Late Pa. Engr. Chief Geoffrey Osatohanmwen Aiwerioba FNSE, OON, JP, the Uwangue of Benin Kingdom was born on January 15th, 1919.
His parents were the late Chief Osaghae Ogiugo, the first Aiwerioba of Benin Kingdom and late Princess Omoigui Obasogie, the granddaughter of Oba Adolor. Osatohanmwen Aiwerioba entered Benin Baptist Mission School, Benin City in 1927 and finished in Eweka Memorial School in 1938.
He obtained a scholarship to Government College, Ibadan which he attended from 1939 to 1943. While there, the late Aiwerioba was made house prefect, house football captain, senior prefect and Head of Grier house. On completion of his secondary school education in 1944, he worked briefly in the office of the commissioner for the colony in Lagos in 1945 as a third class clerk.
From there, he passed the competitive examination into the public works department technical school, Lagos. With sheer determination and industry, he continued a three year sandwich course which qualified him as an engineering assistant, the post which later became known as Technical Officer. In 1946, he got married to the love of his life, former Miss Grace Ebun Obatohun with whom he sojourned all parts of the country.
In 1952 he was awarded a Federal Government Scholarship to study Civil Engineering at the prestigious University of London. He obtained his B.Sc (Hons) degree in 1956. In 1957, he got admitted into the Institution of Civil Engineers of the United Kingdom.
While in the United Kingdom, he worked in the consulting firm of Sir Frederick S. Snow and partners (Consulting Engineers), as the assistant resident engineer that supervised the construction of Gatwick Airport, London. While in the UK also, Osatohanmwen Aiwerioba found time to organize and participate in socio-cultural activities. He was the president of Government college Ibadan Old boys association of great Britain and Ireland and President of Edo Union.
He co-founded the Nigerian Society of Engineers in 1957 with Engr. Teju Oyeleye FNSE and was elected as the first President (founding president) while Oyeleye was elected as the first Secretary General. He was a member of the Victorian League, East and West friendship council and secretary of the world university service of national students union of great Britain and Ireland. He was the only African in the students union executive of the university of London and the African representative in the Anglican youth fellowship.
In 1958, he returned to Nigeria and took appointment as the resident engineer in charge of strengthening the Bridges of Lagos – Mando Road and supervising the construction of Lafenwa bridge. In the same year, he organized Nigerian Engineers to continue the activities of the Nigerian Society of Engineers from where he had left off in Britain.
He was accordingly appointed its General Secretary and functioned in this position from 1958 till 1963. In 1959, he was seconded to the Lagos City council as Deputy Engineer in the federal Ministry of works and survey.
In 1963, he was appointed by the Alhaji Tafawa Balewa Government as a referendum officer in charge of Iyekeorhiomwon district council during the plebiscite which led to the creation of Midwest Region. While on this assignment, he was awarded a fellowship by the International Road Federation of Washington DC and Geneva to study advanced highways in Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA.
He returned to Nigeria in 1964 and was transferred by the federal Government to assume the post of Chief Engineer in the newly created Midwest Region, where he rose to the position of controller of works services (a federal position) and permanent secretary in the State ministry of works and transportation until his retirement in 1975.
In 1971, Engr. Aiwerioba was awarded another scholarship to study at the Economic Development Institute of the World Bank and returned in 1972. He was retired from the civil service after some thirty one years of active service by the administration of the late Gen. Murtala Muhammad.
In his much loved and cherished profession, Engr. Chief Aiwerioba acquired several fellowships, including but not limited to; Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (1968), Fellow of the American society of Civil Engineers (1968) and Fellow of the Economic Development Institute of the World Bank (1972).
On retirement, Engr. Aiwerioba went into private practice, setting up OSAGHAE DEVELOPMENT ENTERPRISES LTD., a Civil Engineering Construction Company along with other business areas like Property Development, Poultry and Farming. He remained the Chairman and Managing Director until his retirement in 2010.
In 1985, he was conferred the chieftaincy title of OSAGUOBADIAYE of Benin Kingdom, a high ranking chieftaincy title of Eghaevbo N’ogbe group. In his capacity, he has represented the palace in and outside the state.
In 2003, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa CFR, the Oba of Benin Kingdom conferred on him the chieftaincy title of Uwangue of Benin Kingdom, a position that makes him the head of Iwebopalace society and by tradition, the only Chief who can deputize for the Oba in his absence.
A true patriot and nationalist, Engr. Chief Aiwerioba co-founded and led such cultural organizations as the Benin study group and Benin forum meant for the promotion and defense of the interests and cause of the Binis. He was the past chairman of Benin forum, having succeeded the late Hon. Justice S.O Ighodaro.
On the 31st of October 2008, Engr. Aiwerioba was honored by the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua GCFR as the first President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers. That same year, on December 22nd, Chief Aiwerioba was also awarded the national honor of “Officer of the Niger (OON).
He was also Patron of many socio-cultural groups like Edo Renaissance, Edo Club, Ifesowapo, Anglican youth fellowship, the cathedral choir and Band of light of the St. Matthew’s Cathedral Church, Benin City etc.
He is survived by his last wife, fourteen children and many grandchildren.