsa State.
Education
He had his primary education at Local Authority (LA) Primary School, Ekeremor, between 1958 and 1963.
He then proceeded for his Ordinary Level School certificate at St. Brendan’s Grammar School, Bomadi, between 1964 and 1968, which later became Bomadi Grammar School, Government College, and is currently the Government Mixed Secondary School, Bomadi, in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria.
Upon completing his secondary education, young Marsh Sylvester Amafaotu Ebimoghan attended the famous Urhobo College, Effurun, for his Higher School Certificate programme from 1969 to 1970.
His quest for academic excellence led him to the University of Lagos, Akoka, where he earned a First-Class Honours Degree in Political Science (B.Sc.) between 1971 and 1975.
Additionally, from 1990 to 1994, he studied Law at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (now Rivers State University) and obtained an LL.B. He attended the Nigerian Law School in Lagos and was called to the Bar in 1996.
Also, in 1999, he attended the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru-Jos, Plateau State, and qualified as a Member of the National Institute (MNI).
In 2000, he received a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Business Management from Carolina Christian University, Campus of Pilgrims Seminary, NC, USA, upon the approval of the credential by the Senate, in recognition of his services to God and humanity.
In 2009, he obtained a Master of Science Degree in Public Administration from Imo State University, Owerri, Imo State.
He completed his compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Kano State between 1975 and 1976.
Career Life
After his graduation, he was employed by the old Rivers State Government as a Social Welfare Officer with the Ministry of Rural Development and Social Welfare, Port Harcourt, from 1977 to 1979. He steadily climbed through the ranks in the old Rivers State civil service:
From 1979 to 1983:
- Assistant Secretary II in the Cabinet Division
- In Works Directorate
- Secretary, Rivers State Tenders Board, Governor’s Office
Between 1984 and 1985:
- Assistant Secretary I, Ministry of Education
- Secretary, Murtala Mohammed Civic Center Management Committee, Port Harcourt
In 1996:
- Secretary, Sports Council
- Administrative Officer, Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources
- Secretary, Chieftaincy Division, Governor’s Office
From 1986 to 1987:
- Chief of Protocol, Military Governor’s Office
1987 to 1989:
- Secretary, Special Public Works Committee, National Directorate of Employment
- Secretary, Rivers State Broadcasting Corporation
In 1990:
- Administrative Secretary, Grassroots Democratic Party, Khana/Oyibo LGA
- Assistant Director, Ministry of Information and Culture
From 1991 to 1992:
- Assistant Director (Personnel), Government House, Port Harcourt
- Pioneer Sole Administrator, Ekeremor Local Government Council
From 1994 to 1996:
- Private Secretary and Deputy Director (Personnel), Government House
- Deputy Director, Governor’s Office, Port Harcourt
Subsequently, when Bayelsa State was created on October 1, 1996, from old Rivers State, he transferred his service to his home state. He started as the pioneer Director-General of the Establishment, Training, and Pension Bureau, Governor’s Office, Yenagoa, from 1996 to 1998.
Between 1998 and 2001, he served as Permanent Secretary at various ministries and departments:
- Local Government Service Commission
- Management Welfare Services, Governor’s Office
- Ministry of Environment
He was appointed Head of Service of Bayelsa State in June 2002. Barr. Dr. Marsh Sylvester Amafaotu Ebimoghan was the fourth Head of Service of Bayelsa State. During his tenure, he judiciously and meritoriously served three (3) Executive Governors: the late Chief D.S.P. Alamieyeseigha, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (Former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria), and Chief Timipre Sylva.
He retired honorably on March 8, 2010.
Memberships and Awards
- Institute of Administrative Management, 1989
- Nigerian Bar Association, 1996
- Fellow, Institute of Sales Management of Nigeria
- Award of Excellence by the Institute of Corporate Administration of Nigeria for outstanding performance in public service
- Fellow, International Association for Impact Assessment, Nigeria
- Chartered Institute of Arbitrators of Nigeria
Places Lived
Marsh Sylvester Amafaotu Ebimoghan resided at the following addresses:
- No. 4a Isaac Boro Street, Old G.R.A., Port Harcourt, Rivers State
- No. 7 Station Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State
- Old Agric Quarters, Ovom-Yenagoa, Bayelsa State (now Peace Park)
- Flat 29, Ovom Estate, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State
- D 25, Commissioner Estate, now Opolo Housing Estate, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State
Family and Faith
Marsh Sylvester Amafaotu Ebimoghan was married to Mrs. Ester Mayuku Ebimoghan (née Seiyefa) in 1978, and they had children together. He was a Catholic by faith.
When He Died
Sadly, he passed away five months after his retirement from the civil service due to a fatal motor accident along the Isiokpo-Port Harcourt highway, Rivers State, while hurrying to catch a scheduled flight at the Port Harcourt International Airport for his planned vacation abroad.
Misconception
In his general appraisal, he was misunderstood by many of his colleagues (administrative officers and some permanent secretaries of Bayelsa State). They misconstrued him to be high-handed and an extreme stickler.
The truth is that late Marsh Sylvester Amafaotu Ebimoghan was far from these unfounded perceptions. He was a core administrator par excellence who valued professionalism in running government affairs. What he expected from his subordinates, especially administrative officers, was productivity, meticulousness, and proficiency, rather than indulgence and negligence. Unfortunately, many of them could not meet his perceived standards for doing government work, which led to him being unfairly criticized.
