BIOGRAPHY
The beauty of a man’s mind will project his
name through time.
Late Engr. Isaac Osevwe Apochi was full of
life and character, he was fun to be with and his presence exhumes warmness.
“Igbabo titi riti” as he often calls himself when he was sometimes excited but
his birth name was Isaac Osevwe. He
was the 9th child of late Pa. Erike Obukohwo Apochi and 5th
Child to his mother, Late Mama Ahweyevu Apochi, nee Onyeweru both parents were
from Orogun clan, Ughelli North Local Government in Delta State.
Young Isaac lived with both parents in Osun State
where he was raised in a Yoruba environment but taught the grounded culture of
the Urhobo race. This mix cultural upbringing made him develop strong cultural
values of life. Engr. Isaac was very energetic, hardworking, compassionate and
extremely fun-filled, he was characterized with that special smiling face
especially when he was happy. He was loved by friends and family and popularly
called Apisco, a name coined and registered as his business name.
He was born in 1948, 31st day of
May in Ife-Wara, a South-Western Town in Osun
State, Nigeria. He attended Bowaje Primary
School Bowaje, Osun State where he obtained his primary school
certificate then obtained his secondary school education at Ife-Wara Modern
Secondary School, Ife-Wara, Osun State. The
need to enhance his education took him to Sapele
Technical College,
Sapele, Delta State
formally called Government
Training Center,
Sapele. Having excelled in his technical knowledge he furthered his education
at the famous Auchi Politechnic Auchi, Edo State
to study Mechanical Engineering where he graduated on top of his class in 1977.
The young promising Isaac then, loved
sports and games, he competed at the Nigeria Polytechnic Games Association
(NIPOGA) and won several medals including gold, silver, and bronze at the 200m,
400m and high jump series. He loved playing scrabble and checkers board game
(Apele). He was a champion at the board games. He loved to play the board games
with his wife and friends and later his children and he would always win.
Isaac Apochi’s professional career started
with Bendel Glass where he successfully did his industrial attachment in 1978
and later moved to Shell Petroleum Development Company in 1978/1979. He started
as a drilling engineer on the Shell rig called EPINI 1 then moved from drilling
to production department where he worked for several years. His working ethics
was excellent; he was a core professional with the highest of integrity. His
colleagues recognized him for his high values and norms as he was never found
to compromise his work ethics.
Late Engr. Apochi attended several
professional trainings both in Nigeria
and Europe. He was known to excel at every
training and test, his predominant scores were A+.
In1988 he traveled to The
Hague, a city on the North Sea coast of the western Netherlands
where he had an intensive three months training course with Shell petroleum
Development Company. He attained several remarkable leadership positions and
scaled through the ranks. His promotions were with merit both horizontally and
vertically. Isaac Apochi was well known for his fascinating negotiation skills,
his attained height in the use of words and body language to control a system
projected him to garner the position of a CLO (Community Liaising Officer) in
Shell. He was very successful at representing both Shell and the communities he
was assigned to negotiate with. He quelled and resolved many challenges. Having
performed brilliantly, he was promoted and re-assigned to production department
where he was managing several flow stations like Jones Creek as a crew leader.
The maestro as his son called him thrived in his professional career in the
several decades he spent with Shell.
Family: as a young man, he loved family and
always planned to raise brilliant children. At first he had three children
namely, Ikuesiri Joy E. Apochi, Onome G. Ashepor, Tobore Laju Apochi then later
got married to his First Wife Mrs. Mercy E. Apochi (nee Akpotor) a beautiful
princess from the royal family of the Ughelli Kingdom and Eku clan in the Agbon
Kingdom. She had seven children for him namely, Ese Fidelia Anigboro, Von
Taghogho Apochi, Eugene Ofejiro Apochi, Efetobor Wesley Apochi, Eloho Miracle
Arugha and the twins, Tejiri Success Apochi and Tega Halle Apochi. After many
years of enjoying the beauty of a nuclear family in 2003, he later got married
to Favour Apochi whom had three lovely children namely, Meshach A. Apochi,
Mikel O. Apochi and Mitchell O. Apochi. Late Engineer Isaac survived with a
total of 13 children and 15 grandchildren. He loved all his children equally
and was passionate about their education.
Engineer Isaac was a Christian from the
Nigerian Baptist Family. He attended First Baptist Church Ughelli where he
imbibed his foremost and early Christian values. He loved God and taught his
children the ways and fear of God through Jesus Christ. He was a childhood
friend to the present pastor to The First Baptist Church Ughelli, Rev. Dr. G.
I. Oghifo (JP) and friends to many ministers, deacons and deaconesses in the
church and Baptist family at large. He was very close to members of the church
and was a core participant in church activities especially in his early days.
Due to his early Christian virtue, he enjoyed the Grace of the Almighty through
Jesus even till the end. He was cared for by his pleasant wife in his last days
for a period of about 60days, where he would share the world of God with her as
she shared regular devotional sessions with him. The period of his endings on
earth was a warm fellowship with Jesus and revelation to display God’s grace to
mankind. His famous words were, “I am with Jesus now”.
BIOGRAPHY Cont.
The great Maestro was a Sportsman,
philanthropist, a linguist, historian and a convivial man. He was likened to a
man who knew many things and master of all that he knew. His son would say,
what my dad did not know was not worth knowing. He spoke several Languages and
effectively “spoke” the sign language for the deaf. He was a tool in the hands
of God to many families, he was happy to save and transform lives. His legacy
is currently played amongst his children whom amongst them, he has a world
boxing champion, gladiator, karateka, professional actor, singers and more. His
goodwill continues to live in the lives of his offsprings and those he impacted
on.
Humility and charitable works are two
things that can be characterized with the “iroko” as he was fondly called by
some family members. He visited the poor and less privileged, he gave hope to
the needy. He broke the barrier of class and status and made everyone feel
equal and important. A young man testified that many years ago late engr. Isaac
rescued him from not writing an exam because he had not paid his school fees.
Engr. Apochi quickly paid for him and he wrote his primary school exam; this is
among much innumerable goodwill he was known for, he was highly exposed to
modern life at an early age, he was one of the first men to buy TV, cassette
players and even satellite cable dish in the then Ughelli community. He and his
lovely wife would severally turn their homes, then, at the popular Osia Street
in Ughelli town into a cinema house. Both children and adults would come in to
watch films like “The Sound of Music”, “Indiana Jones”, “Holland festivals”,
Indian movies and many more. He loved children and was there for everyone that
he came across.
His last days were painted with pains, joy
and overall mixed emotions. He became ill several months to his death, he
battled sickness like a mortal man would gasp for air while drowning, yes, and
the great maestro was drowning and hoping to live healthy again. Whilst his illness grew worse, his body became
weak but his heart grew stronger for Jesus. The joy of his ending was the
counsel, care and prayers of all his family members, his elder brother Mr. Jacob
was always concerned about his well being and would instruct his wives and
children to give him the best treatment though everyone whom truly cared tried
but God had made His choice. Members of his family prayed and comforted him;
his children played the most important role by showing him love and kindness.
One of biggest joy in his ending would be the love, prayers and soothing
comfort he got from his wife, Mrs. Mercy Apochi; she would constantly read the
word of God to him most days for two months he will gladly say, “My wife will
feed me and care for me”. One of the most fascinating attributes about him was
his comic nature, whilst on the sick bed, he made everyone laugh; who knows,
and he may be making the angels laugh. Before his death, he rededicated his
soul to God almighty and this is why we are marveled and will forever be
grateful to God for his love, mercies and salvation.
The question this short biography then
leaves is, “how will your end be”? but truly only God can tell, for he had
predestined on this earthly passage. We must cherish every moment as it comes.
By Von Apochi (Son)
Thanks you.
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