Abraham Ayebakepreye Amba Ambaiowei MFR JP (listenⓘ 28 February 1940 – 6 March 2023)[1][citation needed][2][3] was a Nigerian nationalist and advocate for minority rights.
[2] In 1979, Chief Melford Obiene Okilo, the first civilian Governor of the Old Rivers State, appointed Dr. Amba Ambaiowei as Honourable Commissioner for Education.
As proprietor and medical director of Amba Hospital, opened in 1982 in Port Harcourt, he provided free health care services.
[1] Having been involved in the failed Abayelsa state creation movement, Dr. Amba Ambaiowei, as chairman of the Finance Committee, continued to advocate for the self-determination of the Ijaw people.
[citation needed] Dr. Amba Ambaiowei, as Chairman of the Bayelsa Forum, convened a meeting on 22 April 1993 to propose a demand for the creation of a state from the local government areas of Brass, Ogbia, Yenagoa, Southern Ijaw, Sagbama, and Ekeremor.
[7] 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.
[citation needed][1] In 2008, Abraham Ayebakepreye Amba Ambaiowei was bestowed with the Nigeria National Honour of Member of the Federal Republic (MFR) by President Umaru Yar'Adua.
[citation needed] In 2014, he received the Bayelsa State Broadcasting Corporation (Glory FM's) Hero's Award as part of their 15th anniversary celebration.
[13] 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[14]" by Prof. Stephen Temegha Olali, Chief Historian and Archivist, Bayelsa State, on 17 May 2023.
[15] On 17 May 2024 a second memorial lecture titled "Revisiting the Fears of the Minorities in Nigeria: 67 Years after the Willinks Commission Report[16]" was delivered by Lt. Gen. Ipoola Alani Akinrinade.
[17] 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.
[citation needed] He was nominated by Bishop Samuel Elenwo to the Niger Delta Diocese Synod and contributed to the creation of the Amassoma Arcdeaconery.
[citation needed] On 19 March 2011 he was invested as a Knight of St. Christopher (KSC) at St Peter's Church Deanery Yenagoa by Rt.
[citation needed][1] He was a grand patron of the Boys Brigade of Nigeria (Ogboin Company), served as a member of the Bayelsa State Advisory Committee, and was Chairman of the Southern Ijaw Elders Forum.
[3] His son, author Tonyi Amba-Ambaiowei,[22] wrote a poetic dedication to his father titled Always Remember to Never Forget,[23] which was published in the funeral program.