SUN, NOV 05 2023-theGBJournal| Dr. Sylvanus 0lisanye Ebigwei, frontline elderstateman and former Vice President Ohaneze Indigbo Worldwide has died, aged 80.
He died on Friday after a brief illness, and after attending some social functions in his home town, Okpanam, Delta State, Nigeria.
He held numerous chieftaincy titles in his home town where he is the Iyase, Commander in Chief of Royal warriors, and across the country.
Dr. Ebigwei led the Nigeria’s Chess revolution and was the pioneer President of Nigeria Chess Federation during which period he developed a raft Chess Grandmasters who went on to play in international arenas, winning trophies for Nigeria.
He co-founded the Commonwealth Chess Association, Malta and served as Vice President and at similarly led the African Chess Federation as President between 1986-96.
The erudite scholar, author, Politician and philanthropist was also among the founding fathers of the Nigeria’s major political Party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of Nigeria.
He played a key role in one the major Igbo socio-cultural organizations in Nigeria, Ohaneze Indigbo, emerging as its Vice President. Similarly, he served as the President of Aka Ikenga, Lagos, an Igbo think-tank and later emerged the Vice President General.
The renowned consultant dental surgeon was born January 8, 1946. He attended St Michael’s Catholic School, Okpanam, St Patrick’s College, Asaba as well as College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos State, Post Graduate Medical College of Niseria, Sahovski Saves, Yugoslavia, University of Florida among numerous others.
He founded one of Nigeria’s biggest private dental hospitals in the early eighties, the Belmont Specialist Hospital and Dental Climics.
He is survived by wife and children.
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