REV C.T.T. GEORGE, JP, DD (1936-2011): A BIO FACT SHEET
Clifford Talbot Tokin George was born at Sokarikiri, Buguma. He attended Baptist Day School, Buguma; Baptist High School, Port Harcourt; the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomosho; University of Ibadan and University of Calabar. He holds the Bachelor of Theology; Bachelor of Arts, and Post-Graduate Diploma in Education. He was also the recipient of the Doctor of Divinity, Honoris Causa of Vision Christian University, USA.
Ordained into full time Ministry in 1963, Reverend George pastored a number of Churches mainly in Ogbomosho, Port Harcourt and suburbs. He also served as an instructor at the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomosho.
Clifford was a bi-vocational servant of God. He was a school teacher; Principal of Baptist High School (his alma mater where he was Senior Prefect in 1958) and Enitonna High School all in Port Harcourt. When he was transferred from Enitonna High School to the Ministry of Education in 1982, the students peacefully protested to Government House. The students reluctantly accepted the transfer after Governor Fidelis Oyakhilome had personally explained to them that the transfer was in fact a promotion. He served at different times as Chairman, Rivers State Scholarship Board (1975-1979); Chairman, Primary Schools Management Board (1990-1993); and Chairman, Rivers State Pilgrims Welfare Board (1994-1995); Chairman, Rivers State Library Board for four years. He retired as Director of Primary and Teacher Education, Rivers State Ministry of Education in 1996. The citation of the Merit Award given to him during the Rivers State Civil Service Week 2011 reads: He was a civil servant with a difference; because of his exemplary lifestyle and leadership qualities, he commanded the respect that was uncommon in the Civil Service. His students hold him in so high an esteem that belie his humble disposition.
As a Baptist Minister, his service traversed many areas. Some of them are: Recording Secretary in the old Eastern Baptist Conference and Rivers Baptist Conference; Chairman and also Secretary of the Rivers Baptist Conference. At Convention Level, he served as Recording Secretary and Vice President, and ultimately, two-term President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention. After his “retirement” from full-time ministerial work, he was assigned as Rector of the Baptist College of Theology, Obinze, Owerri, doing a long unstructured tenure of six years and stabilizing the institution.
Although he was “retired”, Rev George continued to serve as a “Special Project Manager” for the building of Camp Scaggs in Usokun, Degema (a Baptist facility for retreats and meetings), and the Baptist Church, Okpo, for which his children fondly nicknamed him “Project Engineer” and “Building Engineer”.
In ecumenical service, he was Assistant Secretary, Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN), Rivers State; Secretary, Port Harcourt Christian Council Project; and founding member of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rivers State Branch.
Variously called “CTT”, “Clifo” and “Inai”, he was Vice President and President, Nigerian Red Cross Society, Port Harcourt; Vice President, Buguma Internal Affairs Society (BIAS); Vice, and later Chairman Amateur Athletics Association of Nigeria, Rivers State; Area Representative, Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN); Member, All African Baptist Fellowship and Baptist World Alliance; Trustee, Baptist High School Old Students Association; and Scout Vice President and Member, National Scout Council of Nigeria.
Rev C. T. T. George was A Legend of Our Time according to Dr. Soye Asawo and Barr. Opubo West, the authors of his biography published in 1999. He received numerous honours and awards. Apart from being a Jerusalem Pilgrim (JP), he was appointed a Justice of the Peace, JP by the Rivers State Government in recognition of various acts of mediation in personal, chieftaincy, communal and other disputes as well as his performance as a former member of the Committee on Prerogative of Mercy, Rivers State.
A Baptist Association carved out of the old Carson Association is named after him; a street is named after him in Ogbomosho town, and one half of the Royal Ambassadors of First Baptist Church, Port Harcourt is known as the “Reverend George’s Royal Ambassadors Chapter”. In May 2011, the Nigerian Baptist College of Theology, Obinze, Owerri elected him a Fellow of the institution while the Rivers State Civil Service gave him a merit award of service as an outstanding retired Director on July 18, 2011.
Rev George wrote A History of Baptist Work in the Niger Delta (2010) and Christian Mission Education in Kalabari (2010).
He was married to Victoria Morolayo George (nee Omolaja), a retired Chief Matron, Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital, Port Harcourt.
Some of his children are:
1. Barrister Karibi George, Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Rivers State Chapter;
2. Dr (Mrs.) Yerisoibiba Chidi, a Development Consultant and immediate past Programme Manager, Ibanise HIV/AIDS Initiative;
3. Dr. Dawari George, Honourable Member of the House of Representatives representing Akuku-Toru/Asari-Toru Federal Constituency;
4. Miss Adaba George, a Programmes Officer at Daar Communications PLC;
5. Mr. Ibioku George, a Corporate Communications Officer;
6. Mr. Tamunokuro George, a Microbiologist, USA; and
7. Mrs. Ann Somiari, a Fashion Designer and CEO, Vic3 Creations, Port Harcourt.
Rev. (Dr.) Clifford Talbot Tokin George, JP embodied the virtues of faith, hard work, discipline, devotion, diligence, commitment, and courtesy. He was a builder of men, a builder of institutions and a builder of social relations. He related with kings, ordinary men and children equally.
His hobbies were fishing, farming, singing and sports.
He translated to eternal glory on Saturday August 6, 2011 after a brief illness. He was aged 75 (1936-2011).