Rt. Rev. (Dr) Matthew A. Okpebholo, JP

From Village Craftsman
to National Benefactor

Born on the 15th of June 1950 — mid-century, mid-year, mid-month — Rt. Rev. (Dr) Matthew Akhaze Okpebholo considers his birth date a divine signature, a reminder that he was placed at the very centre of time to serve humanity.

He grew up as a village boy in Uromi, Esan North-East, Edo State. Despite humble beginnings and limited resources, his resolve was extraordinary. After his elementary education, he channelled his resourcefulness into a small welding enterprise — the Royal Welding and Steel Workshop — which became the seed of an empire.

By 1976, that modest workshop had grown into the Ray Royal Construction Company, headquartered in Uromi. Today, the Ray Royal Group encompasses the Ray Royal Construction Company Limited, Ray Royal Asphalt Company Limited, St. Matthew Royal Academy, St. Matthew Royal School of Nursing Sciences, and the Matthew Okpebholo Foundation — a multimillion-naira conglomerate that stands as a testament to faith, vision, and relentless work.

"You can do any business in addition to preaching the gospel."

— Rt. Rev. (Dr) Matthew A. Okpebholo, JP

A Life of Service

Bishop Okpebholo has attended scores of workshops, conferences, and seminars across Nigeria and internationally, equipping himself across diverse fields of human endeavour. In turn, he has trained and equipped over 4,000 pastors and church workers, and provided financial and material support to numerous churches and educational institutions at various stages of their growth.

His love for education is perhaps most visible in his own home — all six of his children are trained professionals. But he did not stop at his family. For over 25 years, he has consistently provided an annual research grant to final-year intelligent but indigent students of Edo State origin studying in tertiary institutions across Nigeria. To date, over 10,000 students have benefited from this yearly grant.

Philanthropy at Scale

The breadth of Bishop Okpebholo's philanthropy is remarkable. He has financed the construction of access roads within multiple universities and polytechnics in Edo State — including the University of Benin, Igbinedion University, Sam Adegboyega University, and Federal Polytechnic Auchi. He donated an E-library to Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, and has rehabilitated federal and state roads within Edo State to ease the burden on road users.

In August 2021, he dedicated a state-of-the-art Accident and Emergency Trauma Centre at Uromi General Hospital, complete with access roads and a commitment to supply consumables for 100 years. In 2025, he further built and donated a ₦100 million Geriatric Centre to the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, extending medical access and dignity to the elderly in the region.