audu ogbeh biography

Audu Ogbeh (1947–2025) — Biography Overview

Early Life & Education

• Born: July 28, 1947, in Otukpo, Benue State (then Northern Region)
• Education: Attended King’s College in Lagos before earning a BA in French from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria (1969–1972), followed by an MA in French Literature from the University of Toulouse, France (1973–1974)

Academic & Early Career

• Lecturer at ABU: Served as a teaching assistant in the Institute of Education (1972–1976).
• Head of Department: Led the Department of Languages, Arts, and Social Sciences at Murtala College of Arts, Science, and Technology (1977–1979)

Political & Public Service Career

• Deputy Speaker: Elected to the Benue State House of Assembly in 1979 and served as Deputy Speaker until 1982
• Ministerial Roles (Second Republic):
  • Communications (1982–1983)
  • Steel Development (1983) — until the December 1983 military coup

Agricultural Ventures & Return to Politics

• Farming Endeavors: Following his ministerial exit, Ogbeh returned to full-time farming from the mid-1980s to late 1990s. His projects included rice mills, a large cashew plantation, poultry farms, and pineapple ventures. He also consulted on agricultural projects for state governments
• Political Re-engagement:
  • Participated in national committees such as the Constitutional Conference (1993) and the National Reconciliation Committee (1995)
  • Became PDP campaign director in 1998, later serving as National Chairman of the PDP from 2001 to 2005. He resigned amid internal strife related to then-President Obasanjo’s third-term bid
  • Joined the APC upon its formation and was appointed Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development from 2015 to 2019 under President Buhari

Literary & Cultural Contributions

• Playwright: Authored several drama works. Notably, Epitaph for Simon Kisulu, dealing with apartheid in South Africa, was published in 1984 and staged at Lagos’ Muson Centre in 2002

Death & Legacy

• Passed Away: On August 9, 2025, at the age of 78, peacefully according to family statements
• Tributes & Praise:
  • Lauded by President Tinubu as a “patriot whose wisdom and dedication left an indelible mark on Nigeria’s political landscape.” His integrity and practical approach to policy were highly regarded
  • Northern Elders Forum called him a “principled democrat, patri­otic nationalist, and tireless advocate for unity and cohesion,” expressing deep personal and national loss

Summary at a Glance