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| pastor Osagie Ize Iyamu |
Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu is an astute politician. He was born 21th June 1962 into the upper middle-class family of Late Chief Robert Osayande Ize-Iyamu, the highly respected Benin chief with the highly reverend title of Esogban of Benin Kingdom and Mrs. Magdalene N. Ize-Iyamu (nee Obasohan).
In 1973, Pastor Osagie Andrew Ize-Iyamu completed his primary education at Ebenezer Nursery and Primary School, Benin City; he had made a landmark obtaining the best result in the common entrance in the then Midwestern region. He then went ahead to confirm his stellar status in Edo College in 1979 where he once again obtained the best result in the art class in West Africa Certificate Examination (WAEC). Buoyed by his high-profile academic performances, young Osagie’s desire was to follow the footsteps of his elder brother who travelled abroad for further studies.
However, due to Osagie’s proximity to the flurry of communal politicking, done by his father, he developed keen interest in it.
Pastor Osagie chose to study Political Science, and was admitted into the prestigious University of Benin, Benin City in 1980. But that was not to be. Inadvertently obeying the dictate of fate, he changed his course of study to Law the following academic session, and soon became one of the pioneering students in the faculty. He graduated with top honour in 1985/1986; he immediately proceeded to the Nigeria Law School and was called to the Nigerian Bar afterwards in 1987.
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In 1995 Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu met God through a harrowing experience when he had an almost fatal accident that changed the course of his life forever. Unconscious for nine hours, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu suffered dislocated hips and fractured toes. God himself being the ultimate physician healed him at the National Orthopedic Hospital, Igbobi.
Surprised by his miraculous deliverance on his dislocated hips returned to their original positions and overwhelmed by the divine favour and words of his wife to use this privilege to give his life to the service of God, his creator, Pastor Osagie joined the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), where he grew in knowledge and wisdom about God and church administration.
As family members, friends and foes watched in amazement at his transformed life.
Pastor Osagie within a short time was made a minister in the church. In 1998, he was made Pastor of the Upper Room Parish of the Church, located at Adesuwa Road, G.R.A., Benin City. He threw himself into the service and with encouragement and prayerful support of his wife, as well as the commitment of his fellow ministers; he was able to raise the hitherto small parish (branch) to the biggest RCCG church in Edo State.
He was later appointed the Area pastor of the GRA 1 Area church overseeing three parishes with headquarters at the Upper Room parish, and became an inspiration to thousands of youth in Edo State.
His work and passion later gave birth to a magnificent edifice that drew the attention of the highly reverend Pastor Enoch Adeboye, who was personally in Benin City to dedicate the church. Today, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu is the District Pastor, Overseeing Zonal, Area and parishes of the RCCG in Edo State. Besides, he is in charge of the provincial regional headquarter parish in Benin City. These great strides however, did not only manifest in his faith but also in his political life.
Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu sowed a seed of his political activism long ago during his university days as a vibrant member of the Student Union Congress and being highly instrumental to the election of several presidents and Executive members of the Student Union.
That experience proved vital as he became one of the operational planks that saw to the election of Lucky Nosakhare Igbinedion, as the then Chairman of Oredo Local Government Council, Benin City, in 1983, under the zero party system.
After his sojourn into private legal practice and business, he was appointed as the Chief of Staff, Government House, Edo State, under the administration of Dr. Lucky Nosakhare Igbinedion, Executive Governor of Edo State- an evidence of the virtues of loyalty and trust. As the Chief of Staff, from 1999-2003, he elevated the office to the enviable status of a melting pot of consultation, strategy and confidence building.
With his leading by the Holy Spirit, he became the man to trust and do business with, the rallying point of energies and ideas. He engineered the smooth and peaceful relationship that the state enjoyed with pensioners and labour leaders, then in Edo State. As a testament to his sterling performance as a Chief of Staff, he was elevated to the Secretary to the State Government (SSG). A position of immense trust and critical nexus and strategic catalyst in the government of the state, where he proved to be reliable, dependable, trust worthy and a positive generational ambassador committed to the well-being of Edos.
He showcased his sagacity in management and entrepreneurial spirit when he set up the magnificent I.O Farms Training Institute- a model farm settlement at Ugbor-Amagba communities, Benin City, Edo State. The institute has churned out hundreds of young agriculturist.
The Training Institute has the triple objective of agricultural training, skill acquisitions and youth empowerment as veritable mechanism to reduce youth restiveness, organized crime and unemployment.
He has continued to contribute to the political development of the state and was awarded with the politician of the decade in Edo State. He is a politician that does not discriminate, highly de-trabalised, open to positive ideas, motivator of positive agenda for government, a respecter of elders and social values, a nexus of hope for Christians in Government and a crusader of fairness and social justice. Osagie Ize-Iyamu’s bold foot works in partisan politics and public office in Edo State has been phenomenal in scope, dept and intensity. With the resultant effect of re-designing the political landscape.
He is the calm and deep-thinking political architect whose courageous designs have re-engineered the hope of Edo people for good governance and freedom from democratic tyranny. No wonder that, today, Osagie Ize-Iyamu is widely respected, acknowledged, and referred to as the “Leader” by both the elderly and the young for his uncommon courage, wisdom, integrity and commitment.
He was the National Vice Chairman, South-South Zone of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).
He was the Director General of Oshiomhole’s 2nd term Campaign Organisation.
He was also the Coordinator of Goodluck/Sambo Campaign Organisation
He was recently honoured by the Benson Idahosa University with an honorary doctorate degree in Public Administration.
He is happily married to Pastor (Dr) Idia Ize-Iyamu, a Consultant Orthodontist with the University of Benin Teaching Hospital and an Associate Professor in the University of Benin. They are blessed with four children.
