BIOGRAPHY
June 14, 2021
Mr. John Afolabi Bello, fondly called Jabellson or Ita Benin was a Husband, father, Brother, Uncle, grandfather and friend. He was a hardworking, charitable and wise man. He positively impacted numerous people during his lifetime.
Mr. John A. Bello was born on the 1st of June 1942 in Ososo, Akoko -Edo Local Government area of Edo State into the family of late Edogho Bello Okogbe (Ogbamudu) a renowned trader and Mrs. Ifejola Bello Okogbe.
Mr. John A. Bello attended Anglican Primary School in Ososo before he left to finish his primary school education at LA School in Ado-Ekiti. At 15 years of age, he lost his father. The passing of his father made it impossible for him to pursue his education further, however his zeal to improve himself and his community was never dismissed. He proceeded to Abo Aba in Akure where he worked with the ministry of Agriculture for about 3 years, before moving to Lagos to rain as a refrigeration and air conditioning technician. He worked at the Federal Palace Hotel between 1963 and 1973, where he rose to become a chief technician and Head of the engineering department. At this time in his career, he struck a good friendly business relationship with the then general manger of Federal Palace Hotel Late Chief Gordon B. McCarthy which lasted for years. Mr. John A. Bello later moved to Benin City where he founded his own business and provided services to several businesses such as ACS Hotel and Catering Services (then managers of Hotel Benin Plaza now defunct Emotan Hotel Benin Plaza) The Lodge Hotel Benin, Gordon House Hotel Jos. Palm groove Hotel Warri, Gordon Plaza Hotel Makurdi and Confluence Hotel Kogi State ( a Hotel he co-founded with his friend Late Chief Gordon McCarthy), the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Ogbemudia farms and Nigerian breweries to mention but a few.
Mr. John A. Bello was a humble and kind man and lived a life of integrity and empathy for his fellow man. He was a resilient man who overcame numerous challenges during his early life to emerge successful. He always encouraged those around him to pursue education and apprenticeship and provided several scholarships during his lifetime regardless of tribe or ethnic lines. He embraced all that came to his path. He also believed in philanthropy investing in people and communities. He funded numerous projects for communities wherever he lived. He particularly believed in empowering the people of Ososo, hence when he started his own business, he provided apprenticeships to many youths from Ososo. When a discovered that a particular clan- Egbetua in his village were having issues with electrical power, he unilaterally bought a transformer for the clan. That transformer as at his death, is still been used by the clan. It speaks to the kind of man he was, when it is noted that the clan in question was not his clan.
He believed in the unity and economic progress of his home town- Ososo, hence in the 80s he erected a magnificent Hotel (Gordon Hotel) in Ososo which added to the development of the community. He became a political leader and used that opportunity to also serve and help with community developments in Edo State.
Mr. John A. Bello got married in 1971 to Mrs. Oluwayemis Bello nee Oloruntoba and later also married Late Mrs. Rose Chinyere Bello nee Osuagwu. Both marriages produced 10 surviving children.
As the icon of our time finally takes a bow, we are consoled by the fact that he lived a lifeworthy of emulation and is indeed an admirable example for many generations to come.
Mr. John A. Bello was born on the 1st of June 1942 in Ososo, Akoko -Edo Local Government area of Edo State into the family of late Edogho Bello Okogbe (Ogbamudu) a renowned trader and Mrs. Ifejola Bello Okogbe.
Mr. John A. Bello attended Anglican Primary School in Ososo before he left to finish his primary school education at LA School in Ado-Ekiti. At 15 years of age, he lost his father. The passing of his father made it impossible for him to pursue his education further, however his zeal to improve himself and his community was never dismissed. He proceeded to Abo Aba in Akure where he worked with the ministry of Agriculture for about 3 years, before moving to Lagos to rain as a refrigeration and air conditioning technician. He worked at the Federal Palace Hotel between 1963 and 1973, where he rose to become a chief technician and Head of the engineering department. At this time in his career, he struck a good friendly business relationship with the then general manger of Federal Palace Hotel Late Chief Gordon B. McCarthy which lasted for years. Mr. John A. Bello later moved to Benin City where he founded his own business and provided services to several businesses such as ACS Hotel and Catering Services (then managers of Hotel Benin Plaza now defunct Emotan Hotel Benin Plaza) The Lodge Hotel Benin, Gordon House Hotel Jos. Palm groove Hotel Warri, Gordon Plaza Hotel Makurdi and Confluence Hotel Kogi State ( a Hotel he co-founded with his friend Late Chief Gordon McCarthy), the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Ogbemudia farms and Nigerian breweries to mention but a few.
Mr. John A. Bello was a humble and kind man and lived a life of integrity and empathy for his fellow man. He was a resilient man who overcame numerous challenges during his early life to emerge successful. He always encouraged those around him to pursue education and apprenticeship and provided several scholarships during his lifetime regardless of tribe or ethnic lines. He embraced all that came to his path. He also believed in philanthropy investing in people and communities. He funded numerous projects for communities wherever he lived. He particularly believed in empowering the people of Ososo, hence when he started his own business, he provided apprenticeships to many youths from Ososo. When a discovered that a particular clan- Egbetua in his village were having issues with electrical power, he unilaterally bought a transformer for the clan. That transformer as at his death, is still been used by the clan. It speaks to the kind of man he was, when it is noted that the clan in question was not his clan.
He believed in the unity and economic progress of his home town- Ososo, hence in the 80s he erected a magnificent Hotel (Gordon Hotel) in Ososo which added to the development of the community. He became a political leader and used that opportunity to also serve and help with community developments in Edo State.
Mr. John A. Bello got married in 1971 to Mrs. Oluwayemis Bello nee Oloruntoba and later also married Late Mrs. Rose Chinyere Bello nee Osuagwu. Both marriages produced 10 surviving children.
As the icon of our time finally takes a bow, we are consoled by the fact that he lived a lifeworthy of emulation and is indeed an admirable example for many generations to come.