Kenneth Gbagi, the Social Democratic Party’s (SDP) governorship candidate in the March 2023 governorship elections and a former minister of education, has died.
Emuoboh Gbagi, his eldest son, announced his death in a family statement on Saturday.
The statement reads in part, “It is with profound sadness but gratitude to God that we announce the passing of our beloved father, grandfather, husband, and brother Olorogun Kenneth Omemavwa Gbagi, former minister of education, departed this life on the 4th of May 2024 at the age of 62.
“We take comfort in the fond memories of his life, his achievements, and the impact he made on the lives of countless individuals and communities.”
The former minister of education was born in September 1961 in Delta State, south-south Nigeria.
He attended Bishop Johnson Memory Primary School, Sapele. At 14, he left for Kosofe Secondary School, Mile 12 in Lagos.
After his secondary education, he worked with a Foreign Service before travelling abroad to further his education. While in Hong Kong, he shot a movie titled The Birth of Hong Kong in 1993. He used the proceeds from the movie to further his education.
He studied political science at the Sans Thomas University and went on to study criminology from the Philippine College of Criminology.
After his studies, Gbagi returned to Nigeria for his mandatory one year National Youth Service Corp where he served with the Nigeria Police College Ikeja. During his service year, he taught criminology.
He later proceeded to the University of Lagos to study Law.
Gbagi clinched the SDP governorship ticket in the last election in Delta State. He however lost to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Prior to that, he served as the Minister of State for Education under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Gov Oborevwori mourns
Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has expressed his heart-felt condolences to the family of former Minister of Education (State), Kenneth Gbagi.
The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, described the passing of Gbagi as ‘tragic, unfortunate and heart-wrenching.’
He commiserated with the people of Ughelli South Local Government Area and Oginibo community, in particular, over the demise of the renowned politician and former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain.
He said: “On behalf of the government and people of Delta State, I mourn the passing of a renowned politician and astute businessman, Chief Kenneth Gbagi, who passed on in Lagos on Saturday.
“The news of his death came to me as a terrible shock and my heart-felt condolences go to his family, the people of Oginibo and the members of the Social Democratic Party, SDP”.
He prayed God to accept the deceased’s soul and grant fortitude to the family and friends he left to bear the loss.
