PRINCE EPHRAIM NAKARU OSULA: The Spectacular Farewell To A Great Man Of Honour & Integrity.

Late Prince Ephraim Nakaru Osula.

It was a very humongous celebration of the life of Prince Ephraim Nakaru Osula, the patriarch of the Osula family in Edo State, South-South Nigeria, as his Funeral Mass was held at the St. Joseph Catholic Church Benin City with the Chief Celebrant assisted the Archbishop of the Metropolitan of Benin and President of the Catholic Bishop's Conference of Nigeria, CBCN, Most Rev. Dr. Augustine Akubeze who was flanked by many other Priests from within and outside the Archdiocese, who converged to celebrate and bid Papa Ephraim well. 

As highlighted by the Parish Priest of St. Joseph Catholic Church and Homilist, Benin City, Very Rev. Fr. David Ogun SJ, some of the rare attributes of late Prince Ephraim Nakaru Osula were the things that stood him out as not only a man with quality character, but also a good Christian with enviable personality amongst his peers in both his work with God and for humanity.  

Late Prince Ephraim Nakaru Osula was born on the 15th of September, in 1933 at the Forcados to the family of Chief Herbert Idugboe Osula and Mrs Beatrice Ajogo Osula, (Mama Bini) and having completed his standard six education in 1948 in flying colours, was admitted into the prestigious Immaculate Conception College, Benin City and was later transferred to St. Patrick College, Asaba where he obtained his Cambridge School Certificate in 1954.

Officiating Ministers at the Funeral service.

The late Prince Osula had a brief working experience as an Accounts Clerk with the Daily Times of Nigeria, Lagos before his quest for advanced education saw his securing admission into Balham and Tooting College of Commerce, London and subsequently got a job at Bourne and Sons, an Accounting Firm, after his graduation from Balham & Tooting College of Commerce.

He obtained other qualifications from the following professional bodies: 

Association of Certified and Corporate Accountants, ACCA, the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators, ICSA, Institute of Credit Management, London, ICM.

Upon his return to Nigeria, Prince Ephraim Osula worked as an Assistant Accountant at the Nigeria Cement Company, Enugu and with the establishment of the Midwest Newspaper Corporation, Publishers of the Nigerian Observer Newspaper, he was appointed Secretary/Accountant of the corporation and rose to the positions of  Chief Accountant, Controller, General Manager and in 1977, retired As Executive Director to go into private practice and established his own company, Manla Enterprises Ltd, which was into printing and publishing. 

Dignitaries at the Funeral service. 

During his lifetime, Pa Ephraim was member, Governing Council of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi From 1993 – 1997 and Chairman, Floreat System, Archdiocese Of Benin Press, for eight years. 

He was married to Dame Marcellina Iweka Osula nee Osude for 53 years and had Children and Grandchildren, who spared nothing to give him one of the best burials in the history of the Benin Kingdom, as the grand reception for the celebration of his life which took place at the prestigious Edo Hotel GRA, Benin City, had Patriot James Urhere as the Master of Ceremony.

A burial ceremony with prestige, poise, dignity and taste was what the children of late Prince Ephraim Nakaru Osula had to honour their father who lived, not only a fulfilled life, but a life worthy of emulation, with the presence of the Eno Louis Band, which took those present way back to yester-years, the Edoseghe Theatre Troupe of Benin did not disappoint with their rendition of Bini songs, the performance of Olu-Oyene Omoko Cultural Troupe was lite, as they took Itsekitri cultural songs to another dimention, and yes, the quintessential dancing steps of the Urhobo Traditional Ema Dance from Ugheli was out of this world.

Infact, those who attended and saw the atmosphere attested to the fact that the soul of Pa Ephraim Osula would be resting well after witnessing the kind of honour bestowed on him by his lovely children.

At the Church service.

The Governor of Edo State, His Excellency, Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki was one of the most prominent dignitaries who came around to bid farewell to Pa Ephraim Osula, a man whose work for God and community stood out, as his generosity ensured that anyone who needed medical attention was attended to in his family hospital free of charge and for many years, printed all the flyers and initial prayer books, posters, programme for the Infant Jesus Pilgrimages and evangelizations free of charge by his Manla Printing Press. WHAT A MAN.

Others dignitaries present were, Chief Sam Igbe, the Iyase of Benin Kingdom, Solomon Asemota SAN, Foremost Business Mugul, Captain Dr. Hosa Okunbor, Alhaji Francis Ogboru, Chairman, Dana Airline and Binatone Nigeria, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Former Secretary to Edo State Government, Rt. Hon. Jude Ise Idehen, Member House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Razak Bello Osagie, Former Member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Chris Okaiben, Member of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Matthew Iduoyekenmwen, Former Member, Edo State House of Assembly, former NDDC Commissioner, Edo State, Prof. Charles Osula, Mr. China Onyemelukwe, Alhaji Bala Tsadu, Alhaji Suleiman Ibrahim, Alhaji Usman Mohammed, Alhaji Ibrahim Bassi. 

We at “Precious Eze’s Blog” commiserate with the Osula family and wish their darling father, a continued rest in the Hope of Resurrection.