Edo 2024: Secret story of Senator Monday Okpebholo, APC flagbearer

Monday Okpebholo, was born on August 29th 1970 to the family of late Chief and Mrs. Peter Okpebholo of Udomi Community in Uwesan-Irrua, Esan Central Local Government Area (LGA) of Edo State. Nick-named Akpakomiza immediately after birth, which translates in simple English to ‘unruffled countenance’, his father hailed from Udomi Community in Uwesan-Irrua, Esan Central LGA while his mother was a native of Ikekiala Community in Eguare-Uromi, Esan North East.

Akpakomiza attended Udomi Community Primary School and Ujabhole Community Secondary School respectively in Uwesan-Irrua, Esan Central. Following the untimely death of his only sister from the complications of contaminated stream water, he relocated to Jos, Plateau State, to live with his elder brother. There, he completed his secondary school education.

After his Senior School Certificate Exam in Jos, Akpakomiza got a salary job with a firm that trades in books and computers, where his smartness in salesmanship endeared him to individuals, corporate organizations, government agencies and European missionaries in Jos and beyond. 

One of such big companies was Nasco. Through exceptional success in the sales of computers, he established his own firm, Chapman Computers Limited, which soon became a household name in Plateau State. He later established Interweb Satcom Limited, a giant player in broadband sales and development. Today, both companies are competitors of global industry players from Europe and America, trading digital hardware products.

Despite his business success, through which he met his mentor and hero, the late Iyasele of Esanland, Chief Anthony Anenih, Akpakomiza went back to school. He obtained a degree in Business Administration from the University of Abuja, where he is currently pursuing a Masters’ degree in Policy and Leadership Studies. He focused his credence, politics and service on human and infrastructural development.

Akpakomiza’s acknowledged contributions to the development of Esanland resulted in his resounding election on February 25th 2023 into the Senate, where he chairs the Senate Committee on Public Procurement. Before then, however, when insecurity and deaths inflicted by bandits, kidnappers etc. forced Edo Central leaders to create Esan Security Network(Atanakpa) Akpakomiza joined other 177 leaders to provide vision, direction, personnel and logistics to secure Esanland.

His love, passion and desire to change Edo State narrative from widespread insecurity, educational rot, glorified healthcare, agricultural decline, dilapidated roads, and infrastructural decay, propelled him to join the marathon to Dennis Osadebey Avenue.