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As reported by Daily Trust on Monday, June 22, 2026, Dr. Peter Akpe, who serves as the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, shared his experiences about his father’s commitment to providing him with an education despite the family’s financial difficulties.
Akpe noted that the challenges nearly disrupted his education, mentioning that his father once spent over five hours visiting various relatives to gather N110 required for his school fees.
He remarked that this effort demonstrated his father’s determination to keep him in school, despite their tough financial situation.
These comments were made on Sunday during a special thanksgiving event that honored him at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) regional headquarters located on Sani Abacha Expressway in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State.
In addition to his role as deputy governor, Akpe is also a regional pastor within the church. He mentioned that, at different instances, relatives would offer small amounts of money, like 20 or 30, which aided him in continuing his education.
The deputy governor took his oath of office in February, following the passing of his predecessor, the late Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.
He reflected on the journey from a challenging childhood to his current position in public service, stating that his life story mirrors the biblical story of Jacob in Genesis 32.
After the service, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Douye Diri, issued a statement highlighting that Akpe emphasized his father’s unwavering commitment to his education despite the severe hardships the family faced.
He noted that the sacrifices his father made played a crucial role in his upbringing and influenced the direction of his life.
Akpe further revealed that his family resided in a zinc house near the water and that some of his siblings had to miss a year of schooling because they could not afford their education at that point.
He explained that the financial strain on the family was so great that education became an overwhelming challenge, yet his father persistently sought ways to keep him in school.
He stated, “My father had to take loans just to cover my tuition. At one point, he was even brought to the center of the community and tied up due to unpaid debts until help arrived.”
