High Chief Amb Sobomabo Jackrich also known as Egberipapa is a Niger Delta freedom fighter, Political right activist, and Philanthropic Behemoth. He has been on the frontline of the struggle to emancipate the Niger Delta.
In this article, we will delve into various aspects of High Chief Amb Sobomabo Jackrich, including his educational journey, professional career, and personal details such as his age and many more.
Amb Sobomabo Jackrich Early life and Education
Sobomabo Jackrich was born in 1978. Into the family of Ike in Jackrich Compound, Buguma.
He’s Currently the Paramount Ruler of Da Ike Group of Houses and Communities.
High Chief Sobomabo Jackrich obtained his First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC) in 1991 at State School 1 Churchill Road, Port Harcourt.
He went further to obtain his West African Senior School Certificate (WASSC) at Community Secondary School Idama in 2010 And in 2014 he obtained a Diploma in Public Administration from Dorben Polytechnic, Bwari, Abuja, and a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Business Administration from Wolex Polytechnic, Lagos in 2020.
Amb Sobomabo Jackrich Career
Egberipapa as he is fondly called is a man who believes in “MATCHING WORDS WITH ACTION”. This is why, out of his undying zeal for the salvation of his people from political slavery, inequality, and poverty, He contest the office of Ijaw Youth Council National President which he lost amidst fierce opposition.
Due to his zest for activism for a better deal for his people, he immediately swung into action do the talk by establishing the Egberipapa Leadership Foundation- ELF in 2010, which gave birth to the Network for Defense of Democracy and Good Governance (NDDGG), early 2011 and Kengema Unity Forum (KUF) in the later part of 2011.
The Network for Defense of Democracy and Governance (NDDGG) is a sociopolitical pressure group with membership cutting across the 23 local government areas of Rivers State and other states of the federation, and across party lines.
The NDDGG since its inception has been at the forefront of the advocacy for good governance and has constantly engaged the government in policies that are inimical to the wellbeing of the people.
The KUF became a popular household name in the political space in Rivers State during the 2015 Governorship Elections. The KUF had prosecuted a very fervent and determined campaign for the emergence of a Kalabari Governor in 2015 under the People’s Democratic Party which later ended in favor of Chief Barr. Nyesome Wike.
His importance in the politics of Rivers State cannot be overstated. Due to his vast support base and followership, he regularly received candidates who sought his support to secure victory. They include Barr. Nyesome Wike in 2015, and Arch. Tonye Cole in 2019.
Amb Sobomabo Jackrich Political Career and Philanthropic Support
High Chief Sobomabo Jackrich (Egberipapa) is a man who takes the welfare of his people very seriously, needless to say, it is the main reason he has always spoken out against anti-people government policies. As a people-oriented leader, he always steps out to meet the people at the point of their need; providing relief to those in disaster and distress, economic empowerment, and Social welfare for the less privileged and Disabled.
During the flood of 2011 that Ravaged the coastal areas of Nigeria, communities in Rivers State were submerged and the people were displaced, and in dire need of relief to sustain them. Relief Materials; Food items, Mattresses, Blankets, mosquito nets, and Medical Supplies were immediately delivered to the affected communities to alleviate their sufferings.
In the heat of the COVID-19 OUTBREAK with the attendant lockdowns and economic meltdowns, many families were in dire shortage of supplies to survive through the outbreak. In His usual manner, High Chief Hon. Amb Sobomabo Jackrich Launched a relief program, the first in the three (3) Kalabari LGAs of Asari Toru, Akuku Toru, and Degema Local Government Areas. Foodstuffs were delivered to people in their homes.
At a time of great global need, a certain group of people in the society were overlooked or incarcerated from Society. These people suffer such situations either due to their occupation or the consequences of their actions. This is the case of the Nigerian Army, the National Youth Service Corp, and Inmates of the Degema Maximum Prison who were left to their fate in the heat of the outbreak until High Chief Hon. Amb Sobomabo Jackrich (Egberipapa) stepped into their RESCUE by delivering relief food items to them too. This philanthropic gesture gave him the spotlight and subsequent appointment as NDDC Palliative Distribution Committee Chairman.
The Economic empowerment and poverty alleviation programs of High Chief Sobomabo Jackrich have earned the popular nickname “Empowerment Dispenser”. He has always maintained an ideology that “An Idol Mind is the Devil’s Workshop”. He believes that it is when an individual is not engaged in any meaningful activity that such an individual engages in vices. This is why he deems it imperative to engage people, especially the youths in meaningful activities through Skills Acquisition, empowering people with tools and finance to start up their businesses in a bid to end hunger in the land and ensure security.
In 2012, he launched an empowerment program in Buguma, Asari Toru Local Government Area where he shared hundreds of motorcycles to youths in the three Kalabari LGAs of Asalga, Akulga and Delga. Sewing Machines, Welding Machines, industrial freezers, and Cash incentives were given out to beneficiaries of the program to enable them to start their businesses to sustain their homes.
In the same year, He empowered over hundreds of farmers in Emouha Local Government Area with Motorcycles and Cash incentives to aid them in their farming activities. The idea was born out of the daily suffering the people had to go through, trekking miles to their farms and carrying farm produce kilometers away to the Ayankwo Market. This empowerment has helped farmers in the LGA improve their productivity and alleviate poverty and hunger in their community, and neighboring Kalabari Communities who buy from them at the Ayankwo Market.
The Egberipapa Skills Acquisition Center is a landmark empowerment and Skill Acquisition Program he has initiated and funded single-handedly to better the lives of the people, particularly the Youths.
The Egberipapa Skills Acquisition Institute has two (2) Locations and was Launched in 2016 with free admission for all the participants. The Fashion Design School is located at Jackrich Compound, Buguma City while the Hair Dressing and Computer Schools are Located at IDO Community, all in Asari Toru Local Government Area. The facilities were fitted with state of art, modern pieces of equipment to aid learning and professionalism after the program.
Provision of Canoes for Fishermen in Asari Toru to aid their trade and livelihood.
His Yearly Scholarship and Education Support Schemes have provided support to numerous students from Primary to Tertiary levels all across the State.
In 2011 he launched a back-to-school program in Ogbakiri Community in Emouha Local Government Area of Rivers State where he supplied academic materials and Uniforms to Primary School pupils and renovated school facilities.
The welfare of the less privileged, Persons with Disabilities, orphans, and the Aged are the center of his philanthropic work, providing support to homes of the elderly, Providing support to orphanages, and support for the persons with Disabilities community in the state. In fact, he was the first amongst his contemporaries to appoint a member of Persons With Disabilities into office as Senior Special Assistant.
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Amb Sobomabo Jackrich Awards and Honors
Amb. Sobomabo Jackrich has been appointed into various positions where he has shown his vast leadership prowess. These include;
- Caretaker Committee Chairman of Asari Toru Local Government Area in 2016
- Member of the Committee on Field Operations & Logistics of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organization sation in 2018.
- Chairman of the NDDC Covid-19 Palliatives Distribution Committee in 2021
High Chief Hon. Sobomabo Jackrich has bagged several awards locally and internationally for his people-oriented activism and social economic and political developments of the people.
In 2022 He emerged as the Governorship Candidate of the National Rescue Movement (NRM) for the 2023 Governorship Elections in Rivers State.
Amb Sobomabo Jackrich Personal Life
He is married to Mrs. Kilali Tamuno-ibitein Jackrich. They’ve also had beautiful children together.