Did you know that Ambrose Folorunsho Alli who served as the first civilian Executive Governor of the defunct Bendel State (now Edo and Delta states) between 1979 and 1983 always wore sandals and joked that he was so busy working in Government House that he never had time to buy shoes for himself?

Ambrose Folorunsho Alli was born in the town of Idoani in Ondo state on 22 September 1929. In his childhood he moved between the towns of Oka-Odo, Ekpoma, Owo, Efon-Alaye, Benin City and finally to Asaba (in present day Delta State) where he completed his secondary education in 1948.

Ambrose Alli attended the School of Agriculture Ibadan in 1948 and the School of Medical Technology, Adeoyo Hospital Ibadan from 1953 to 1960 where he gained a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS).

Ambrose Alli served as a house officer at the Adeoyo hospital from 1960 to 1961 before migrating to the United Kingdom for a post-graduate course in neuropathology at the University of London from 1961 to 1966, gaining a D.C. pathology degree.

Ambrose Alli became a lecturer at the University of Ibadan in 1966 and taught till 1969. He held the position of senior lecturer at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria from 1969 to 1974. He later studied at the University of Birmingham in the U.K. from 1971 to 1974. From 1974 to 1979, he was professor of morbid anatomy and head of the department of pathology at the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Benin City.

Following his academic posts, Ambrose Alli was elected the Governor of Bendel State, and later founded Bendel State University (now Ambrose Alli University, AAU), Ekpomain 1981. Many campuses in Ekpoma, Abraka and Asaba were established during his tenure. However, with the creation of Delta State by the administration of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, the University became two Universities, namely Delta State University, Abraka and Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, posthumously named after him.

Ambrose Alli was a member of the constituent assembly that drafted the 1978 Nigeria constitution. He joined the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) and ran successfully as UPN candidate in the Bendel State governorship election of 1979. He brought massive development to Bendel in different sectors, from the establishment of numerous post-primary schools and tertiary institutions, and massive construction of roads and housing. His main thrust as governor was to increase educational opportunities.

Ambrose Alli established over 600 new secondary schools, and abolished secondary school fees. Apart from the establishment of the University, he also established various colleges of Education in Ekiadolor near Benin City, Agbor, Warri, Ozoro and Agbor, and three Polytechnics, with a college of agriculture and fishery proposed for Agenebode. He also established four teachers training colleges to supply staff to the new schools, as well as several other higher educational institutions.

Other reforms included abolishing charges for services and drugs at state-owned hospitals and eliminating the flat-rate tax. His administration carried out massive construction of roads to open up the rural areas. In the housing sector he built low cost housing estates in Ugbowo, Ikpoba Hill in Benin City, and Bendel Estates in Warri. As Governor, he always wore sandals, joking that he was so busy working in Government House that he never had time to buy shoes for himself.

When Ambrose Alli left office in 1983, he retired to his family house. After the military government of Major-General Muhammadu Buhari took power, he was sentenced to 100 years in prison by a military tribunal for allegedly misappropriating N983,000 in funds for a road project. He was later freed when the Esama of Benin, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, paid a fine amount of one million naira to the government.

Ambrose Alli, after his release from prison, was hosted by Sir Chief Dr. Ezekiel A. Ainabe. Local Government council Ekpoma honoured Prof. Alli by launching his statue. Prof. Alli sacrificed his life for the people of Nigeria. In order to pay respect and for the service rendered to the community, Dr. Ezekiel erected a statue at the market square in Eguare Ekpoma.

Shortly after being released from prison, Ambrose Alli died on his 60th birthday on 22 September 1989, at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital in Lagos. An annual Distinguished Leadership Lecture was later established in his honour.

Source: Wikipedia 

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