In continuation of the recognition of outstanding men and women of honour by HRM, Ogiame Ikenwoli, the Olu of Warri, the chairman and chief executive of Lee Group of Companies, Chief (Dr.) Leemon Ikpea, will be conferred with one of the reverred chieftaincy titles come October 29, 2016 at the palace of the royal father in Warri. However, what is more remarkable in this recognition is the fact that, for the first time since the beginning of the reign of HRM Ogiame Ikenwoli, a title is being bestowed on a non-indigene.
And that, perhaps, speaks volumes of the enigma called Leemon Ikpea, the recipient.
It is common to find in some other kingdoms that chieftaincy titles are almost an exclusive preserve of politicians whose wealth and affluence are subject of government patronage. But what has been witnessed since September 30 when the Olu of Warri started honouring some distinguished Nigerians with various titles, is that the royal father has picked his choices based on several considerations and not merely by political achievement. This, perhaps, explains why Chief (Dr.) Leemon Ikpea is on the list of honourees.
Ikpea, who already holds the highest title of Adolor (“Repairer”) of Ewatto, his hometown in Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo State, is indeed a man of many parts. He is a success story of one whose rise to fame is by dint of hardwork, sincerity of purpose and a deliberate effort to rise above his humble childhood. Indeed, it is a story of one who successfully changed his clothes in the middle of the river as some would say.
Losing his parents at a tender age, Ikpea who is the eldest of three sons of the family, waded through thick and thin to have his early education in Warri, Delta State. Determined to survive and also shoulder the responsibility of his two siblings, he started work at an early age in the oil and gas industry where his hard work and commitment to duty marked him out for recognition. And armed with experience spanning over a decade, Ikpea took up the challenge of setting up his own business, Lee Engineering & Construction Co. Ltd in 1991. The company has since become a household name in the oil and gas industry drawing more strength and expertise from the Local Content Act which gave it a premier position as a leading indigenous Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Operation and Maintenance (EPCOM) company in the oil and gas and power generation sector of the Nigerian economy.
Today, the Lee company conglomerate has registered its unique presence in the oil and gas sector by the testimonial of his accomplishment in several turnkey projects which, hitherto, were the exclusive preserve of foreign companies. For example, Lee Engineering and Construction Company Ltd with its offices in Warri, Port Harcourt and Lagos, has successfully executed strategic projects in Utorogu Gas Plant in Ughelli South Local Government Area where it is currently engaged in the construction of additional flowlines, Ughelli Brownfield Works, Okrika Jetties, Sapele Gas plant, Saghara Flowstation upgrade, Otumara Flowstation upgrade among others.
What then has really endeared the chief executive of Lee Engineering & Construction Co. Ltd to the heart of the Warri monarch to qualify him for that rare honour? It may not necessarily have to do with his success in business, but how impactful his success has been on the society in which he operates. In an interview sometime ago, Ikpea had stated that about two decades ago, his workers strength was just about 200 but today, the Lee Conglomerate, which include the Lee Engineering & Construction Company, the Tribet A1 potable water factory, Lee Oasis Supermarket, Tribet Travels and Tours among others have a staff strength of over 1000. But more significantly is the fact that even in this critical moment of economic recession where most companies are laying off their staff, the Lee group keeps on keeping on.
The monarch may also have considered Leemon Ikpea’s disposition towards the needy in the society. His Agbonjawe Leemon Ikpea Foundation (ALIF) is indeed a globe-trotter and an example of a true philanthropist. ALIF which Chief Ikpea established in 2012 with the objectives of offering lifeline to indigent students at all levels, assisting gifted artisans to set up their businesses, provision of health care for rural dwellers and the provision of infrastructure, has a long list of beneficiaries which include over 40 widows, more than 20 artisans and well over 384 students who are on scholarships.
On what motivates him to go into such costly humanitarian venture, Ikpea had said in an interview he is not a politician and so not motivated by political self-interest but, according to him, “I started from ground zero and I am never happy seeing other people in that ground zero. If there is anything I can do to help them move, I won’t hesitate to move all of them forward.” These, perhaps, are some of the compelling qualities that have endeared Ikpea to the honour from the Warri monarch.
It would be recalled that these same unique qualities of the Esan-born business mogul have earned him two honorary doctorate degrees from the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma and the Benson Idahosa University, Benin. Ikpea was also honoured in far-away Ghana by the Pan African Merit Awards (PAMA 2015), Accra Ghana as the Most Outstanding Philanthropist of the Year 2015.
As HRM Ogiame Ikenwoli, the Olu of Warri confers the traditional title of the kingdom on Chief (Dr.) Leemon Ikpea on October 29, it is indeed a very fit honour to be bestowed on whom honour is due. It is also a fitting birthday gift to Chief Ikpea whose birthday comes up on December 19, 2016.
Congratulations Sir.