Obarisi (Barr.) Ovie Omo-Agege, LLM, LLB, BL

Ovie Omo-Agege, LLM, LLB, BL, was born on the 3rd of August 1963, the year Nigeria attained republican status. A son of Justice James Omo-Agege, one time Chief Judge of Delta State, Ovie attended various primary schools across Nigeria, before proceeding to the famous St. George’s Grammar School, Obinomba near Obiaruku in Delta State, where he demonstrated rare diligence, discipline and leadership qualities.

Ovie’s quest for academic excellence took him to the University of Benin, Benin-City where he took a degree in Law. His experience in Benin moulded under the tutelage of the redoubtable Professor Itse Sagay and other inspiring law scholars that made law studies memorable and humanizing was to mark a turning point in Ovie’s view of life and the Nigerian experience. It was at this point that he began to envision ideals that could engender selfless and progressive leadership that would turn the people’s fortune for good. By the time he graduated from Benin with a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1985, his vision for dynamic leadership had crystallized. 

 With the LLB in his kitty, Ovie proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, Lagos for the mandatory one year professional training. A year later, 1986, he passed the qualifying Bar examination, and was called to the Nigerian Bar as a Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Between 1986 and 1987, he actively participated in the compulsory 12 month National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme in Kwara State. He served most diligently in the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and Intelligence of the Kwara State Command of the Nigerian Police Force. 

 Ovie’s sojourn on the turf of active legal practice began after the NYSC stint in 1987. He had his pupilage at PAT OKUPA & CO, a firm of astute lawyers in Benin-City. By 1989, he had cut his teeth, and moved on to begin a partnership known as AGEGE & CO in Lagos, Africa’s largest urban centre. In less than two years of charting the complex waters of legal practice in Lagos, Ovie took his legal advocacy beyond the shores of Nigeria. 

 It was thus in a blaze of legal glory that Ovie sojourned to God’s Own Country, the United States of America, to continue his flourishing legal career in 1990. California in Los Angeles, which is reputed to be one of America’s most advanced cities, was where Ovie anchored as an Attorney. He most commendably engaged in extensive litigations involving personal injury, breach of contract, fraud, securities and real estate as a foreign associate in the law office of CHARLES O. AGEGE. However, two years later in 1992 he became founder and senior partner in AGEGE & ASSOCIATES, where he extended his legal tentacles to such lucrative spheres of engagement like business and commercial litigation, banking, mergers and acquisitions, among others. 

 In 1996, his law enterprise expanded into a bigger partnership called AGEGE & ESIN. His new interest covered the Midas touch areas like insurance, international wire transfers, foreign litigations, arbitrations, admiralty and marine litigation, marine pollution, etc. The landmark of his legal exploits in the US is manifested in his admission into the State Bar of California, the United States District Court, California, and the United States Supreme Court, Washington, D.C.

 Having undergone the rigours of legal practice on-shore and off-shore, Ovie took time off to embark on a higher academic engagement by studying for a post-graduate degree in Law at Tulane University Law School, New Orleans. He obtained the LL.M (Master of Laws) degree with distinction in 2002, a most remarkable academic feat.

 Nigeria returned to civilian rule in 1999. Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege felt the tug to return to Nigeria and contribute to nation building especially, his beloved Delta State. On arrival in Nigeria, in 2002, Ovie went to the grassroots in his native Orogun in Ughelli North Local Government Area, where he pitched his political tent with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

 He became an active and loyal party man around whom many party faithfuls rallied. As part of his people driven vision, he ran for the Primaries of the Ughelli Federal Constituency of the House of Representatives in 2002. He didn’t make it, but resolved to stick with the PDP despite tempting offers from other political parties. 

 Ovie’s loyalty, diligence, intelligence and allegiance to the PDP project were the sterling qualities that endeared him to the then Governor of Delta State, Chief James Onanefe Ibori who appointed him as the first ever Executive Assistant to the Governor of Delta State in 2003. 

In spite of the shortcomings of that era, Ovie can be credited with the most dynamic interventions witnessed in the State, especially in the area of conflict resolution which manifested in the prompt release of hostages and recovery of small arms, the winding up and completion of all projects of the Ibori administration. 

 Ovie’s political fortunes gained ascendancy in 2005 when he became a Commissioner for Special Duties in Delta State. His verve, vision, and drive to make government progress driven for the good of the people were his magic wand. In that capacity he got immersed in the nitty-gritty of what it takes to run a State. 

 In mid 2006, Ovie threw his hat into the ring as a governorship aspirant on the platform of the PDP. Ovie ran one of the most exciting and well organized campaigns that made all to thumb up for him. Although, he didn’t get the party’s ticket, he remained a solid pillar of the party in the State and beyond. He was quite resonant in the popular consciousness. 

 In January 2007, Ovie became the Secretary to the State Government (SSG). His roller coaster political career is indeed the story of which epics are made. As SSG, Ovie brought an unusual dynamism and development stride to the affairs of Delta State. If there was ever an SSG that the people of Delta carried in their hearts endearingly, it was Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege.

This young, visionary Statesman is happily married with children. In appreciation of his selfless service to humanity, he has been conferred with numerous traditional titles including the Ugo of Mosogar, Obarisi of Ughelli, Obarisi of Orogun, among others.