Growing up in East Circular in Benin in the 50s and 60s, our parents had one guiding light they always pointed out to us to emulate in our educational pursuits – the son of the man who owned the laundry shop who made waves bagging all the scholarships and graduating with distinctions everywhere he went. We were always pleasantly surprised to meet him when he would come on holidays and help his father out in the chores. He blazed the trail for many of us and even as adults, we always still looked up to him for advice and direction which he never failed to give. He was an icon and a mentor to many.
That young man of the 50s and 60s was Clifford Uhunmwangho who is being interred today in Benin City after his sojourn here on earth. We all called him Uncle Cliff, the Engineer of Engineers; the Volvo man. He loved the Swedish car model then, according to him, for its functionality and ruggedness. That was the engineer speaking! Uncle Cliff was an all-rounder in many things and his grasp of Benin history and language was incredible. He was also an avid defender of all things well-intentioned and respectable, including his tribe, family life and his Catholic Faith.
Engr. Clifford Ikponwosa Stephen Uhunmwangho was born on the 13th of July 1943 in Benin City to Mr. and Mrs. Omagbo Uhunmwangho. He attended Holy Cross Catholic School, Benin City and was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic Faith in 1955 at the Holy Cross Cathedral, Benin City. In 1958, Cliff Uhunmwangho went to Government College Ughelli and after seven years obtained the West African School Certificate in 1962 and the Higher School Certificate in 1964. He was an erudite scholar as he was on scholarship throughout his secondary and university school days.
Cliff studied Mechanical Engineering at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and obtained a BSc in Engineering in 1969. He joined UACN Plc that same year as a Management Trainee at African Timber & Plywood, AT&P Division, Sapele where he held various Engineering positions until 1975 when he moved to Joseph Crossfield & Sons, Warrington in the UK as a Works Engineer. He returned to African Timber & Plywood in 1977 as Project and Planning Engineer and in 1978 was transferred to A.J. Seward Oregun, Lagos.
In 1981, Cliff Uhunmwangho was transferred to Hindustan Lever, Bombay, as Technical Manager (Personal Product). He returned to Nigeria in late 1982 and held various senior technical management positions in A.J. Seward until 1987 when he was appointed as Divisional Technical Director. He was moved in 1992 to General Cotton Mill Onitsha briefly as the Deputy Managing Director. On August 1st 1992, Cliff was appointed the Divisional Managing Director of African Timber & Plywood in Sapele and in 1995 he became an Executive Director of UACN PLC while retaining his AT&P MD position. He retired in June 2000.
In 1972, Clifford married his sweetheart, Celestina Imuetinyan Uhunmwangho and they are blessed with four children and several grandchildren.
A very devoted Catholic, Cliff was recognised by Pope Benedict XVI in 2006 and conferred with the Papal Knighthood of St. Sylvester, KSS, having already been a Knight of St. Mulumba since 1995. An active parishioner of St. Peters Catholic Church Oko, Benin City, he was a member of the Church Building and Development Committee and Patron of the Catholic Women Organisation, CWO, of the Parish.
In spite of his achievements in education, family and professional life, Clifford Uhunmwangho was unassuming and a peacemaker who worked silently with his time and resources to help develop his community.
May his soul rest in peace. Amen.
Oh, Our Epa way back in the Archdiocese of Benin City. He was a staunch Catholic man and a worthy brother. May his soul rest in Peace.