Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri has urged the people of Ijaw ethnic nationality to imbibe and practice the patriotic virtues of world renowned medical expert, Professor Nimi Briggs, to move their nation forward.
Governor Diri made the call at a special valedictory convocation ceremony organized by the Bayelsa Medical University in honour of Prof Briggs, who until his death was the Pro-Chancellor of the university.
Speaking through his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, at the Gabriel Okara Memorial Cultural Centre, Yenagoa, on Thursday, the Governor stressed that Ijaw nation was in need of patriotic people that could work selflessly in its overall interest.
Paying tribute to the late Professor Emeritus of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Governor Douye Diri described him as a quintessential academic, astute administrator, human resource builder and a rare breed of the Ijaw extraction who was a gift to Nigeria and Africa.
The Bayelsa helmsman said the State as well as Ijaw nation was still in shock over Prof Briggs' death, which has created a deep vacuum that stretches far beyond his family, community, Rivers and Bayelsa States to the entire Sub-African region, especially in the medical circle.
Governor Diri extended the condolences of the government and people of Bayelsa State to the Briggs family and the people of Abonnema in Rivers State and assured them of support in their moment of grief.
His words: "Professor Nimi Briggs means different things to different people, depending on the perspective from which you look at him. If you look at intelligence, he was highly intelligent.
He was a good administrator, a man of society, a religious man and an activist.
"Prof. Briggs has symbolized a lot of things for us especially in Bayelsa State Government. He has shown to us that patriotism is like the potato stem that does not have boundaries.
"Prof Briggs is not a Bayelsan. He is an Ijaw man but he offered to serve Bayelsa even after his retirement in the name of patriotism. How many of us Ijaw people are working in that patriotic frontier like Prof Briggs?
"It is not enough for us to gather and mourn the departure of our beloved brother and father without living in the values of honesty, hardwork, dedication, and patriotism that stood him out to the world.
"I therefore challenge us all as leaders to be patriotic and devote ourselves to improving the Ijaw nation as was demonstrated by Prof. Nimi Briggs"
Others who took turns to pay tribute, including the Vice-Chancellor of the Bayelsa Medical University, Prof. Ebitimitula Etebu; Ag. Pro-Chancellor of BMU, Dr Godknows Igali; and the President of Ijaw National Congress, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, eulogized his contributions to expanding the frontiers of knowledge, particularly in Obstetrics and Gynecology and high standards in public life.
They also noted that the late Professor Nimi Dimkpa Briggs represented an era that is gradually passing away, but expressed delight that he lived a fulfilled life and his legacies will continue to live on in the numerous lives he impacted in various walks of life.
The widow of Professor Nimi Briggs, Dr. Dada Briggs who received a posthumous award of Doctor of Science of Bayelsa Medical University on his behalf, thanked Governor Douye Diri, the Bayelsa Medical University and members of the academia for the honour given to her late husband as well as supporting the family.
The remains of the Late Emeritus Professor Nimi Briggs will to be laid to rest in his country home of Abonnema in Rivers State on the 20th of this month.
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