THE MAKING OF A NEW ERA AS THE NEW OBOL LOPON ASCEND THE THRONE OF MKPANI
The ascendancy of the new Obol Lopon of Mkpani, His Royal Highness, Obol Sunday Obono Okoi on the 27th October, 2011 marked the beginning of a new era in the history and traditional administration of Mkpani. This is an epoch making event. For many this event is a time to wish for, while others wondered how a young man of this age would accept the offer of the office of Obol Lopon, other fraction complained and blame the tradition of the land. Yet it is important to count our blessings from that same tradition. Our tradition brought us together and gives us identity, oneness, love, and peace. Let us rejoice about this day and the future of our great land Mkpani “Ototobiloto Okpe keiti opoi” What we are today is the result of the decisions our forefathers have taken. Therefore, rather than lamenting on the conditions of the traditions of our land, we should work together to create atmosphere for the change we need.
BRIEF PROFILE OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS, OBOL SUNDAY OBONO OKOI
His Royal Highness Obol Sunday Obono Okoi, Obol Lopon of Mkpani, is a man of excellent parts, notable virtues of a public heart with a desire to do good. He was born on 8th March, 1978, into the family of Late Obono Okoi Okpa and Madam Atim Okoi of Okpirike Afaben, Mkpani Yaurr L.G.A, Cross River State, Nigeria.
When he was about seven years, he set out his idea to become a diplomat and administrator. He called his father and told him that he will study International Relations. Being an excellent student, his father had no option than to support his dreams.
When he was in SS1, he lost his father, leaving behind thirteen children, eleven boys and two girls. But despite this incident, the young Sunday Obono Okoi didn’t gave up in his dreams. He encourage his brothers never to give up. He pursued his dreams no matter how far fetched it seems like. He believes that dreams never dies and take them to be the hope of his future. He thought that, no man is strong enough to fight his creator and win and what God has written and deposited in his heart and brain he must read and follow, or he will never find life’s meaning. He challenged God our creator. No wonder Chuba Okadigbo once said “A man may rise or fall otherwise he is static and this could be very boring. When you rise try to land in there, but never abandon principles. When you fall rise up, dust up and move” Sunday Okoi has never abandoned his principles, he only adjusted principles. As Ralph Waldo Emerson has pointed out that “the world makes a way for the man who knows where he is going”
His Highness, Obol Sunday Obono Okoi had his First School Leaving Certificate in Government Primary School Mkpani from 1984-1988. He proceeded to Secondary School Mkpani where he had his Secondary School Certificate (SSC) from 1989-1994.
He had a Diploma in Business Management from the University of Calabar, Calabar, Cross River State. In 2004 he was admitted into Imo State University Owerri to study Fine and Applied Arts. He performed excellently well. Because of his performance in class, his Course Adviser told him that if he continue in the department after his graduation he shall be retained as a lecturer. A year after, he complained that Fine and Applied Arts is not his calling. He applied for change of course. Based on his performance, he was subsequently transferred to the Department of History and International Studies to start from year two(200 level). In 2008, he had his Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and International Studies.
He has a knowledge in Fine and Applied Arts and a special interest in International Relations, Crisis and Conflict Resolution and Literature. He has a fantastic zeal for change, he is an organizer and purposeful leader, a celebrity, a hero. He owed his achievement to dedication, discipline and struggle.
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