The first executive governor of Delta state, Felix Ibru has died. He died at the age of 80.
A family source said that Mr. Ibru died in Lagos after a protracted illness.
Ibru was elected on the platform of the Social Democratic Party as governor of Delta briefly between 1992 and 1993, he was sacked when the military junta led by late general Sanni Abacha sacked all civilian governors in a bloodless coup.
Felix Ovudoroye Ibru who was born on December 7, 1935 was an architect, Senator and former First democratic Governor of Delta State. Currently he holds the position of President General of the Urhobo Progressive Union (UPU). As a traditional chieftain of his homeland, Ibru bears the tribal honorific Olorogun and often uses it as a pre-nominal style. This title is also borne by many of the members of his large family.
Ibru established an architectural firm, Roye Ibru Associates, which, in 1971, went into partnership with Alan Vaughan-Richards and Associates to establish the firm of Ibru Vaughan-Richards and Associates (Planning Partnership). As one of the two principal partners of the firm, Chief Ibru was involved in the design and supervision of more than 40 projects across the country. They include: University of Lagos Sports Centre, Oguta Lake Resort, The Diette-Spiff Civic Centre, Port Harcourt, Office extension for Elf Nig. Ltd. Victoria Island, Lagos University master plan, New Layout Market, Port Harcourt, Mile 3 Diobu Market, Port Harcourt, Sheraton Lagos Hotel & Towers, Ikeja, University of Benin sports centre, University of Benin Master plan, Faculty of Science buildings, University of Benin & Ogun State, Ogun State Polytechnic Master plan.
As consultant to Ibru Prefabs Limited he was responsible for the design and supervision of several Geodesic Domes of various dimensions in many parts of the country. In 1971, under the auspices of the United Nations, he was invited to Tokyo, Japan as a member of a panel on foreign investment. In 1974, he delivered a lecture at the Harvard Business School, in the United States on Multinationals. It was titled, Emerging Role Of The African Entrepreneur In The Economy And Its Relationship With Multinational Corporations:Competition,Partnership,Cooperation and Absorption
