What began as a birthday celebration quickly became a wake-up call for hundreds of students when Rt. Rev. Dr. Matthew Akhaze Okpebholo (JP) turned 75 and marked the 29th anniversary of his educational foundation with a ₦50 million gift.
Instead of balloons and fanfare, the mood at St. Matthews Royal College, Eidenu-Irrua, was one of inspiration and reflection. One thousand final-year students received ₦50,000 bursaries each—funded solely by the celebrant himself—but it was a fiery lecture by Dr. Andrew Oseghale Eigbedion that shifted the celebration into a movement.
“On his birthday, most people receive. But Bishop Okpebholo gave—generously, powerfully, and with purpose,” said Dr. Eigbedion, Consultant Paediatrician at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital and a former recipient of the same scholarship nearly 30 years ago.
From Seed to Strategy
The guest lecture, titled “Ideas to Impact: Turning Passion into Profitable Ventures,” challenged students to move beyond applause and use the ₦50,000 bursary as seed capital—not shopping money.
“You’ve been given a seed,” Dr. Eigbedion declared, standing before a sea of young faces. “What will you do with it? Let it rot in the soil—or grow something that feeds generations?”
He wasn’t speaking from theory. In 1996, a young, medical student—Eigbedion himself—benefitted from the very foundation he now addressed. That small scholarship helped him complete medical school, become a respected consultant, and now, a celebrated health entrepreneur.
“If Bishop Okpebholo hadn’t invested in me then, I might not be standing here today,” he said. “What he did 29 years ago is still echoing now—and your turn starts today.”
A Week of Impact
The bursary distribution was just one highlight in a week packed with community service, healthcare outreach, and spiritual empowerment—all marking Bishop Okpebholo’s 75th birthday.
Between June 9 and 13:
Hundreds were treated during a free medical and surgical outreach at the St. Matthews Royal Specialist Hospital.
Dozens of inmates at the Ubiaja Correctional Centre regained their freedom after Okpebholo paid off their court fines.
A state-of-the-art Geriatric Centre was commissioned and donated to Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH).
A city-wide crusade in Uromi led to spiritual renewal for thousands.
“He’s not just building churches or schools—he’s building hope,” said Ehiremen Izekor a Medical Student, Ambrose Alli University.
“This isn’t a man celebrating himself. He’s celebrating us.”
From Steelworks to Nation-building
Born in Uromi in 1950, Bishop Okpebholo began with little more than grit and vision. At 20, he founded Royal Steel Works, which evolved into Ray Royal Construction Company Ltd.—a company now employing over 700 Nigerians and operating nationwide.
Over the decades, he diversified into education, food processing, faith-based leadership, and philanthropy—earning over 226 national and international awards, including honorary doctorates and papal recognition.
“He didn’t start rich. He started ready,” said Dr. Eigbedion. “And he never waited for applause to do good.”
“Ideas, Impact, Passion, Profit”
The lecture’s core focused on four words—ideas, impact, passion, and profitable ventures—and how students can connect them meaningfully.
Dr. Eigbedion urged them to:
Start Small, Think Big: “Okpebholo’s empire began in Uromi. So can yours.”
Solve Problems, Don’t Just Sell Products: “Money follows value. Value solves pain.”
Give Back Early: “Don’t wait to be wealthy to be generous. Start with what you have.”
Using examples from sports, music, tech, medicine, literature, and entrepreneurship, he reminded students that success doesn’t have to begin in big cities or foreign countries.
“We’ve seen Rema rise from Benin, Tunde Onakoya from Lagos slums, Obi Cubana from Oba in Anambra. What about you—from Irrua?”
A Legacy of Living Investment
Bishop Okpebholo’s influence spans the sacred and the secular. He led church growth and social impact. As Vice Chairman of Benson Idahosa University, he continues to shape educational policy. And as founder of his educational foundation, he’s turning birthdays into blessings—for others.
“He builds quietly. He gives quietly. But his impact roars,” said Dr. Eigbedion. “If he’s taught us anything, it’s this: success is not about what you gather—but about what you give.”
The Final Word
As students filed out, their bursary envelopes tucked into backpacks and hearts full of new conviction, the big question lingered:
What will they do with their seed?
Because on June 14, 2025, Rt. Rev. Dr. Matthew Okpebholo didn’t just celebrate a birthday—he commissioned a generation.
