21/05/2025
URHOBO ARCHIVE
Name: Chief Edward Gbagbeke Sido
Regent and Otota of Udu Kingdom (1992-2006)
Chief Edward Sido is the Father of Cecilia IBRU former MD of defunct Oceanic Bank.
Born on November 8, 1914 at Ovwian in Udu Kingdom of Urhobo Division at that time, and now Udu Local Government Area. He was among those who were specially favoured from birth.
His grandmother, Mama Egba, was one of the greatest merchants of her time setting up buying stations for produce and retail and wholesale outlets for imported goods.
Chief E. G. Sido attended Warri Government School and graduated in 1934 with Standard Six Pass Certificate. He later proceeded to Prince Commercial Institute, Onitsha and graduated in 1940.
His leadership traits and the zeal to effectively educate the people of his environs made him to establish the first privately owned Secondary Institution in Warri- Sido Commercial Institute - in 1942, which was later integrated with the Kagho College of Commerce to form the United College of Commerce Warri ( College of Commerce in IGBUDU) which he was principal.
He also established the Sido Preparatory Day School (SPDS), which on three occasions won the trophy being competed for by all schools in Warri.
Chief Edward Sido taught in many Schools including New Zion School, Dore School, African Church School, Roman Catholic School all in Warri, and Native Authority School, Ughelli, among others.
In 1959, he enrolled in the Inns of Court Middle Temple, attended Holborn College of Law in London.
He graduated as a Barrister at Law on November 18, 1962 after passing the Council of Legal Education final examination in London. His logic was that Law is a useful discipline for the management of one's life and the general community. Soon after he was called to the bar in 1963.
He attended the Nigerian Law School in Lagos after his sojourn in England and graduated as a Nigerian Lawyer in April 1964. He started a flourishing legal practice and was, from the outset, community- conscious and also highly involved in progressive community matters.
He was employed by the then Bendel State Government of Nigeria as a Magistrate in 1976, nominated by the then Ethiope Local Government Council, Orerokpe to attend Nigeria Economic Welfare Services Summit in 1977 but later resigned as Magistrate in 1978 to return to his law practice.
Chief Edward Sido was chosen as the Regent and Otota of Udu Kingdom in February 1992 after the death of Chief F. V. Oputu in 1989.
His zeal and contributions to the development of his community made many refer to him as a social entrepreneur who was able to recognize the problems and needs of his community and proffer solutions.
The case of the establishment of the Udu Council of Chiefs, in which he played a prominent role in instituting the Udu throne, marks the highest point in his community relations activities.
Pa Sido was instrumental in the establishment of Udu Kingdom and the creation of the Udu Local Government Council. He promised the people of Udu when he was made the Otota, that during his tenure, he would see to it that the government of the day established the office of Ovie, and truly, an Ovie was installed, the first time in the history of the Udu kingdom.
He was also the Chairman of Udu Council of Chiefs which was responsible for the appointment of the Ovie of Udu, a member of the Udu traditional Council and also the Vice Chairman to the Ovie-in-Council as well. *
He also actively played local politics as a councilor in Warri Municipal council. During the first republic, Chief Sido was twice elected to serve in Warri Urban District Council, and was at the same time appointed a member of Income Tax Revenue Appeal Court in Lagos. He was also appointed a member of the Bendel Scholarship Board.
For six years between 198l and 1987, he was the President-General of Ovwian Community, the body which always played a vital part in the development of Ovwian. Chief Sido was instrumental to the establishment of the Delta Steel Company (D.S.C.) at Owvian-Aladja and also the Niger Benue Transport Company Limited at Owvian. These two companies have played vital roles in the economic life of the Udu people.
If entrepreneurial spirit is about spotting an opportunity and knowing how to make a difference, then Pa Sido could also be described as an entrepreneur par excellence. He was attached to the United Africa Company (U.A.C.) as a distributor of textile prints. He was also a timber contractor exporting timber to England. As a foundation Director of Oceanic Bank, he contributed immensely to the growth of the Bank.
A renowned and respected legal practitioner, he championed the cause of the less-privileged, especially in the Niger Delta Region. He was also a philanthropist.
A community leader par excellence who believed in rule of law and democratic institutions, twice he resigned his appointment when the Military took over the reins of government, for his belief that the art of governance should be left for those who know how best to impact effective leadership on the society.
Throughout his lifetime, Pa Sido lived a life worthy of emulation as he worked relentlessly to live by his ideals about leadership that: 'Good leaders are made, not born'. He also believed that Leadership is a process by which a person influences others to accomplish an objective and directs the group in a way that makes it more cohesive and coherent.
A very loving father who ensured that all his children were educated to University level and beyond, Pa Sido was a disciplinarian to the core. Among his children are Bankers, Doctors, Lawyers, Engineers, Accountant, Teachers, Evangelists, and Administrators, among others.
Towards the end of his life, Pa Sido in April 2003 was baptized by Rev. Fr. Edwin Erhimeyoma. He made restitution and took his faith seriously, Until movement became difficult for him, he made it a duty to attend Mass regularly and was a committed communicant.
He died the death of Saints surrounded by his children and grandchildren on Thursday April 4, 2006. He was given a befitting burial in his hometown Ovwian where people from all works of life attended.
With his imprints and achievements all over, there is no doubt that his name will be etched in gold in the annals of his people, community and the nation at large.
*Edited by:*
Famous Akpojotor
*Source/Reference materials*
Mrs Edna Sido-Bazunu
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