This category is restricted to renown Bakor indigenes who have made outstanding contributions to the development of Bakor and beyond. The following made up the list for the Bakor Pillars and Legends posthumous awards 2019
1. Senator Philip Nakuku: First Bakor Senator in Nigeria. He was Senator in the first Republic and convener of Bakor meetings that led to the formation of Bakor Union.
2.Ntol Robert Eko: The nomination of Ntol robert eko is based on the role he played for the development of bakor, he is the frontier of bakor union, he conceived the idea and shared it with chief philip nakuku of ekajuk and awuri mgbe of abanyom, in alok nnam clan, the three clan heads were the founding fathers of bakor, he single handedly followed it up till he actualized the peace accord of bakor nation in alok nnam clan, today bakor could sleep with his two eyes closed, in view of this man's efforts,
3. late chief I.I morphy:
Chief Iwong Inyamagun morphy was born on the 30th day of October, 1930 to chief Inyamagum Morphy of Ishibori and Echaka Oshen of Bekwarra.
He was educated at st. benedicts Primay School, Ogoja, the Roman Catholic school afikpo and Christian missionary school abaliki. He finished from primary school in 1946 and proceeded to teacher training college afikpo and st. Thomas teacher training college ogoja. He finished from teacher training college in 1950 which he taught for one year in 1951.
Between 1952 and 1954 he acted as the manger of the produce and transport business tagged ‘ MANNERS MAKETH MAN’’ of his maternal uncle, Agabi Oshen. At about this time he ventured into politics.
In 1955 he was elected into the eastern house of assembly on the platform of the action group. He was the first and only member of the action group in the eastern house assembly he was the parliamentary party opposition secretary and shadow minister of agriculture, From the beginning he agitated for the creation of Calabar ogoja river (COR) state and was the leader of the COR state movement from ogoja.
In 1957 he attended the London conference on the Nigerian constitution.
In 1958 he was appointed a member of eastern Nigeria delimitation committee and was for several years a member of the public accounts committee. When the united progressive grand alliance was informed he was appointed government whip. He remained a member of the eastern house of assembly for 11 years from 1955 to 1966 when the government was topped by the military.
Between 19966 and 1970 he continued the agitation for the creation of sates and was, together with other leaders like Joseph S. Traka instrumental to the creation of states. The creation of states is largely responsible for much of the peace and harmony which our country is enjoying today. Amongst the men and women whose sacrifices made that possible is Chief Iwong Inyamagum Morphy. Within a few days of the liberation of ogoja by federal forces he was appointed administrator of ogoja. He was thus the first Nigerian to be appointed administration of area in time of war. He administrated the area without vengeance and restored peace, harmony and confidence within a short time.
In 1968 he was appointed commissioner for trade and industries by then Lt col U.J. Usuene who was first military Governor of south eastern state in 1969 he resigned as commissioner for trade and industries. He was the first Nigerian so to resign from a ministerial position. He went back to ogoja where he set up echaka cattle ranch at gabu and Inyamagun hotels at ogoja, BAKOR LAND and obudu.
In 1975 he was appointed a member of the constitution drafting committee which was headed by the renowned senior advocate of Niger chief F.R.A Williams
In 1976 he was appointed the Chairman of the Board of the National Insurance Corporation of Nigeria.
From his experience with cattle he invented, in 1978, an ointment for the treatment of streptothricosis. This ointment he called Echaka ointment. It was patented on the 14th day of February, 1978 as No. 3642 and sealed on the 21st day of September, 1979.
On the 6th day of September, 1979 he was awarded the Charolais Francals Silver Medal by the French as the best cattle rancher in Nigeria.
He again entered party politics in 1979 and was appointed chairman / leader of the national party of Nigeria campaigns in cross river state. He conducted a successful campaign and the elections in cross river state were won by the national party of Nigeria in that year.
In 1980 he was appointed member of the NPN public city committee which set up destiny publishing company limited for publishing the party’s newspapers.
Again in 1980 he was appointed chairman of the board of director of new Nigeria newspaper limited.
In 1981 he attended a top management course in Cambridge University. England and was awarded a certificate of honour.
In 1982 he was appointed chairman of the NPN gubernatorial election committee of Borno state. In the same year he was also appointed a member of NPN national election committee this committee conducted the election of nation officers of the NPN and nation party candidates including the Presidential candidate
In 1983 he was appointed a member of NPN Publicity sub – committee of the presidential campaign committee
In 1983 he was given the key to the city of Tuskegee, Alabama, United States of America by mayor Jonny ford.
In 1984 he was appointed a member of the military government study of food production late in the same year he became a member of the floyal agricultural society of England.
In 1986 he was awarded certificate of recognition for his valuable contribute to agricultural development in Nigeria by national council of women societies (Cross River State of Nigeria).
Again in 1986 the Calabr chamber of commerce and industry awarded him certificate of achievement in recognition of his contribution to the growth and economic development of cross river state particularly in the field of agriculture and for being a source of pride to the nation.
In 1987 he was appointed chairman of the Nigerian conservation foundation cross river state chapter. During his tenure the foundation received his royal highness, the Duke of Edinburgh and president of the world wildlife fund for nature on the 16th February, 1989
In January 1990 he was conferred with the honorary degree of doctor of law at the tenth convocation of the University of Calabar by the University of Calabar.
In 1990 he was appointed a member of the cross advisory council on industrialization.
In 1993 he was appointed member eastern state elders forum.
In 1994 he was appointed a delegate to the constitutional conference and later in 1995 he was appointed a member transition implementation committee.
He died on the 2nd day of June 1996 at the University of Calabar teaching hospital. After 22 years of his departure, his work and achievements kept speaking for him.
Bakor Union in conjunction with SOULTIDE MEDIA decided to honour him with posthumous award as Bakor pillar and Legend on 14th September, 2019 at Klemoore guest house, Ekajuk, Ogoja LGA
Time :4PM
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