DR OBINNA STAN MUOGBOH: AN ENCOUNTER WITH A BRILLIANT GENTLEMAN!

It was Good Friday. It was Friday, March 29, 2024, and I had just woken up when his chat dropped on my WhatsApp:

‘Good morning. Please send your bank account details to me.’

This was the simple message that I received from him at about 07:14am and my response was at about 07:21am ‘oh my Chairman, God bless you, and your family for us,’ and I forwarded my account details to him and by 07:32am, I had received an alert from him.

Tamely, but gratefully and with real tears in my eyes, I could only say to him ‘and what did we do to deserve this?’ And his response was as simple as always ‘Easter! The Lord has made it possible.’

Gratefully, I went further ‘thank you so much my Chairman for allowing God to use you again for us at this time. At this point, we have nothing for the Easter because of some unforeseen financial obligations and you came for us again this morning.’

And I prayed ‘may this sacrifice of love from your family, like the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ on this day, Good Friday, never be in vain.’

With this, we went on to have other meaningful and fruitful discussions where he sincerely asked me to get him informed as soon as our first daughter, Miss Theresa Oshiothenoya Osabomeh is mobilized for her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Orientation Camp, which I never did and this was how I encountered Dr Obinna Stan Muogboh once more on Good Friday, March 29, 2024 when, without any prompting, he allowed God to use him to reach me and my family in this difficult and challenging times.

And we had a good Easter celebration for Year 2024!

However, this was not the beginning of our beautiful encounters.

In Year 2016, my family was in the height of her challenges following so many recent setbacks in our lives. Things were extremely difficult for us where we wish that the next dawn should not come as we were simply swimming in very dangerous tides that were against us. And with so many works and family demands pressing in on us, we only looked up to God, constantly for our sustenance.

So, on Tuesday, March 01, 2016, Dr Muogboh decided to listen to the voice of God in his heart by reaching out to my family through me to sustain us. On that day too, we never approached him for anything, yet he reached out to us because of the kindness and goodness of his heart.

Truly, a friend who understands your tears is much more valuable than a lot of friends who only know your smile.

In Year 2016, Dr Muogboh understood our tears even without telling him, and he acted, acted generously to keep us alive and we can never be too grateful.

Pivotally, in Year 2015, Dr Obinna Stan Muogboh was appointed as the Chairman to pilot the affairs of the 2015 Harvest Planning Committee (HPC), Catholic Church of the Annunciation, Abraham Adesanya Estate, Ajah by the then Parish Priest, Very Reverend Father Ethelbert Ukpabi.

I was surprised, after Mass one Sunday morning when he approached me and told me: ‘you are the one that I have been looking for. You are highly recommended to join the Harvest Planning Committee (HPC).’ Instantly, I declined his gentle invitation, but I recall that he just smiled and left me with one of the most inviting and encouraging words that I had ever heard:

‘Mark, please think about this invitation. It is not from me, but it is from the Lord, and we must, with your talents, work for Him till our last moments on earth.’

This was truly my first real and direct personal encounter with him since I have been at the Parish since April 2008. However, I went home with deep fears in my heart because that was one of the most troubling years in our recent challenges, hence I was afraid to participate in anything that may deliberately expose the inadequacies of my family, publicly through me, so I declined this kind invitation further in our subsequent conversations.

But not for Dr Muogboh as he would not take a ‘no’ for an answer, hence he persisted until I ‘unwillingly’ joined his Harvest Planning Committee (HPC) for Year 2015 with the prophetic Theme: ‘Spreading the Word, Expanding God’s Kingdom.’

With the benefit of hindsight now, I shed tears every time that I recall the persistence of Dr Muogboh without which I would not have meet great minds, men and women that we worked together in that Harvest Planning Committee (HPC), many of which I have since chronicled in some of my Chronicles: ‘My Adorable Rosemary: My Sister, My Friend Through And True’ on Wednesday, January 24, 2018, ‘Mrs Chichi ‘Fancy Face’ Okpala (Nee Anyanwu): A True And An Amazing African Mother!’ on Saturday, March 30, 2019; ‘Wilson Okoh-Esene: My Greatest Inspiration’ on Tuesday, June 25, 2019, ‘Iyke Martins Amulu: A Pleasant Personality!’ on Wednesday, June 26, 2019; ‘Dr Bongo Adi: An Intellectual Giant!’ on Thursday, July 11, 2019, ‘Mrs Mildred Ngozi Oke (Nee Ndabai), FCA: A Complete Woman Of God!’ on Monday, November 25, 2019; ‘Aunty (Mrs) Nwando Lynda Okakpu (Nee Chidobem): The Professor With A Beautiful Heart!’ on Tuesday, November 26, 2019, ‘Mr Chijioke Blaise Ugwuibe: A Willing Servant of God’ on Thursday, May 06, 2021; ‘The Dynamic Mrs Lovely Lovelin ‘Lulu’ Momodu (Nee Ohia-Maurice)’ on Tuesday, June 22, 2021 and ‘Mr Ewaenosa David Osagie-Igiehon: The Music Master!’ on Tuesday, November 16, 2021.

These were some of the great minds, beautiful people, excellent men and women that Dr Muogboh’s persistence gave to me as everlasting gifts when he insisted that I must serve in the 2015 Harvest Planning Committee (HPC) with him even when I was not willing.

These brilliant men, these beautiful women combined to keep me alive in Year 2015 with their honesty, hard work, integrity, sincerity of purpose, generosity and kindness, candour and simplicity. Their prayerful prayers for me and my family, kept us alive without which I cannot tell this beautiful story today.

And at the present, these excellent men and women have not taken their eyes and hearts off me and my family and I can only be grateful to them, but more to Dr Obinna Stan Muogboh for insisting that I serve in his Harvest Planning Committee (HPC) when I had nothing, practically nothing to offer, no intelligence, no ideas, and most importantly, no treasures in my empty pockets.

Yet, Dr Muogboh insisted and encouraged me to be part of the 2015 Harvest Planning Committee (HPC) where I found a family that has not only been beautiful, but a family that has helped me out of the depression that I was slipping into in Year 2015 by their friendliness, conviviality and sincere willingness to help each other, especially me as encapsulated in all my Chronicles of some of the members so far.

I can never be too grateful to Dr Muogboh because there are no words for me to thank him, but I will continue to remember him and his beautiful and lovely family in my prayers, in our prayers, no matter how little.

Sincerely, as the Chairman, Harvest Planning Committee (HPC), he wanted ordinary people who could take up an assignment and do it extraordinarily well. And in this he chose right. He made the best selections. He chose men and women of integrity. We were one family throughout the activities of the Year 2015 Harvest/Bazaar, even till this moment in time. The simplicity of his leadership bonded us.

Truly, when God calls us to serve, we must not think that we have nothing to offer because there are gifts: time, talents and treasures in everyone that God has created and in the members of the 2015 Harvest Planning Committee (HPC), Catholic Church of the Annunciation, Abraham Adesanya Estate, Ajah that Dr Muogboh assembled for her, these gifts were and are very obvious and present in their lives.

Significantly, as the Chairman of the 2015 Harvest Planning Committee (HPC), it was his prerogative to assign responsibilities to every member of the Committee. In this, Dr Muogboh thrusted upon my inadequate laps, the responsibility of the Logistics Officer for the Harvest Planning Committee (HPC) and I recall with extreme gratitude, when after announcing the portfolios, Dr Muogboh gave me a long notebook with a permanent marker and said to me in a very gentle voice ‘Mark, so many Parishioners have spoken very highly of you, please you cannot afford to fail us in this very difficult and sensitive, but worthy assignment. Please count on me as I will give you all the needed necessary support’ and he never took away his eyes nor his sincere support from me, providing me with all the moral and psychological support till the Harvest/Bazaar was held on Sunday, October 04, 2015.

On that day, Dr Muogboh did not give me the long notebook and a permanent marker to record all the harvest thanksgiving materials from families because he did not trust me, but to make me more responsible and perhaps, more accountable in the handling of the items presented by families for their Family Harvest Thanksgiving.

According to the Kinko’s Founder, Paul Orfelea and Ann Marsh in their award-winning book, ‘Copy This!,’ ‘in any relationship, trust is the magic ingredient. Trusting people is very emancipating. If you do not, you ought to give it a try. You will find your life will work better and be much more fun if you do. Without trust, you will be forever miserable in marriage or friendship. And, in business, nothing you plan will work well if you do not extend trust to the people, you do business with. As a Leader, all you do is manage trust.’

And this was exactly what Dr Muogboh did to me during the life of the 2015 Harvest Planning Committee (HPC) when he placed on my poor laps, the sensitive task as the Head of the Logistics Team that was charged with the responsibility of handling all the items that were used by families for their Family Harvest Thanksgiving. He only gave me a long notebook with a permanent marker and although he checked on me regularly to find out how my Team was doing, he entrusted me with this sensitive task completely.

This was only possible because of the huge trust that Dr Muogboh placed on me and my Team, the Logistics Team.

And I can never be too grateful, grateful to Dr Obinna Stan Muogboh for trusting me and acting it out.

Thankfully, all the items provided by Parishioners during the Family Harvest Thanksgiving were intact, without any item missing and this was purely by the grace of God and the support of Dr Muogboh as he said to me on the day of the Harvest/Bazaar after reconciling all the items ‘Mark, you have proved all the Parishioners that recommended you to me, right. Thank you for a job well done.’

Those words, spoken truly from a sincere heart, will continue to reverberate in my heart to encourage me and to inspire me to continue to try, no matter my shortcomings, to always live right because one can never know who is watching one.

Thank you, Dr Obinna Stan Muogboh for trusting me with a sensitive assignment as the Head, Logistics during our Year 2015 Harvest Planning Committee (HPC).

Similarly, Dr Muogboh did something that is etched in my heart forever. As we prepared for the Harvest/Bazaar for Sunday, October 04, 2015, there was a need for us to get some other items, particularly cows for the bazaar sales.

So, on Friday, October 02, 2015, in the company of my two brothers, Mr Iyke Martins Amulu and Mr Paul-Kelvin Nwachukwu, we went into the hinterland of Eleko, leveraging on my contact with Mallam Musa, the cow seller in search of good and presentable ones, but founding none, the Chairman, Dr Muogboh elected to accompany us to Ijebu Ode, Ogun State the next day in search of good and presentable cows.

The journey to Ijebu Ode, Ogun State on Saturday, October 03, 2015, was such a pleasant and pleasurable one where Dr Muogboh put on the road, his personal car and ensure that we had a good time throughout the journey. The sharing and eating of bread and local beans cake, akara was such that one would have thought that Dr Muogboh was not our leader, but just an ordinary member of the team, yet he was the Chairman.

With that, the Chairman taught us that authority without service is oppressive, a position without respect and concern for subordinates, is demeaning, and service without generosity and sacrifice, is unkind.

Sincerely, every time that I recall that scene, I always feel eerily as I do even now, putting together this inadequate chronicle to tell the beautiful story of a truly humble and simple man, Dr Obinna Stan Muogboh.?

Honestly, Dr Muogboh gave more of himself to us during the activities of the 2015 Harvest Planning Committee (HPC).

With the kind assistance of Mr Charles Odikpo Ivenso, FCA (former Director, Finance and Administration, Lagos Business School (LBS)) through his adorable wife and my dearest sister, Mrs Ivenso which I have since chronicled as ‘Mrs Ufuomaoghene Oluwafunmilayo Ivenso (Nee Diejomaoh): My ‘Super’ Sister’ on Wednesday, August 01, 2018, thrice, I attended job interviews at Lagos Business School (LBS). The first was on Thursday, April 11, 2013, coincidentally my birthday for a role as HR Business Partner, but I will chronicle the drama that followed that interview in one of my subsequent Chronicles, perhaps, on Mr Charles Odikpo Ivenso, FCA for his unalloyed love to assist me to get back to my feet through a paid employment with the Lagos Business School (LBS).

The second was on the Feast of All Saints, Friday, November 01, 2013, for a role of a Personal Assistant (PA) to the then Dean, Lagos Business School, (LBS), Professor Enase Odu Okonedo, FCA, now Vice-Chancellor, Pan-Atlantic University (PAU), Lagos.

And the third was on Wednesday, August 26, 2015, for a role as a Protocol and Logistics Officer. And it was during this third time that I encountered Dr Obinna at the school, and I told him what brought me to the school, and he wished me well, assuring me that the process shall not be a challenge for me.

Sadly, the outcome of these interviews was not progressive, reasons I may never know, but I am eternally thankful to my dearest sister, Mrs Ufuomaoghene Oluwafunmilayo Ivenso (Nee Diejomaoh) for intervening so much in my life with deep interest in my career through her brilliant and pious husband, Mr Charles Odikpo Ivenso, FCA.

However, I did not heard from the school and when it seems that I have been bitten thrice in my desire to work with the school without any success, I had a premonition that Dr Muogboh has something to say to me, but I could not put my hand to it or my head around it, but one day, he approached me after Mass on Sunday and said to me politely ‘Mark, please what happened during your last interview with the school?’ And I tried as much as I could to recall all that went on during the course of the interview to be able to recount to him all that went on that day, but I was surprised when he said to me that when he tried to follow up for me, he was told that ‘I was too proud in the course of the interview’ and he was shocked and tried as much as he could to defend me because he knows me that much to no avail.

This revelation shocked me, and I was deflated, but I was grateful to Dr Muogboh, for not only defending me without asking for it, but the feedback. Perhaps, there has been an element of pride in my attitude, character and way of life that have not been known to me, but that feedback has helped me and will continue to help me to work on this obvious weakness that was never known to me even though I know, without being immodest that I do not exhibit any characteristics of pride in my daily life.

Dr Muogboh hardly speaks, but when he does, it is always raced with wisdom, intelligence, but much more, brevity. His simplicity always reflects in his humility.

For instance, on Friday, January 08, 2021, while thanking him as one of our friends that stayed with us throughout the difficult year of Year 2020, the year of the deadly ‘Covid-19’ pandemic, he said to me ‘Chief Mark, I greet you! You are truly a great man. Your stature might deceive some, but not me. Thanks.’

Truly, Dr Obinna Stan Muogboh is a complete gentleman, brilliant and intelligent.

Under his able leadership as Chairman, 2015 Harvest Planning Committee (HPC), we instituted a process akin to a coup-de-tat where we would pay a surprise visit to any of our members that is celebrating his or her birthday or wedding anniversary or any other thing for that matter.

This process has all elements of surprise in it!

This established process was to act surprise where the other members of the Harvest Planning Committee (HPC) would painstakingly plan this process which the affected member may never be aware of the impending ‘tsunami’ behind him or her, no matter how discerning such a member is.

The 2015 Harvest Planning Committee (HPC) successfully planned such when they ambushed me on one of my most significant birthdays on Thursday, April 11, 2019, as we have done, successfully to some other members in the past. That night, I simply cried because they caught us as we are, without anything, yet they provided everything for the occasion.

I can never be too grateful to the 2015 Harvest Planning Committee (HPC) through our able Chairman, Dr Obinna Stan Muogboh.

So, on Tuesday, August 13, 2019, we decided to plan and execute the biggest coup d'état yet, the mother of all, when we clandestinely planned a coup against the Chairman himself, Dr Muogboh to pay him and his family a ‘Breakfast Visit’ on the arrival of his son, our son, Master Kachiside Muogboh, born in his earthly birth day of April, precisely on Tuesday, April 02, 2019,? but we had a challenge, how do we gain entrance into his Estate that its security apparatus is like that of the White House without alerting him?

However and like they would always say that there is no known problem or challenge without a solution, thankfully, Dr Muogboh has acted as a Sponsor for the Sacramental Wedding of one of our members and it was through him, ‘Coupist’ Paul-Kelvin Nwachukwu that we gained an easy entrance through its fortified security wall because a ‘father can never deny the visit of that of a son’ to the consternation of Dr Muogboh as we completely caught him and his entire family in their true natural elements.

And the look on the face of Dr Muogboh on that day was more of ‘I have done this severally to other members’ and they have done it to me too, even more successfully.

Yes, and with pride in his heart, he would have silently exclaimed ‘I taught them the act, the act of planning a coup d'état against another!

Sincerely, on that day, ‘we gave him the dose, a double dose for that matter that he has successfully given to other members of the Committee’ and we were simply happy for it because it was planned and executed to its perfection.

However, we were never disappointed even though we played a coup on them as him and his gracious and kind, lovely and beautiful, adorable and peaceful wife, Mrs Rose Muogboh opened their lovely and quiet home to us, fed us and entertained us. We simply enjoyed our time with the Muogboh’s family and if I had my way, I would have been an adopted son to them from that day onward.

Honestly, that was one of the best outings that we have had as members of the 2015 Harvest Planning Committee (HPC) even though it was carried out through a coup d'état, with all its elements of surprise.

Truly, on that day, they were very authentic, very honest, very kind and very humane to host us within a short period of time. And this speaks to how we are all called to behave with one another without any pretence.

With the Muogbohs, there is no pretence about their kindness and goodness, there is no pretence about their simplicity and humility. And indeed, there is no pretence about their quietness and peaceful disposition.

It is said that ‘sometimes, quietness is louder than noise itself. In Dr Muogboh, we have someone who is always quiet, but his quietness has continued to be louder than noise itself because of his sterling qualities, his virtues of simplicity, humility, intelligence, brilliance, compassion, integrity and on Tuesday, August 13, 2019, he brought these inspiring virtues to the fore.

He inspires us!

He inspires me because even as a dedicated and brilliant Lecturer, teaching great minds of women and men, Captains of industries and ‘giants of Boardroom decisions’ in his classroom at the Lagos Business School (LBS), a great place of learning, Dr Muogboh abhors publicity. He simply detests anything that would announce his presence at any gathering. He prefers a life of simple living and in this, he has continued to teach and preach humility.

And this prompts a deeper reflection.

Dr Obinna Stan Muogboh is a complete and brilliant gentleman!

According to my brother from a far distance, Dr Babatunde Tikare, ‘there are few times and few people who we meet even for only short moments in life, but what they deposit into our hearts, our minds and consciousness, lasts forever.

Dr Obinna Stan Muogboh is one of such individuals. He is a true gentleman!

On Tuesday, May 04, 2021, some of us, the members of the 2015 Harvest Planning Committee (HPC) were at SS Philip and James Catholic Church, Km18 Lekki-Epe Expressway, Idado-Lekki, Lagos for the Requiem Mass of Mrs Onyekachi Nwokocha (Nee Ugwuibe), the late immediate elder sister of one of us, Mr Chijioke Blaise Ugwuibe.

However, after the solemn ceremony because our dearest sister, Mrs Nwokocha left us, just age forty-six (46) years, Dr Muogboh as our able and willing Chairman decided to drop some of us that did not come with our vehicles, but after he dropped Mrs Mildred Ngozi Oke (Nee Ndabai), FCA, he simply asked me if I was in any hurry to which I responded in the negative. So, he humbly asked me to accompany him to Ikota Shopping Complex to resolve one issue or the other and I wish I had declined his invitation because Dr Muogboh led me into the inner recess of his heart where he shared some information with me that I should never be aware of.

He discussed freely and openly with me, but significantly, he fed me with a sumptuous meal of suya and refused to drop me off at my Olokonla bus stop, but instead took me to my house, insisting that my comfort and safety are of paramount priorities to him.

Such humility, this humility, will live forever in my heart where I pray constantly that it continues to inspire my own life to do the same to others that I meet every day, especially those that are unknown to me.

Sincerely, Dr Muogboh is a complete and brilliant gentleman and if any living being could ever be considered for a Sainthood, Dr Muogboh would be the first for such a consideration for his uprightness, justness and correctness always.

On Sunday, November 12, 2017, or so, during her monthly meeting, the Catholic Men Organization (CMO), Catholic Church of the Annunciation, Abraham Adesanya Estate, Ajah held her election into key administrative positions that overwhelmingly produced Sir (Chief) Paulinus Nwankwo (Ochendo), KSJi as its Chairman for a four-year (4) tenure. In that election, Dr Muogboh was elected as the Vice Chairman to support, administratively the Chairman and he played this role very peacefully well.

I recall, with gratitude that the few times that I attended the monthly meeting where providentially he presided, it was an ambience of peace and love for all and all through the proceedings. His meek and peaceful disposition, simplicity and humility, were at the fore.

Surprising, Dr Muogboh with his intelligence and brilliance, listened to learn from all the deliberations not minding his great exploits in the academia.

Truly, Dr Obinna Stan Muogboh is a complete and brilliant gentleman and my encounters with him, have been so rewarding.

So, my Chairman, as you celebrate your birthday on this day, Saturday, August 03, 2024, may the provident grace of God continue to accompany you to grant you supernatural provisions in every aspect of your life. May you and your family lack nothing. And may our loving Father continue to open the windows of heavens to pour out upon you mighty rains of His blessings, favours and successes that you will continue to share with your family members and friends.

And my able Chairman, like you said to me on Holy Saturday, March 30, 2024, ‘it is truly a pleasure for us to share with friends.’ Thank you for taking us as your friend.

May the good Lord through the constant intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary continue to watch over you to protect you and your family from all dangers and harms. Amen.

And may the Holy Family of Nazareth; Jesus, Mary and Joseph continue to be a model of a family for your family.

Thank you for blessing us with your simplicity, humility, kindness, goodness and candour.

Happy birthday Dr Obinna Stan Muogboh. We love you!

Na me

Your brother and friend

Mark Osabomeh

Head, Logistics, Year 2015 Harvest Planning Committee (HPC)

Catholic Church of the Annunciation, Abraham Adesanya Estate

Ajah – Lagos

Saturday, August 03, 2024