Major-Gen.
Charles Airhiavbere is the award winner of Topflyers Lifetime Achievement in Philanthropy,
2019/2020. He merited this award consequent upon his altruism in Nigeria in
time past and at present.
PROFILE
Major-General Charles Ehigie Airhiavbere (Rtd) was born on 11th
October 1954 at Ekiadolor, Benin City to the family of Late Chief Peter Aisia
Erhinmwingbovo Airhiavbere and Mary Orhue Airhiavbere. He is an indigene of Edo
State, Nigeria. Major General Charles Ehigie Airhiavbere is happily married to
Ehiorose Philomena, and they are blessed with 5 Children and Grandchildren. His
father, Late Chief Airhiavbere, who was from Agbodo village, started his noble
career as a pharmacy dispenser at the then Ekiadolor Health Centre.
October 1954 at Ekiadolor, Benin City to the family of Late Chief Peter Aisia
Erhinmwingbovo Airhiavbere and Mary Orhue Airhiavbere. He is an indigene of Edo
State, Nigeria. Major General Charles Ehigie Airhiavbere is happily married to
Ehiorose Philomena, and they are blessed with 5 Children and Grandchildren. His
father, Late Chief Airhiavbere, who was from Agbodo village, started his noble
career as a pharmacy dispenser at the then Ekiadolor Health Centre.
His appetite for further qualitative education drove him to a
self-sponsored mission to study at Birmingham Polytechnic in England. On the
timely completion of his studies as an accountant (ACCA), he joined the then
Midwestern State Government under Governor Samuel Ogbemudia. His experience
later earned him the leadership of the Health Management Board. Charles’ mother,
Mary Orhue of the Uzamere family was a student nurse when she had Charles. This
was at a time that post primary school education was not common, especially for
the girl child. She later rose to the
peak of her career as a nurse in Derby Hospital, London.
self-sponsored mission to study at Birmingham Polytechnic in England. On the
timely completion of his studies as an accountant (ACCA), he joined the then
Midwestern State Government under Governor Samuel Ogbemudia. His experience
later earned him the leadership of the Health Management Board. Charles’ mother,
Mary Orhue of the Uzamere family was a student nurse when she had Charles. This
was at a time that post primary school education was not common, especially for
the girl child. She later rose to the
peak of her career as a nurse in Derby Hospital, London.
Major-General Charles Ehigie Airhiavbere (Rtd) had his Primary
Education in Benin, Ibadan, Ijebu-Igbo, Lagos and Zaria. In 1968, he then
proceeded for his Secondary Education at
Eghosa Grammar School, Benin City. He thereafter sat for the competitive entry
examination into the military school, passed and was admitted into the Nigerian
Military School (NMS) from 1969 – 1973. At the Nigerian Military School,
Charles displayed his outstanding leadership skills by rising to the rank of
Boy Sergeant and commanded Ibadan House. He later proceeded to the Auchi
Polytechnic, from where he displayed academic excellence with an Upper Credit
in Accountancy, in 1980.
While in the polytechnic, Charles’ leadership traits were again
displayed when he was appointed the Head of Man ‘O’ War and President of
Professional Accounting Students Association (PASA). In 1987, he bagged a
Master’s Degree in Business Administration with specialization in Finance, from
the University of Ibadan. It is worthy to note that Charles won the Best
All-round Cadet Award at the Nigerian Defense Academy at the Direct Short
Service Course 7.
displayed when he was appointed the Head of Man ‘O’ War and President of
Professional Accounting Students Association (PASA). In 1987, he bagged a
Master’s Degree in Business Administration with specialization in Finance, from
the University of Ibadan. It is worthy to note that Charles won the Best
All-round Cadet Award at the Nigerian Defense Academy at the Direct Short
Service Course 7.
He was commissioned Lieutenant in seniority of 01 June 1980 and
was posted to the Nigerian Army Finance Corps. During his military career,
Charles held various appointments in command, instruction and staff positions.
was posted to the Nigerian Army Finance Corps. During his military career,
Charles held various appointments in command, instruction and staff positions.
These included Staff Officer in Army Headquarters and Command
Finance Office (CFO) Apapa at different periods; Divisional Cashier, 1 and 2
Mechanized Divisions at various times; Cashier, Nigerian Army in Command
Finance Office (CFO) Apapa; Deputy Defense Attaché (Fin), Washington DC, USA;
Director of Finance, NDA; Deputy Commandant/Director of Studies, Nigerian Army
School of Finance & Administration (NASFA); Deputy Commander, CFO; Commandant,
NASFA; Commander, CFO; and Merger Coordinator, Nigerian GCE and President
Buhari in their military days Army Assets in the office of the Chief of Army
Staff, Director Army Finance and Accounts, the nomenclature that later changed
to the Commander Corps of Army Finance and Account.
Finance Office (CFO) Apapa at different periods; Divisional Cashier, 1 and 2
Mechanized Divisions at various times; Cashier, Nigerian Army in Command
Finance Office (CFO) Apapa; Deputy Defense Attaché (Fin), Washington DC, USA;
Director of Finance, NDA; Deputy Commandant/Director of Studies, Nigerian Army
School of Finance & Administration (NASFA); Deputy Commander, CFO; Commandant,
NASFA; Commander, CFO; and Merger Coordinator, Nigerian GCE and President
Buhari in their military days Army Assets in the office of the Chief of Army
Staff, Director Army Finance and Accounts, the nomenclature that later changed
to the Commander Corps of Army Finance and Account.
In his over three decade of service in the Nigerian Army, he
attended a good number of professional courses and seminars in Nigeria and
abroad, including the Leadership
Seminar for top executives in Manchester Business School, Manchester
University, United Kingdom and the National Institute for Policy and Strategic
Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos. Based on his outstanding performance when he was a
course participant at NIPSS in 2007, he was made Director of a Study Group.
Charles is a member of the following professional bodies: Nigerian Institute of
Management (NIM), and the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Nigeria
(ICPN). His military awards include DSS,
mni, CMH and GSS.
attended a good number of professional courses and seminars in Nigeria and
abroad, including the Leadership
Seminar for top executives in Manchester Business School, Manchester
University, United Kingdom and the National Institute for Policy and Strategic
Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos. Based on his outstanding performance when he was a
course participant at NIPSS in 2007, he was made Director of a Study Group.
Charles is a member of the following professional bodies: Nigerian Institute of
Management (NIM), and the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Nigeria
(ICPN). His military awards include DSS,
mni, CMH and GSS.
Furthermore, major-general
Airhiavbere was a front-line 2016 gubernatorial aspirant in Edo State under the
platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Airhiavbere was a front-line 2016 gubernatorial aspirant in Edo State under the
platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
