Permanent Secretary
Birth/Parents
Apostle Prince A.E.O Amgbare was born on December 17, 1947, into a privileged family. His father, the late King Amgbare Etekpe I, and his mother, the late Ogtozimo Amgbare, were from the Ogobiri community in the present Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. He was the youngest child in a large polygamous family. His father was a merchant based in Benin City, in the West region of colonial Nigeria.
Education
After completing his primary education at Kemike Brake Primary School in Western Nigeria in 1955, Prince A.E.O Amgbare obtained his First School Leaving Certificate. In the 1970s, he pursued higher education abroad at the Hungarian University of Physical Education in Budapest, where he earned a Diploma in Physical Education. Seeking further academic achievements, he enrolled at the University of Port Harcourt and obtained a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) degree in Public Administration. Still driven by his thirst for knowledge, he pursued a Master of Science (M.Sc) in Public Administration degree at the University of Calabar, which he completed in the year 2000. Motivated to acquire legal expertise, he enrolled at the Bayelsa State College of Arts and Science between 2001 and 2002, where he earned a Diploma in Law.
Career
The late A.E.O Amgbare, known for his easygoing nature, began his career in 1969 at the Old Rivers State Sports Council, where he worked as a Store Clerk/Boxer. Over the years, he advanced in his profession and was promoted to the position of Senior Boxing Coach in 1975. In the period between 1981 and 1982, he served as a Supervisory Counselor of Education in the Sagbama District Council, based in Ebedebiri Town. Prince E.O. Amgbare was one of the pioneering staff members of the Rivers State Sports Institute in Isaka. During his time there, the institute gained recognition as the top sports institute in Nigeria. From the early 1990s until 1996, when Bayelsa State was created (his home state), Prince Alphaeus Egbonmokirikpon Okereke-Keme played a key role as the Head of Student Affairs at the institute.
Following his relocation to Bayelsa State, Prince A.E.O Amgbare was appointed as the Special Adviser on Youth and Sports Bureau by Navy Captain Olubolade, who was the Military Administrator at that time. He continued to serve in the same capacity during the regime of Lt. Col Paul Obi. Later on, during the tenure of the late Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha as the executive governor of Bayelsa State, Prince Amgbare was appointed as the first Executive Director of the Youth and Sports Bureau in the year 2000.
In 2001, he was assigned the role of a Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth and Sports, which demonstrated his unwavering commitment and proficiency in the domain. He served in this position until September 2003. Subsequently, he held the position of Permanent Secretary in both the Bayelsa State Civil Service Commission and the Ministry of Local and Chieftaincy Affairs, starting from around 2003 and continuing until approximately 2004. Throughout this period, Prince Amgbare continued to contribute his expertise and knowledge, leaving behind a commendable and untarnished record when he retired from the civil service in 2004.
Awards
Late A.E.O Amgbare, in addition to being a remarkable ex-boxer, achieved significant success and garnered numerous medals and laurels for himself and the Old Rivers State Sports Council. Some of his notable accomplishments include:
- 1st National Sport Festival Middle Weight Gold Medalist in Lagos in 1975.
- Bronze Medalist at the 1973 Sport Festival in Berlin, Germany.
- The only Olympic Gold Medalist for Nigeria in Budapest in 1974.
- Competed in boxing matches in Sofia, Bulgaria, London Crystal Palace Sports Council, and Rome in 1973.
- National Cycling Champion in 1973.
Furthermore, Prince A.E.O Amgbare extended his involvement in sports beyond his own athletic career. He served as a Referee, Ringside Announcer, and Judge of international repute, showcasing his expertise and dedication to the sport.
Places Lived
- Around the Samuel Igbemudia Stadium, formerly known as Ogbe Stadium neighborhood, Benin City, Western Nigeria era
- 25 Harbour Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State
- Road 14, Flat 10, Federal Housing, Woji Estate, Woji Town, Port Harcourt
- Rivers State Sports Institute Quarters, Isaka, Port Harcourt
- 5 Harbour Road, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State
- Senior Civil Servant Quarters, Ovom-Yenagoa, Bayelsa State
Family/Faith
Apostle Prince Alphaeus E.O Amgbare embraced polygamy and had two marriages during his lifetime. He had a total of 15 biological children and also adopted one son. Some of his children have excelled in their respective fields of endeavor, achieving success in their own right. Furthermore, Prince Amgbare was a devoted member of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, which he joined in 1984. Within the organization, he held various positions, including serving as a Zonal Leader Representative and State Leaders Representative in Bayelsa State. These roles demonstrated his active involvement and commitment to the spiritual community he belonged to.
His Death
Apostle Prince Alphaeus Egbonmokirikpon Okereke-Keme Amgbere (JP) faced health challenges after his retirement from the civil service, particularly battling with a stroke illness. Unfortunately, he passed away in the evening hours of Saturday, June 13, 2020, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. His demise marked the end of a remarkable life and career dedicated to public service, sports, and spiritual endeavors. He was 75 years old.
