As the euphoria of the installation and admittance into the Bonny Chiefs Council (BCC) of Waripanye Valentine Pepple, lawyer, entrepreneur, pastor, husband and father, pervades the Bonny social space, questions have been asked as per what is there to know about this man many regard as a remarkable gentleman, astute administrator, seasoned entrepreneur, distinguished technocrat and passionate community leader. Kristina Reports herein below introduces him to our esteemed teeming audience:
STATUS
Waripanye Valentine Pepple, upon being installed as the Chief and Head of the Fubara Manilla Pepple Chieftaincy House of Bonny Kingdom, the 15th in order of succession, on Saturday, November 14, 2019, will now bear until death or deposition the sobriquet of the progenitor of the House, Fubara XV, and act as chief executive officer of his chieftaincy house.
Also, having subsequently been presented to and received by the Amanyanabo-in-Council into the Bonny Chiefs Council (BCC) on Tuesday, December 28, 2021, he will also bear until death or de-recognition from the BCC the title of Se-Alabo (country chief) of the Ibani ethnic nationality. These effectively entrenches him into the traditional leadership structure of Bonny Kingdom.
ORIGIN
Waripanye Valentine Pepple, an Ibani (Bonny indigene) of the Fubara Manilla Pepple Royal House, was born on Wednesday, November 8, 1967 into the family of Late Mr. Gogo and Mrs. Tamunoipirinye Harold Amos Idangoria Alibo Manilla Pepple of Ererekiri Community in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State in Nigeria.
EDUCATION
The new Chief and Head of the Fubara Manilla Pepple House of Bonny Kingdom had his primary and secondary education at the St. Michael’s State School and Bonny National Grammar School, both in Bonny, from 1972 to 1978 and 1978 to 1983, respectively. He obtained a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Accountancy from the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), now Rivers State University (RSU) in 1988, as well as the Best Graduating Student in Government/Public Accounting.
He later obtained a Bachelor of Law degree (BL) from the University of Cape Town in South Africa in 2008. In 2007, he won the Sonnenberg Award, sponsored by Sonnenberg, the largest law firm in Africa. He subsequently attended the Nigerian Law School and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2010. Waripanye in 1996 obtained a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in General Management from the Rivers State University (RSU) and also jointly won the award of Best Graduating Executive MBA Student in the University.
CAREER
After his National Youth Service Corps programme with the General Hospital at Iye-Enu in Enugu State (then Anambra State), Waripanye’s career path took him through L. F. Jumbo & Co, a Port Harcourt based firm of Chartered Accountants; and Sterling Securities Limited as Resident Stockbroker/Manager, Investments. He later established WV Pepple & Co, a team of Capital Market Consultants, where he was the Principal Consultant between 1996 and 1997. From there he was engaged by Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) where as Senior Consultant in its Special Audit Team in charge of whistle blowing and investigation from 1997 to 2004. He was also an Associate Chartered Stockbroker and Authorized Dealing Clerk of the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE).
As per his legal career, Waripanye Valentine Pepple, worked with Egele and Egele Legal Practitioners as Attorney at Law between 2011 and 2017; before establishing his law firm, Waripanye VP & Co (Idangoria Chambers) in Port Harcourt, where he has been the Principal Consultant since 2018.
SOCIAL LIFE
Aside the professional trajectory of his life, Val P, as he is fondly called by his close pals, also has booming socio-cultural affiliations, including being the current Chairman of BONAGRAMS Friends, an association of old boys of Bonny National Grammar School of 1983 set originally, but now open to any willing old boy of the school. He is a devout Christian and a well-trained and fully qualified Pastor of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFMM.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Waripanye Valentine Pepple is an Amasenibo, a titled citizen of Ancient Grand Bonny Kingdom. He was in 2017, appointed Chairman of the Bonny-Bodo Road Project Liaison Committee by the Amanyanabo and Natural Ruler of the Ancient Grand Bonny Kingdom, His Majesty, King Dr. Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, CON, JP, Perekule XI. He was in September 2019, sought out by his kith and kin in the King Fubara Manilla Pepple House to assume the mantle of leading the House as its Chief and Head. In this position, Chief Waripanye Valentine Pepple, Esq has shown substantial capacity and industry in guiding the House.
FAMILY
He is married to his beautiful, articulate and industrious Alabota, Mrs. Gillian Dienye Waripanye, who is currently a PhD student in the Business School of Rivers State University and they are blessed with a son – Master Terna Waripanye.
There is a mistake in the year, 2021 not 2022…Also, having subsequently been presented to and received by the Amanyanabo-in-Council into the Bonny Chiefs Council (BCC) on Tuesday, December 28, 2022, he will also bear until death or de-recognition from the BCC the title of Se-Alabo (country chief) of the Ibani ethnic nationality.