"Keep The Ship Sailing"

Chief Albert Mukoro Egoh, student number seven (Pioneering Class of 1945) and Chairman of GCUOBA UK Branch , sadly passed on this morning (Friday, 12th Oct. 2007) in his London home aged 80. Chief Egoh had been ill for quite a while.

Funeral arrangements will be announced in due course. A citation by the UK Branch delivered at 2006 Annual Dinner appears below which provides all that you need to know about this most illustrious of Mariners. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace.

For contact details of Chief Egoh's family in London click here. 

For details of Chief Egoh's UK wake-keeping on 9th November 2007 click here.

For details of Chief Egoh's funeral arrangements in Nigeria click here.

You can add your personal message and/or thoughts at the end of this page.

CITATION FOR

OLOROGUN ALBERT MUKORO EGOH, BSc. FCA

The Ataneru of Uwheru

The Orugba of Ewu

The Egbe of Olomu Kingdom

On the occasion of

GCUOBA UK Branch’s Re-Union Dinner
28^th October 2006

Chief Albert Mukoro Egoh was born on the 3^rd of September 1927 at Uwheru in Delta State of Nigeria. His parents were farmers and his father had a particular interest in fishing. For his early education young Albert Egoh attended the Uwheru town Primary School. And in those early years he had already begun to display his illustriousness as every day after returning from school, he would proceed variously to assist either his mother on the farm or his father on the river.

The young Albert Egoh was an exceptionally bright pupil and so in 1945 it was no surprise that he was selected as a foundation student of, the “primus inter pares” and the pre-eminent “school of schools”, Government College Ughelli. As a member of the pioneering foundation class of 1945, he was the seventh person to be officially enrolled as a student of Government College Ughelli.

Again, in Government College Ughelli, he excelled. He was the first athletic captain of the school and represented the school as a middle distance runner in the then Grier Cup competitions. He was also appointed a School Prefect (a preserve of the brightest and best disciplined students).

He eventually graduated from Government College Ughelli in 1950 with a Cambridge School Certificate in Division one. He then proceeded to join the Nigeria Police Force as a Constable. Once again, and to no surprise and due to his sheer dedication, he was rapidly promoted through the ranks to Sub-Inspector within six years (1956). (A feat that must be seen in the context of the prevailing circumstances of the time; Colonial rule where proper procedure and due process were strictly adhered to).

In spite of his success with the Nigeria Police Force, the then Inspector Albert Egoh was still brimming with ambition and academic aspirations. So in 1957 his enquiring mind and insatiable thirst for knowledge saw him resign from his successful and promising Police Force career and he departed Nigeria for the United Kingdom (at this point I am tempted to say “and the rest is history” but  I can’t;   we continue).

Back to 1957; in that year Mr Albert Egoh enrolled for his A-Level studies at Walthamstow College. Of course, (do I need to say it) he aced his A-Level exams and was duly admitted into the Ivy League, University of London’s London School of Economics where he studied Accounting.

He graduated from LSE in 1961 and joined a prestigious firm of Chartered Accountants Montague Samuels & Co where he served his articles. In just three short years in 1964 he was admitted as a full Chartered Accountant. And in 1970 he became a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. (So within the period of seven years 1957-1964 he was a police Inspector, a London School of Economics student, and then a fully qualified Chartered Accountant - what an achiever! That has to be the definition of sheer determination).

After graduating as a Chartered Accountant in 1964 Mr Albert Egoh was snapped up by the then Shell BP of Nigeria and was posted to their Port-Harcourt office as an internal auditor. By 1965 the civil war was threatening and he had to leave Port-Harcourt for Lagos where he joined the National Cash Register as a Deputy Chief Accountant.

Six months later in late 1965, Chief Michael Ibru approached Mr Egoh to join his organisation to help organise his fish business in Nigeria. At that time Ibru Fish Nigeria Ltd was the largest and most famous Nigerian owned business in the country. Chief Albert Egoh eventually became the Finance Director of Ibru Fish Nigeria Ltd and remained so until he retired in 1984.

His retirement brought him back to London where he has become a great and notable philanthropist. He is a patron of several Clubs and Associations. He is deservedly the Life-Chairman of Government College Ughelli Old Boys Association UK branch. And I can say that we are lucky to have him as our Chairman as he has been truly inspirational and a mighty pillar of strength for the success of our Association. (Our Daddy as we like to call him) is happily married to (our Mummy) Olorogun (Mrs) Julie Egoh and they have many wonderful children.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Olorogun Albert Mukoro Egoh

Delivered by Ochuko Udu – General Secretary GCUOBA UK

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