Educationist, Evangelist
Birth/Parents
He was born on the 2nd of May, 1955, in Ogbolomabiri Nembe community, which is located in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. He was born to Mr. Moses Damingo, a member of the Igbeta Family, and Madam Ethel Moses.
Education
Master Moses Koriatimi Harold pursued his education diligently:
- He began his primary education at the renowned St. Primary School in Nembe.
- Upon obtaining his First School Leaving Certificate, he continued his education at the Nembe National Grammar School Nembe from 1971 to 1975, where he achieved an excellent performance in his West African Senior School Certificate (WASC).
- Subsequently, he secured admission to the Rivers State College of Education in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, from 1976 to 1979, earning a National Certificate of Education (NCE).
- His educational journey continued at the University of Ibadan from 1982 to 1984, where he obtained a B.Ed in Chemistry.
- Not content with these accomplishments, he furthered his education at the University of Port Harcourt from 1989 to 1992, where he acquired multiple certificates in science and technology, as well as computer competency programs.
Moses Koriatimi Harold’s dedication to his scholarly pursuits left an indelible mark in the field of education, particularly in the Niger Delta region.
Career Life
Mr. Moses Koriatimi Harold’s professional journey was centered in the field of education, and he made significant contributions to the development of education in the Niger Delta. Here are the positions and places he worked where he demonstrated professionalism and expertise:
- He began his teaching career in 1979 at Government Girls Secondary School, Nembe, as a classroom teacher.
- From 1979 to 1980, he served the nation as a Youth Corps member (NYSC).
- Between 1980 and 1987, he returned to his alma mater, Nembe National Grammar School, Nembe, as a classroom teacher, specializing in Chemistry.
- In 1990 to 1991, he taught Chemistry at Government Girls Secondary School, Harbor Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
- He served as a Supervisor at the National Teacher Institute from 1987 to 1990.
- He worked in the Ministry of Education, Port Harcourt, Rivers State from 1991 to 2014.
- Between 1996 and 2014, he continued his work in the Ministry of Education, this time in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
- From 1997 to 2002, he held the position of Director, Science Technical and Higher Education in the Ministry of Education, Bayelsa State.
- He also served as the State Coordinator for the Junior Engineers, Technicians, and Science Programme from 1997 to 2003.
- He became the Director of Primary and Teacher Education in the Ministry in 2003.
- Additionally, he acted as the Education Trust Fund (ETF) Desk Officer from 2007 to 2014.
- He once again served as the Director of Basic/Teacher Education from 2007 to 2012.
- He temporarily took on the role of Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Bayelsa State, from October 2012 to January 15th, 2013.
As Teachers
During his time as a science teacher in the former Rivers State, he gained a reputation among students for his strict and stern teaching methods. He was readily willing to employ corporal punishment, such as caning, to maintain discipline when the situation required it, and students were apprehensive when dealing with him. It is said that he possessed an in-depth knowledge of the subject of Chemistry, and he had a remarkable ability to simplify and make the subject comprehensible to his students
After a dedicated and accomplished career, he retired as a full-fledged Director at Grade 17 in the Bayelsa State civil service in 2013.
Retirement
Before his retirement from the civil service, he had already established a bookshop situated in the Opolo community, precisely across from the Golden Gate Hotel on Melford Okilo Road in Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa. It’s worth noting that he was one of the prominent bookshop owners in Bayelsa state. His primary goal was to offer high-quality books to the people of Bayelsa and foster a culture of reading among individuals of all ages. He achieved this objective as the business flourished and garnered a loyal clientele. Regrettably, the landscape changed adversely with the advent of the technology age, as people increasingly turned to electronic books on their smartphones due to their affordability and accessibility, diminishing the demand for printed books.
Following his appointment on October 9, 2017, the Bayelsa State government entrusted Elder Moses Harold with the role of being a member of the Bayelsa State Science and Technology Education Board. Furthermore, the government, under the leadership of Governor Sen. Douye Diri, saw fit to appoint him for a second term on January 12, 2022. Elder Moses Harold continued in this capacity until his unfortunate passing in 2023.
Throughout his career, he became a member or fellow of various professional education and management organizations in Nigeria and beyond. Some of these organizations include:
- Science Teachers Association of Nigeria (STAN) – Joined in 1987
- Institute of Corporate Administration of Nigeria (ICAN) – Joined in 2005
- Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered) (NIM) – Joined in 2010
- Institute of Strategic Management of Nigeria (ISMS) – Joined in 2010
- Institute of Professional Managers and Administrators of Nigeria (IPMAN) – Joined in 2019
- Integrated Institute of Professional Management (IIPM) – Joined in 2022
In addition to his membership in various professional organizations and his dedication to professional development, Mr. Moses, Koriatimi Harold earned the following professional qualifications:
- Chartered Management Practitioner in 2014
- Certified Associate Business Development Consultant in June 2022
- Certified Executive Leadership Professional on June 30, 2022
Faith
Moses, Koriatimi Harold’s religious journey began in his youth during the early 1970s when he embraced the Christian faith, specifically through our Lord Jesus Christ. He became a prominent member of the Scripture Union (SU) in the Nembe community. His faith later led him to embrace the Pentecostal denomination with great enthusiasm. Subsequently, in the early 1980s, he became part of the Greater Evangelism World Crusade (GEWC) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. He remained a devoted member of GEWC, spanning from the former Rivers State to the current Bayelsa State. He was ordained as a Pastor and served as the administrator of the Bayelsa State branch in the Opolo Headquarters church.
Family
Moses, Koriatimi Harold was not only a devoted family man within his immediate family but also extended his care to others. He provided shelter to several individuals in Bayelsa State, even if they were not his relatives. Throughout his life, he had been married multiple times and had children. His late wife was Mrs. Fortune Moses (nee Amangala). After her passing, he remarried to Mrs. Happiness Moses, a Nembe woman. He was known as a trustworthy and compassionate individual who was willing to use his resources to assist those in need.
His Death
Moses, Koriatimi Harold sadly passed away on June 22, 2023, due to cardiac arrest at his residence in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. He was 68 years old. His final resting place will be on November 18, 2023, in Ogbolomabiri-Nembe, Nembe Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, where a service will be held by his church, the Greater Evangelism World Crusade, Bayelsa State.
