THE LEGACIES OF PROFESSOR AMBROSE ALLI: THE BEST GOVERNOR THAT EVER LIVED

Ambrose Folorunsho Alli

 The legacies of the Late Professor Ambrose Alli (Medical Professor) remains in the hearts of those of us who benefited immensely from his complete FREE EDUCATION programme which included provision of Free Books, Free Writing Materials and well ventilated Classrooms and Recreation Facilities. I am also a proud product of the State University he built within a record breaking period. At a time when it was near impossible for the average High School leaver in then Bendel State to secure admission into most Federal Universities, Professor Alli used Pre-Fabricated Building Technology to set up the take off site of the University at Epkoma. Many campuses in Ekpoma, Abraka and Asaba were established during his tenure. He brought massive development to Bendel in different sectors, from the establishment of numerous post-primary schools and tertiary institutions, and massive construction of roads and housing. His main thrust as governor was to increase educational opportunities. He established over 600 new secondary schools, and abolished secondary school fees. Apart from the establishment of the University, he also established various colleges of Education in Ekiadolor near Benin City, Agbor, Warri, Ozoro and Agbor, and three Polytechnics, with a college of agriculture and fishery proposed for Agenebode. He also established four teachers training colleges to supply staff to the new schools, as well as several other higher educational institutions. In 1981 he laid the foundation of the Bendel State University, which is now named the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma. Other reforms included abolishing charges for services and drugs at state-owned hospitals and eliminating the flat-rate tax. His administration carried out massive construction of roads to open up the rural areas. In the housing sector he built low cost housing estates in Ugbowo, Ikpoba Hill in Benin City, and Bendel Estates in Warri. As Governor, he always wore sandals, joking that he was so busy working in Government House that he never had time to buy shoes for himself.

It is sad that Professor Alli was among the unfortunate Governors who where imprisoned without clear evidence of any wrong doing and later released when illness had already set in. A Gentle Man par Excellence, we will forever remember His Excellency, Professor Ambrose Folorunsho Alli (22 September 1929 – 22 September 1989).

The Late Professor Ambrose Folorunsho Alli (22 September 1929 – 22 September 1989). First civilian governor of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria.

Written by Eloho Ikede