By Abiola Olawale
The family of a former Minister of State for Education and industrialist, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, has confirmed his demise on May 4, 2024.
The family in a statement signed by Chief Emuoboh Gbagi, the eldest son of the former minister of State, confirmed that Gbagi, his father, passed away at the age of 62.
The family, however, kept mum on the details of his shocking passage. However, according to reports which filtered in last night, Gbagi, a governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), during the 2023 governorship election in Delta State was reported to have breathed his last in a Lagos State hospital after a brief illness.
The family statement reads: “It is with profound sadness but gratitude to God that we announce the passing of our beloved father, grandfather, husband, and brother.
“Olorogun Kenneth Omemavwa Gbagi, former Minister of Education, departed this life on the 4th of May 2024 at the age of 62.
“We take comfort in the fond memories of his life, his achievements, and the impact he made on the lives of countless individuals and communities.
“We kindly request your thoughts and prayers for our family during this challenging time of loss.
“May his soul rest in perfect peace.”
Olorogun Gbagi was born in Sapele, Delta State, about 62 years ago. He attended Bishop Johnson Memory Primary School in Sapele. He was born into a polygamous home where his father decided that only the first child of each wife, out of his 21 children, would be sent to school. Being his mother’s third child, he wasn’t sent to school by his father. Kenneth Gbagi struggled to pay his way to school by doing various odd jobs, which earned him so much admiration and commendation.
He left his family home at the age of 11 to become a sailor. This took him to Argentina and thereafter traveled to Montevideo and some other countries. But his thirst for education prompted his return to Nigeria where he succeeded in enrolling in a secondary school even when his mates were already in class 3.
According to reports, the former minister was already 14 years old when he attended Kosofe Secondary School, Mile 12. Interestingly, he sponsored himself to secondary school by working as a bus conductor. Upon finishing his secondary education, Kenneth Gbagi worked with a Foreign Servicing company before traveling abroad to further his education. While in Hong Kong, he shot a movie titled The Birth of Hong Kong in 1993. This gave him some money to pay his tuition fee.
He gained admission into one of the oldest universities in the world, Sans Thomas University in the Philippines, to study political science. He left Sans Thomas University and graduated as a criminologist from the Philippine College of Criminology. He returned to Nigeria for his National Youth Service. He served with the Nigeria Police Force and taught many important officers in the Police Force.
He received his first appointment as a lecturer at the advanced wing of the Police College, Ikeja because the Police Authority was impressed with his academic performance during his Youth Service program. Along the line, he went back to School and studied Law at the University of Lagos. Afterward, he registered a security outfit and grew it to the top levels in Nigeria. He accepted and worked with the legal aid council in Nigeria. He became Minister of State for Education during the Jonathan administration.
