Elder, Pa Vincent Ikhenemo Asekomhe
Early Life and Family Background: Elder Vincent Ikhenemo Asekomhe was born on August 10, 1940, in Ogbona, Edo State, Nigeria, to Chief Nicholas Apemeye and Uwomha Egbekhoze. Chief Nicholas Apemeye was the first indigenous Ogbona Christian to have a church wedding at the Catholic Church in 1932 with Uwomha Egbekhoze, daughter of Pa Odior Okhoghiemhe from Ivhitse quarters. Their marriage was blessed with four children: Uwomha Aluta, who married Pa Aikabeli from Ivhido; Pa Vincent, the first son of Apemeye, who began his career as a teacher; Madam Utu and Eramha Paulinus Achapere.
Education, Career, and Military Service: Elder Vincent’s educational journey began at the Native Authority (N.A) School (1946-1950) and continued at the Roman Catholic School (1951-1956), both in Ogbona. He attended Secondary Modern School in Auchi in 1957 and Martin Secondary Modern School in Jattu from 1958 to 1959.
From 1960 to 1965, Vincent Asekomhe worked as a teacher. He then joined the British company Constain Construction in Lagos as a Tally Clerk, where he was trained as a Civil Engineer and Draftsman (1964-1967). He worked briefly with Philip Husman at Okpella as an Iron Bender before joining the Nigerian Army as a Civilian Telephone Operator (1967-1968). He was fully enlisted in the Nigerian Army in 1968 as a Signaler and later became a Clerk in the orderly room of Battalion 177. After attending the Army Education School in Ilorin and gaining an Advanced Clerical Education (A.C.E), he furthered his clerical training at the Nigerian Army HQ, 2nd Division in Ibadan, earning a First-Class Certification in Clerical Administration.
Elder Vincent was ordained in 1975 and posted to the 2nd Division of the Nigerian Army as a Chaplain-Pastor. He completed his pastoral training at the Nigerian Army Chaplain HQ in Lagos. He served in several locations, including Zuru in the then-Sokoto State, before voluntarily discharging from the Nigerian Army in 1979 as a Chaplain in the Field Artillery Regiment, Nicoho, Auchi.
Post-Military Career: After his military service, Elder Vincent was employed as a Pastor for Estako District, by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Bendel. He pursued further education at the Seventh-day Adventist Seminary for West Africa at Ileshan, Ogun State, now Babcock University. As a Pastor, he contributed significantly to his community, establishing the first Nursery School in Etsako, Maranatha Nursery School Ogbona, and the now-defunct Adventist Mission Hospital and School of Nursing in Ogbona. Upon his retirement, he also engaged in piggery farming and later diversified into other business ventures.
In 1992, he joined the New Apostolic Church as a community Evangelist. Due to his passion and commitment to missionary service, he was later ordained as a District Evangelist. He continued to establish more parishes within the community and beyond. Due to the successful growth of the mission through his dedication, commitment, empowerment, and leadership program, he was then ordained as a District Elder. He continued to study and attend several pastoral courses in Nigeria, Ghana, and Ivory Coast. He retired as a District Elder in December 2012, a position next to the rank of a Bishop.
Personal Life and Community Involvement: Elder Vincent Asekomhe is married and has children. He has been a prominent figure in community development and pastoral work, holding various leadership roles and participating in several community projects. He is known for his discipline, integrity, and dedication to the well-being of the common man. He believes in equity and justice. His contributions to the Ogbona community and his pastoral work have earned him two awards and recognition as a historian of the community.