Nigeria’s former Surveyor-General, Mr. Daniel Aiyanyo Omoigui, with the best reputation for his roles in boundary disputes resolution among Nigerian states has joined his ancestors.
Mr. Omoigui submitted to the will of God on Thursday November 24 at the age of 91, fourteen days after his birthday.
A statement made available to Alltimepost.com on behalf of the family by his son and United States-based renowned Physician, Dr Sota Omoigui said: “The family of Surveyor Daniel Aiyanyo Omoigui of the Egite family, Isi in Uhunmwode LGA, Edo State and the entire Egite family of the Edo Kingdom and Barr. Mrs Grace Onaiwu Omoigui nee Asemota (late) and the entire Asemota family of Ogbe Quarters, Oredo LGA, Edo State is heartbroken yet thankful for a life of legacy well spent as we announce the passing of our dearly beloved father and grandfather – Surv. Daniel Aiyanyo Omoigui who was called to rest in the Lord on November 24, 2022.”
Daniel Aiyanyo Omoigui, a Chartered and Registered Surveyor was born on November 10, 1931 at Iguagban Village in Benin, Edo State, according to a short profile released by his family.
He started school at age three in a newly established school at the village, went to a number of primary schools and in 1939 he joined Benin Baptist School starting from Form II.
In 1947, government ordered the whole school in Benin to move to Asaba and he moved to Saint Patrick College, formerly Saint Augustine, Asaba where he was given a double promotion owing to his level of brilliance. He then finished his secondary education under four years in 1949.
In 1950, he took up a teaching job at Niger College, Benin. While he enrolled for studies at the Rapid Result College, which is now known as Distance Learning.
In 1953, he sat for an entrance exam into the University College, Ibadan, passed the exams and gained admission for further studies by October that same year, and in June, he wrote the Intermediate B.Sc. examination of the University of London and the result came in early December which he passed but could not attend.
In the course of the period he entered into student politics while studying Mathematics and graduated from the University of Ibadan, in 1957.
He later left the shores of Nigeria and was trained at the Royal School of Military Survey, Newbury Berks, England, 1958-1959; the International Institute for Geo-information Science and Earth Observation, The Netherlands, in 1973 and University of Pittsburgh, U.S.A., 1976. He joined Federal Surveys in 1957; worked extensively in different parts of the country.
In 1969, he was in charge of investigations, delimitation, demarcation and maintenance of International and Interstate boundaries.
In 1970, he built the boundaries unit in Federal Surveys and subsequently, participated in the Nigeria-Cameroon boundary negotiations.
As Director of Federal Surveys, he spearheaded the establishment of the National Boundaries Commission, and the Surveyors Registration Council, SURCON. He retired as Surveyor-General of the Federation in 1988, the first person to occupy the position after the reforms he drove granted autonomy to the Survey Department.
After retirement from the public service, Surv. Daniel A. Omoigui worked as Chairman at Terra Information Services Ltd. He was until his passing, Chairman of DAGOMO Foundation Nigeria LTD/GTE (www.dagomo.com), founding Director and former Chairman of ReStraL Ltd. (www.restral.com) and Sakoko Holdings Ltd respectively.
He gave fully of himself to any endeavor he was involved in. He was a loving husband and a devoted family man. The principles he lived by, his entire life, passing these to his children and all persons he touched were, Honesty and Integrity.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Barr. Mrs Grace Onaiwu Omoigui nee Asemota and their beloved first son, Nowamagbe Austin Omoigui, MD, FACC.
We pray to our Lord to grant him eternal rest, the family said.
Late Surveyor-General Omoigui was father to Nowamagbe A Omoigui, MD FACC (who died on April 18, 2021) & Moira Omoigui. Nowa Omoigui was a renowned cardiologist and Nigerian Military Historian ( www.nowaomoigui.com); Sota Omoigui, MD & Helen Omoigui.
Sota Omoigui is co-author of the Nigerian National Anthem, medical doctor and author of a renowned Anaesthesia Drugs handbook and holder of 7 US medical and technology patents.
Others include, Ifueko M Omoigui Okauru, MFR & Asishana B Okauru. Ifueko Okauru is a Chartered Accountant, Tax and Compliance Practitioner; Strategy/Change Management Consultant; Board Director; founder of ReStraL Ltd/co-founder of Compliance Professionals Plc, Eghosa D. Omoigui & Eunice Chou. Eghosa Omoigui is a renowned technology venture capitalist; founder and managing partner of EchoVC Partners (www.echovc.com), and Nosakhare D. Omoigui & Aimee McClinton. Nosakhare Omoigui is an Artificial Intelligence researcher and entrepreneur, and the founder of Weave.AI (www.weave.ai)
