20/06/2026
LOSING SOMETHING VALUABLE.
There are things we lose and eventually replace.
A lost phone can be bought again.
A damaged house can be rebuilt.
Lost money can be earned back.
But what happens when what you lose is irreplaceable?
What happens when the treasure you lose is not made of gold or silver, but of love, wisdom, sacrifice, and guidance?
What happens when the person who shaped your life suddenly becomes a memory?
The most valuable thing I have ever lost is my father, Late Evangelist Peter O. Akpoturu.
To many people, he was a respected teacher, an exceptional headmaster, a fearless preacher, a mentor, a disciplinarian, and a community leader.
To me, he was more than all these titles.
He was my father.
He was my guide.
He was my inspiration.
He was my hero.
As the last child of the family, I shared a special bond with him. Whenever I met him, I would ask:
"Daddy, how are you?"
And with confidence, faith, and a smile that reflected his unwavering trust in God, he would always reply:
"My son, God is alive."
Today, those words still echo in my heart.
Whenever life becomes difficult, I hear his voice.
Whenever challenges arise, I remember his words.
Whenever discouragement tries to overpower me, I remind myself that the God my father served is still alive.
My father was a man of uncommon substance.
Born in Ashaka, Ndokwa East, he dedicated his life to education, service, and the gospel of Christ.
He taught in numerous schools across Isoko land and beyond, molding young minds and shaping future leaders.
As a teacher, he educated.
As a headmaster, he led.
As a preacher, he transformed lives.
As a father, he nurtured.
As a mentor, he inspired.
As a disciplinarian, he corrected.
As a Christian, he served.
As a man, he left footprints that time can never erase.
Who can measure the worth of a man who dedicated his life to building others?
Who can calculate the value of a father whose influence continues long after his departure?
Who can place a price on wisdom, character, integrity, and godliness?
My father established churches, spread biblical teachings, mentored believers, and brought countless souls closer to God.
His impact extended far beyond his immediate family.
His influence reached communities.
His teachings reached churches.
His discipline reached schools.
His legacy reached generations.
Even today, wherever I go, people still tell me stories about him.
Stories of his kindness.
Stories of his discipline.
Stories of his leadership.
Stories of his unwavering faith.
Stories of how he changed their lives.
And every time I hear these testimonies, I am reminded that true greatness is not measured by wealth but by impact.
Before he departed this world, my father told me something that continues to guide my life:
"You will represent me."
At the time, those words sounded simple.
Today, they carry enormous weight.
They have become my responsibility.
They have become my motivation.
They have become my calling.
As a writer, author, educational influencer, young activist, public relations officer, Evangelist and passionate advocate for positive change, I strive daily to uphold the values he lived for.
I want my words to inspire as his words inspired.
I want my actions to influence as his actions influenced.
I want my life to reflect the principles he taught.
I want the world to know that his legacy did not end with his death.
It lives on.
His greatest gift to me was not money.
It was not land.
It was not material possessions.
His greatest gift was a legacy of integrity, faith, service, discipline, and purpose.
Although losing him created a void in my life, God, in His infinite mercy, did not leave me without support.
Since my father's passing, my elder brother, Mr. Akpoturu Eloho, has courageously stepped into a fatherly role.
Through his guidance, encouragement, sacrifices, and unwavering support, he has helped fill the gap left behind.
For this, I remain deeply grateful.
May God continue to bless him abundantly.
And may the soul of my beloved father continue to rest peacefully in the bosom of the Lord.
Today, I still miss him.
I still wish I could hear his voice.
I still wish I could ask him one more time:
"Daddy, how are you?"
And hear him reply:
"My son, God is alive."
But even though death separated us physically, it could not erase his teachings.
It could not destroy his impact.
It could not silence his legacy.
Because great men never truly die.
They continue to live through the lives they touched.
They continue to speak through the values they taught.
They continue to inspire through the examples they left behind.
The most valuable thing I have lost is my father.
Yet, in losing him, I gained something pricelessโa legacy worth preserving, a standard worth maintaining, and a mission worth pursuing.
And so, with pride, gratitude, and determination, I will continue to represent him.
For as long as I live, the story of Evangelist Peter O. Akpoturu will not be forgotten.
His life was a blessing.
His memory is a treasure.
His legacy is my inheritance.
And his impact will continue to shine long after the sands of time have passed.
Until we meet again beyond this land.
And yes...
God is alive.
