Abraham Ayebakepreye Amba Ambaiowei

Abraham Ayebakepreye Amba Ambaiowei ( 28 February 1940 – 6 March 2023) After the state's creation, he became the founding Chairman of the Bayelsa State Founding Fathers Forum.

Early life and education Abraham Ayebakepreye Amba Ambaiowei was born on the 28th of February

Medical career Ambaiowei began his medical career by completing numerous deliveries and clinical sessions, gaining recognition from his Head of Department.

At the hospital, Ambaiowei advanced to the position of Registrar before moving to the United Kingdom in 1974. After deliberations, a six-man committee was set up to draft modalities for the state creation demand, including proposing a name for the state, a state capital, and a number of local government areas.

Chairman National Board for Technical Education Dr. Amba Ambaiowei was appointed by President Olusegun Obasanjo to serve as Chairman of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) from 2001 to 2004. He also converted Government Technical School Ekowe in Southern Ijaw LGA of Bayelsa State to a Federal Polytechnic.

Member National Political Reforms Conference In 2005, Dr. Amba Ambaiowei represented Bayelsa State at the National Political Reforms Conference. This conference was instituted by President Olusegun Obasanjo and chaired by Honourable Justice Niki Tobi.

Affiliations Dr. Amba Ambaiowei was a member of the Nigerian Medical Association, The Nigerian Association of General Medicine and Dental Practitioners, and a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management. He received the Patriot of Ijaw Nation Merit Award in 2011. In 2014, he received the Bayelsa State Broadcasting Corporation (Glory FM's) Hero's Award as part of their 15th anniversary celebration. In 2019, he was awarded the Distinguished Old Boy Award by the Okrika Grammar School Old Boys Association.

On 3 June 2019 Amba Ambaiowei was conferred with the chieftaincy title "Ebe Dou-Pamowei of Bayelsa" by His Royal Highness, Sir Major Graham Naingba (Rtd) JP, Amananaowei of Amassoma, in recognition of his contributions to the welfare and development of Amassoma and his role in the creation of Bayelsa State.

Memorial lectures In memory of Abraham Ayebakepreye Amba Ambaiowei's contribution to the Ijaw nation, a public memorial lecture was held at the Niger Delta University auditorium titled "State Creation and Ijaw Identity Management in Nigeria: The Role of Sir Chief Dr Amba Ambaiowei MFR JP " by Prof. Stephen Temegha Olali, Chief Historian and Archivist, Bayelsa State, on 17 May 2023.

On 17 May 2024, a second memorial lecture titled "Revisiting the Fears of the Minorities in Nigeria: 67 Years after the Willinks Commission Report " was delivered by Lt. Gen. Ipoola Alani Akinrinade. As part of the events, Ijaw minority rights activist Joseph William Opigo wrote and recited a poem titled The Cross Bearers, dedicated to the Bayelsa State Founding Fathers. The Memorial lecture was chaired by Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (Rtd.), a former deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, and organized by a committee led by Prof. Franklin Erepamo Osaisai, a former Commissioner for Works and Transport in Bayelsa State and former Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission.

On 23 September 2025, a third memorial lecture titled "Convergence and Coalescence of Federalists as Imperative for the Survival of the Nigerian State" was delivered by Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, current bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sokoto. As part of the events, Niger Delta poet Tonyi Amba-Ambaiowei recited a poem titled "A Legacy is Born", which was first published in the book "How Bayelsa State Was Created" by Dr. Amba Ambaiowei in 2006. The Memorial lecture was chaired by Alabo Sir Dr. Gabriel Toby, a former deputy Governor of Rivers State, and organized by a committee led by Prof. Franklin Erepamo Osaisai. Bayelsa State Governor senator Douye Diri was represented by his deputy; senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo as chief host with Ambassador Godknows Igali Chairman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) amongst other dignitaries in attendance.

Personal life Sir Dr. Amba Ambaiowei married Lady Lilian Izonfadei (née Owei) in 1972. and served as their Grand Ex Officio at the end of his tenure. He was an active member of the Ijaw National Congress and the Bayelsa State Elders Consultative Forum.

Death During a routine medical check-up in a private hospital in London, he was diagnosed with late-stage gall bladder cancer (which was metastatic) in November 2022. He returned to Port-Harcourt, Nigeria in January 2023. Amba Ambaiowei died in a private hospital in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, at the age of 83 on 6 March 2023. wrote a poetic dedication to his father titled Always Remember to Never Forget, which was published in the funeral program.