Sir Victor Uwaifo attended Western Boys High School in Benin City, and St. Gregory’s College, Lagos. May His Soul rest in Peace.
I could remember vividly during my student days studying Fine Art in University of Benin between 1990 and 1995, we had the honour of having the great Victor Uwaifo, the Ekassa Exponent, as our classmate. He decided to return to school after performing as a professional musician for a long time.
He had a daughter who was also in our class with him, but majored in Theater Arts at that time. I remember during our Art History and Art Education lectures with the great Professor Solomon Wangboje, he would contribute intelligently during the lectures because he was quite a scholar, this passion earned him a first class grade at graduation.
He was also a great art historian who added spice to the lectures. During our drawing classes when we had an interval recess, he would bring his guiter from his car and begin to entertain us, his classmates and we would dance to his rhythmic music.
I remember when he had a performance at our Assembly Hall in Ekenwan Campus of the University of Benin, he performed with his guiter and danced with a lot of energy and vigour, which made our lecturers spell bound and dance to his music especially Joromi. There was an occasion when he personally invited me to his home not too far from the University. When I got there all my lecturers sat there and he entertained them. He took me to an aeroplane designed sitting room in his house which doubled as his hall of fame and had all his awards and plaques and a grand piano at the corner.
I also recall he was very hardworking and would use bronze material for his assignments and work with very sophisticated machines and tools for his assignment while his classmates in the sculpture section would carve wood with their bare hands.
He was a great admirer and respected my father, Bruce Onobrakpeya. He was a trendy and fashionable man, who would bring to school different classical convertible cars.
He became the first commissioner for Arts and Culture in Edo State during Lucky Igbinedion”s tenure as Governor.
May he Rest in Peace in the bassom of the Lord.
