BB Fakae, Africa’s foremost professor of veterinary parasitology and entomology, becomes ‘Priest of Three Temples’

Bariname Beke Fakae, onetime vice chancellor of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (now Rivers State University), clocked 70 years on Thursday, March 26, 2026, and was crowned the ‘Prince of Three Temples’.

The crowning is in form of a book by his last son, Niabari, which upgraded the previous book, ‘Prince of Two Temples’, written years back by Ignatius Chukwu, a Port Harcourt-based Journalist. The book was unveiled in Port Harcourt Friday evening, March 27, 2026, at the Senate Chambers of the RSU by an oil magnet, Dumo Lulu-Briggs.

The unveiling took place at a colloquium hosted in his honour by the Rivers State University by the authority of the present Vice Chancellor, Isaac Zeb-Obipi, who described Fakae as the father of modern RSU and origin of digital system at which the Rivers State University has excelled.

Describing Fakae further as an Iroko, the VC said the genius now known as the priest of three temples was not only a transformer of the University but one who laid the foundation of the e-University that the RSU has become. “He encouraged gown-to-town concept and brought in industry gurus to build facilities in the RSU that have remained a legacy to this day.”

According to Zeb-Obipi, the former VC has a rich profile as father of modern RSU, man that brought huge infrastructure to the University, man who ended violence and frequent shooting in the University, the VC that boosted academic standing of the University, the man who established ICT unit of 1000 desktops and introduced e-exams, man who restored the credibility of the University, a visionary leader, and a highly responsible man.

In his brief remarks, Fakae said time and responsibilities of office were finite resources that must be used effectively for humanity. He said he is always guided by a remark by a young person at an event who he said had said: “If you find yourself in any position and you cannot make a difference, then you have no business there.”

He said early in life, he called on God to take total control of his life and do with it whatever pleased Him as Lord.

Explaining why he chose a colloquium instead of a bash, Fakae said it was to bring focus to bear on enduring values, to think together, etc. He said life offers something to be examined and interrogated, not for display.

He recalled that he has always been called to service at moments of crisis. Apparently responding to widely held notion that he never favoured one over another, he said leadership must be exercised without favouritism.

He repeated his famous quote: “No parasite survives by killing its host; because the parasite too, will die.”

Lulu-Briggs, the high chief who unveiled the book, who is the founder of Platform Oil Limited, and who once managed Moni Pulo Development Company Ltd, the oil company belonging to his late father, called for a triumvirate system to develop the economy by the coming together of a university, businesses within the area, and the government of the state.

“We are here to inherit the knowledge that service to community is key. We will always pick the best of us for the rest of us. It is good that the professor’s ideas are serving generations in the University. Prof Fakae is one of the richest in character in our country,” he declared.

He responded to the request by the Vice Chancellor for the building of a centre in the RSU where companies would establish their research units for a closer gown-to-town relationship to glow, promising that his company would undertake the project to completion in the next 24 months.

Reviewing the ‘Priest of Three Temples’, Friday Barikpe Sigalo, a professor of Applied Physics at the RSU, showed how the book grew from the precursor, the ‘Priest of Two Temples’, to what it is now, and showed key segments that treated academia, the church, and now community service.

He said the author, Niabari Fakae, displayed high degree of craftsmanship and literary prowess in postulating the various philosophical foundations that carried the three temples under review.

The author, in his remarks, said he was steadily in the witness box of his father’s evolution for 40 unbroken years, and that in writing the book in a hurry, he tasked his father the same way his father tasked him in doing things. He said the book was written in a hurry, saying his father always wanted him to write a book about his life.

He said the book avoided the full trappings of a biography but tried to interpret stages and events instead of just recording them. He gave huge credit to the author of the ‘Priest of Two Temples’ from which the ‘Priest of Three Temples’ took off.

A panel discussion by persons who have known BB Fakae and family over the years included Ikechi Nwogu, Ibifuro Asawo of CINFORES, Ignatius Chukwu of BusinessDay, and Adi Wali of the Association of Nigerian Authors, anchored by a Journalist, Ndume Green.

The panel admitted that Fakae has been a man on a mission with clear methods of how to do whatever he set his mind to do. They showed how Fakae is consummate in any relationship and cares deeply about the next person, yet he maintained decorum and discipline.