The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA, joins the nation in mourning the passing of Chief Audu Innocent Ogbeh, a distinguished statesman whose life exemplified the very essence of our organization’s mission.
On August 9, 2025, Nigeria lost not just a former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, but a visionary leader who understood profoundly that the strength of a nation lies in the harmony between commerce, industry, and agriculture.
Chief Ogbeh’s journey from the academic halls of King’s College Lagos and Ahmadu Bello University to the political corridors of power, and ultimately to the fertile farmlands of his beloved Benue State, mirrors the multifaceted nature of Nigeria’s economic potential.
Born on July 28, 1947, in Benue State, he embodied the spirit of enterprise that NACCIMA has championed since its establishment in 1960. His life was a testament to the belief that true leadership emerges not from the pursuit of power alone, but from the commitment to serve humanity through productive endeavours.
As Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development from 2015 to 2019 under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, Chief Ogbeh brought to the office a rare combination of practical farming experience and policy expertise. His appointment was not merely a political calculation but a recognition of his deep understanding of agricultural challenges facing our nation. Through his stewardship, history will credit him with the zeal to champion reforms that sought to transform Nigeria’s agricultural landscape, understanding that food security was inextricably linked to national security and economic prosperity.
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The late Chief Ogbeh understood what many in positions of authority often overlook: that sustainable development requires a delicate balance between agricultural productivity, industrial growth, and commercial viability. His establishment of Efugo Farms in Makurdi was not merely a business venture but a demonstration of his conviction that leaders must lead by example. Through his rice mills, cashew plantations, and poultry operations, he showed that Nigeria’s salvation lay not in the importation of what we could produce locally, but in the disciplined cultivation of our land and the processing of our raw materials.
His intellectual breadth was remarkable – a man who could discuss French literature with the same passion he brought to conversations about rice production or political theory. His five plays, including “The Epitaph of Simon Kisulu,” which graced the stage at the Muson Centre, Lagos, revealed an artistic soul that understood that cultural expression and economic development were not mutually exclusive but complementary forces in nation-building.
Chief Ogbeh’s service extended beyond Nigeria’s shores. As a member of the Eisenhower Exchange Fellowships Incorporated and recipient of various international honours, he represented the best of Nigerian scholarship and leadership to the world. Yet he never lost sight of his roots or abandoned his commitment to the development of his local community in Efugu-Otukpa.
As we bid farewell to this colossus, NACCIMA remembers Chief Audu Innocent Ogbeh not just as a former minister or party chairman, but as an embodiment of the productive citizen – one who understood that true wealth comes from the marriage of intellect and industry, of vision and hard work. His life reminds us that leadership is not about the accumulation of titles but about the transformation of ideas into tangible benefits for society.
To his beloved wife, Justina Obehi, his children and the entire Ogbeh family, NACCIMA extends our deepest condolences. May the seeds of progress he planted continue to germinate, and may his legacy inspire future generations of leaders who will prioritize the productive sectors of our economy.
Chief Audu Innocent Ogbeh has ploughed his final furrow on this earthly plane, but the harvest of his ideas, his courage, and his commitment to excellence will continue to nourish Nigeria for generations to come. In honouring his memory, we commit ourselves anew to the ideals he embodied: integrity in leadership, excellence in service, and an unwavering belief in the productive capacity of the Nigerian people.
May his soul rest in perfect peace, and may his example continue to guide us in our mission to build a prosperous and equitable Nigeria.
Eng. Jani Ibrahim, mni
President, The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture.
August 10, 2025
