Jereton Mariere
Nigerian politician
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Samuel Jereton Mariere GCON (1907 – 9 May 1971) was the first governor of the former Mid-Western Region, Nigeria from February 1964 to January 1966. He was also the first chancellor of the University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos and a former president of the Christian Council of Nigeria.[1][2]
Samuel Jereton Mariere | |
|---|---|
| Governor of Mid-Western Region | |
| In office February 1964 – 16 January 1966 | |
| Succeeded by | David Ejoor |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Adjereaton Mariere 1907 |
| Died | 9 May 1971 (aged 63–64) |
Life
In 1935 Mariere was elected secretary-general of the Urhobo Progressive Union, an association created in 1931 to articulate and chart a direction for the Urhobo people.[3] He was subsequently created a traditional chieftain by them, becoming the Olorogun of Evwreni in 1953. He was elected a member of the Nigerian House of Representatives for the Urhobo East and later Central district[4][5] Mariere was a leader of the agitation for creation of a new region out of the old Western Region, which was dominated by the Yoruba. The Mid-Western Region was created in 1963 after a plebiscite in which all the Urhobo divisions voted unanimously in favor, and Mariere was later appointed the first governor.[6] Following this he was given two other aristocratic titles, that of the Onisogene of Aboh in 1964 and that of the Ogifueze of Agbor in 1965.
Death
Mariere died in a vehicle accident in 1971.
Honours
A student residential hall is named after him in the University of Lagos, with a life-size statue at the entrance.[7]
