FIRST IJAW MAN TO INTRODUCED THE FIRST PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM IN NIGERIA

DO YOU KNOW THAT AN IJAW MAN INTRODUCED THE FIRST PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM IN NIGERIA?-

An Okrika- Ijaw man was the first to introduce the public address system in Nigeria. He was King S.P.U Ogan- the late Amanyanabo of Okrika (Wakirike se). He was born in 1919 and was a gallant second  World war  veteran who joined the British Army in 1944. He later became a principal Radio mechanic instructor in the Royal West African Frontier force. He was the first West African to become an instructor in the British Army.In 1949, he became the first Nigerian that designed and constructed election public address system with a microphone, amplifier and loudspeaker. This public address system was massively patronized by politicians in their electioneering campaigns across the length and breadth of the country. In 1951, he established a radio and electrical services workshop on Aggrey road and Bishop Johnson street in Portharcourt. In July, 1951, he got approval from the education department in Portharcourt to run a vocational training institute for the training of electrical and electronic technicians. This Vocational training institute-Ogan Radio and Engineering institute the first of it's kind east of the Niger came on board in 1952. The institute later became known as the New Era Technical College when other external investors joined the board of the institute. He equally ventured into Agriculture by embarking in piggery and cash crop farming of cashew, oranges tangerine,guava and pineapples.He also  cultivated food crops such as cassava, avocado pear,yam,cocoyam, plantain and banana.He was installed the Amanyanabo of Okrika on the 25th of April,1964. king S.P.U Ogan was among  the traditional rulers from the Niger Delta recognized by the then eastern Nigerian government. The others were the Amanyanabo of Bonny, Amanyanabo of Kalabari, Amanyanabo of Opobo and the Amanyanabo of Nembe.His Royal Majesty- King S.P.U Ogan joined his ancestors in 1997.