Family, Friends Holds Special Events To celebrate Sir Henry Aigbekaen Passing
By Ikhili Ebalu, Benin City
The Aiyanyo Aigbekaen family has announced a series of events to commemorate their Patriarch Pa. Henry Aiyanyo Aigbekaen
passing at the golden age of 93.
On Friday the 24 th April , a Memorial Mass holds at St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Church, Benin, Sapele Road, to be followed by a grand reception.
Born in 1930, Sir Henry Aiyanyo Aigbekaen of great Benin heritage, studied in Leeds University, UK.
Until his passing, he was a chartered Accountant, and was one of the first black Finance Directors in Britain history.
His exploits in the accounting profession took him to the global stage, which was published in the Financial Times newspaper in Britain in the 70s .
Aside from being one of the first qualified Nigerian accountants in the Benin Kingdom, He served in different government positions, acting as a consultant in a few parastatals.
Positions occupied includes, world banks consultant on Washington DC representing Africa .
Sir Aigbekaen followed his graduation from Leeds University with Professional examinations qualifying as Fellow Institute of Chartered Management Accountants, England, Scotland and Wales, Fellow, Institute of Taxation, England, Scotland and Wales, Fellow, Institute of Management, England, Scotland and Wale and Associate Member, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
In honour of his memory event was held on the 24th February and 6th April in London Mayfair.
Sir Aigbekaen was one for the first cima registered Nigerian account and ICAN accountant, his practice was both in the UK serving as the first African Accountant in British firms where he was registered as Nigerian CIMA and ICAN Accountant.
Back in Nigeria, His Firm enabled him to garner national and international reputation and recognition, amongst which was serving as a Financial Chairman of different government postings representing Africa. as well as financial adviser to Governors and senators in Nigerian .
As part of activities to honour him and his contribution to the finance sector an ICAN Scholarship tagged “Henry Aiyanyo Aigbekaen award” will be will offered to 4 outstanding Nigerian Accounting Students studying in the UK.
Also to honour the ICAN Titan’s memory, medical outreaches in Benin City and surrounding villages is being put together, and a public Lecture in the Department of Accounting, University of Benin is underway.
Sir Henry Aiyanyo Aigbekaen in his Earthly sojourn led “think tanks” to reorganise and set up a lot of goverment owned industries in bendel state and Federal government agencies Including Bendel cement company , Ababa Texile Mill, Bendel Glass , Bendel Brewies , Bendel Transport companies . At federal government level National directorate of employment, National Productivity Centre , National providence fund
Sir Henry Aiyanyo Aigbekaen was also Patner to Deloitte akintola William