Dennis Aliogo Bows Out at 70
Mr. Dennis Chukwuka Aliogo was born into the family of Mr. and Mrs. Irabor Aliogo on January 10, 1947. He hailed from Idumu-Okete Quarters, Otolokpo, Ika North-east Delta State. He began his primary education at the Nigeria Baptist Convention Primary School which is now known as Okundaye Primary School, Boji-Boji Owa, Ika North-East Local Government Area, from 1955-1961.
In 1962, he gained admission into Unity Institute of Stenography, also in Boji-Boji Owa. Due to financial constraint, he dropped out in the second year in 1963. By 1964, late Chief Patrick Aliogo took him to Joseph Monye to learn driving. On completion of the driving training, he obtained his vehicle drivers’ license in 1967.
Thereafter, Chief Patrick Aliogo took him to Chief Igabor Ignatius Erigbuem where he started off as a private driver to the man. During his stint with Erigbuem, he displayed exceptional skill and deep devotion to duties. His lifestyle convinced Erigbuem that he was no stranger to hard work.
His personal passion and commitment to hard work was the touchstone which helped him to win the heart of Erigbuem who bought him a car, when the former became a major distributor to Nigeria Breweries Plc. Despite owing a car, he remained under the tutelage of Erigbuem learning the rubrics of the trade and distributing beer.
After four years with Erigbuem, he bought a Morris Minor WA1106 and ventured into transport business. This was a new wave of opportunity he wanted to explore because of his desire to try new things. The adventure didn’t produce much success as expected, however, during this period his path crossed with late Godwin Odim who also from Otolokpo. Odim requested that Aliogo used his car to convey his expatriate friends from U.S. round the city of Port-Harcourt, River State, whenever they visited Nigeria.
He agreed and spent a long time with them in Port-Harcourt. His sojourn in Port-Harcourt helped in establishing a solid relationship with Odim who was given a license by the federal government to import cement. The friendship between Odim and Aliogo created a strong fraternal bond which both individuals are grateful for even in death. Odim encouraged him to battle through life despite the odds.
When the cement business with Odim collapsed, he met another Otolokpo man, late John Elue who was a big brother to the Aliogo family. He was a major firearms distributor in Delta State. Elue had received a license from the federal government to sell firearms. He then made Aliogo a distributor under him in Boji-Boji Urban. In 1975, he got married according to native law and customs and the marriage is blessed with five children; three boys and two girls. Then in 2006, he wedded his wife Mrs. Augustina Aliogo, at St. Dominic Catholic Church, Boji-Boji Owa.
Then in 1977, he met a friend named Gabriel Onyeugboh who introduced him into sales and distribution of beer at Obiaruku, Delta State. They began the business as partners. Though they recorded some level of successes, but it was short-lived. The business collapsed due to shortage of capital and they went into other interests. For Aliogo, he decided to venture into rubber business.
He began buying rubber from various towns and communities in Delta State to sell to processing companies in Agbor, Sapele and Warri. While doing the rubber business, he ventured into palm oil processing and established an oil mill. It was a lucrative business which earned Aliogo great financial rewards. He played a key role in reviving the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Ogbosisi unit (plank shade), Boji-Boji Owa. When the NURTW Ika North-East unit heard of his exploits in the Ogbosisi unit, they decided to make him an integral part of the union. He was an adviser and also chaired the union’s planning committee for various events at different times.
On the home front, he was a fascinating father figure to his children and a strict disciplinarian. He urged his children to strive to standout in anything they did. In the Aliogo family circle, his impacts were felt by everyone. He was revered for his wisdom and depth in handling family issues. Despite enduring a period of long suffering with regards to his health, he was never broken. He lived everyday with renewed hope. His hard work and determination never won him the major successes he truly aspired for, but it is an issue he lost sleep over.
On December 16, 2017 he died after a protracted illness. He bowed out in a blaze of glory that was too good to be true. Aliogo was the man for the big occasion. His thought process was very quick and he had panoramic view of everything.
He had an extraordinary life and succeeded in everything he did as a father, leader and friend. Despite the difficulties he encountered in business, the decision to quit never loomed before him.
He never allowed anything to stand between him and his goals. He was one of the finest examples of a person battling against the odds. He was a man with a strong personality. He had an incisive mind and the ability to cut through the logjam in any situation. He was a man with a knack for excellence. He crossed many milestones and broke many frontiers. His story is not only amazing, but imbued with moral courage and hope. He was more interested in creating an impact, than making an empire. He was a wonderful friend and a great comrade. Late Aliogo who would be buried on 3rd of February 2018, was a custodian of culture and moral rectitude.