Stepping out of the Shadows

The 30 years so far in the life of Akwa Ibom, has marked an often-overlooked upsurge in the number of women who have broken the chord of backwardness and ventured into the realm of greatness. Following in the steps of great women like now deceased politician and woman activist Dr. Emma Brown, and Nigeria’s lady of songs, Christie EssienIgbokwe, Akwa Ibom women have stepped out of the shadows of suppression and second-class citizenship to excel in an increasingly competitive society.

As the state celebrates her 30th Anniversary, these numerous Akwa Ibom women who have held aloft womanhood in several areas of human endeavour are worthy of acknowledgement. Lady Valerie Ebe assumed the second highest position in the state when she emerged Deputy Governor. This was after three women – Mary Obot, Rita Akpan and Grace Ekong – had taken turns as Secretary to the Government. Similarly, the State has had back-to-back female Chief Judges in Eno Otu and Idongesit Ntem-Isua. Beyond the state, the likes of Rita Akpan, Helen Esuene and Akon Eyakenyi have served in the Federal Executive Council. Esuene has also served in the National Assembly, as have Eme Ekaette and Owoidighe Ekpoattai.

Away from Government, Akwa Ibom women have also demonstrated capacity as professionals globally and in corporate Nigeria. Uduak Udom currently leads the World Council of Optometry, while Iquo Uko and Uto Ukpanah have served on the boards of multinationals. Dorothy Ufot, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Aniema Medekong-Enahoro, a pilot, have dared in male-dominated territories.

Akwa Ibom produced a female University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Comfort Ekpo. Also in the academia, Imeime Umanah begins her tenure as President of the Harvard Law Review, the world’s most widely read Law Journal.

In entertainment, Aity Dennis-Inyang and Esther Edoho have held their heads high in music while Regina Askia blazed the movie trail for the likes of Liz Benson, Obot Etuk, Nse Ikpe, Ini Edo, Ini IkpeEtukudo, Annie Idibia and Eve Esin, amongst others. And in sports, Cynthia Uwak, Esther Sunday and Aniekeme Alphonsus are doing the state and country proud.

By Josephine Bassey

DOWN MEMORY LANE A TRIP

Government vehicles’ license plates were in this format What is now ‘Ibom Connection’ was known as Piccadilly Circus in 1930.

Do you remember Itam Peace Column? It has been “swallowed” by the Flyovers.

The maiden flight at the Ibom International Airport Where it all began.... The first Governor’s Office

Industries have always been a part of us The beer for Winners - Champion - once won an international award.

Alright, so this is the Hill-top Mansion, the State Government House, as we used to know it. Peugeot 504, Peugeot 406 and later BMW 3 Series used to be Government official cars.

(PART ONE)

By Imeh Udoh

Justice Egbert Udo Udoma (1917 – 1998) was one of the founding fathers of Nigeria and one of the first black Africans to earn a PhD in Law (in 1944 from Oxford University). He was Chief Justice of Uganda from 1963 to 1969. He spent 13 years as a Judge on the Supreme Court of Nigeria and was Chairman of the Constituent Assembly from 1977 to 1978. Dr. Clement Nyong Isong, CFR (1920 –2000) was Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria between 1967 and 1975. He was later elected governor of Cross River State and served between 1979 and 1983. Dr. Isong was honoured with Nigeria’s national honour of Commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFR) and his portrait features on the 1,000 Naira note which came into circulation in 2005.

Senator Helen Udokaha Esuene is a former Minister of State for Health, and later Minister of Environment and Housing. Helen Essuene is also a former Senator, gubernatorial candidate and entrepreneur.

Chief Donald Dick Etiebet was a Senator between 1979 and 1983. He was then elected Governor of Cross River State, holding this office from October to December 1983. He also served as President of the Supreme Council of Elders in Akwa Ibom State. Dominic Cardinal Ignatius Ekandem (1917–1995), was a Roman Catholic cardinal and was the first West African Catholic Bishop. Ekandem attended several Catholic seminaries before he became a priest. He was ordained in December 1947 and by April 1976, he was installed a Cardinal.

Brig. Gen. Philip Efiong (Rtd) (1925 – 2003) assumed leadership after Odumegwu Ojukwu fled to Côte d’Ivoire, and led the reintegeration of Biafra back into Nigeria in 1970. Maj. Gen. Edet Akpan (Rtd), OFR held several key positions in the Army until he was appointed the Director-General of National Youth Service Scheme in 1984.

Rt. Rev. Jonathan Udo Ekong (1881-1982) was introduced to Christianity by the Qua Iboe Church Mission, was baptized and appointed a senior Evangelist. He left for America and while there, he came in contact with Lutheran Church. In 1935, he arranged for a survey commission team from the Lutheran Church in America to visit Nigeria resulting in the establishment of the Lutheran Church in Nigeria in 1936 with Headquarters at Obot Idim. He returned to Nigeria as a pioneer Nigerian Priest in the Lutheran Church and established Lutheran High School, Obot Idim in 1950 and a seminary. Vincent Inem Enyeama is a Nigerian professional footballer who was a member of the Nigerian national team from 2002, serving as its captain from 2013 until his retirement from international football in October 2015. He is the first Akwa Ibomite to play at the FIFA Men’s World Cup and the nation’s most capped player of all time, ending his international career with 101 caps.

Senator Udoma Udo Udoma is currently Nigeria’s Minister of Budget and National Planning. He is a former Senator between 1999 and 2007. Udoma has served as Chairman of UAC of Nigeria Plc.; as the first Chairman of the Corporate Affairs Commission, and Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission. He has served the Nation in various other capacities.

Chief Ndueso Essien was two-time Nigerian National Assembly representative from Akwa Ibom state from 1999 to 2007 and was appointed Federal Minister of Lands, Housing & Urban Development in April 2010.

Etim Okon lnyang (1931 – 2016) was a Nigerian Policeman and former Inspector General of Police between 1983 and 1986. Prelate Sunday Coffie Mbang served for 8 years as the National president of the Christian Association of Nigeria. In July 2001, Prelate Sunday Mbang became the first Nigerian, African and first black man to be chairman of the World Methodist Council. He is also one of the very few persons to be invited and hosted in the Vatican by two sitting Popes, John Paul II and Benedict XVI. He is also the first civilian from Akwa Ibom to be conferred with the National honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).

Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio, CON is a lawyer and politician who is currently a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Senate’s Minority Leader. He was Governor of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria from May 2007 to May 2015, an 8-year administration noted mostly for an unprecedented physical development in the state, commonly referred to as the “Uncommon Transformation.”

Group Capt. Sam Ewang (rtd) was Military Administrator of Ogun State from August 1996 to August 1998 and of Rivers State until May 1999, handing over power at the start of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic.

Obonganwan Rita Akpan served the State in various capacities including Secretary of Government and was later the country’s Minister of Women affairs between July 2003 and June 2005.

Air Comm. Idongesit Okon Nkanga (rtd) was the first indigenous Military Governor of the state Akwa Ibom State, serving from September 1990 to January 1992, before handing over to an elected civilian Governor at the start of the Nigerian Third Republic. Obong Ufot Ekaette has served the state and country in various capacities including Secretary to the Government of the Federation from 1999 to 2007, Deputy Governor, first Minister of Niger Delta and Permanent Secretary in the Federal Civil Service, amongst many other portfolios.

Christy Essien-Igbokwe, MFR (1960 – 2011), popularly known as “Nigeria’s Lady of Songs”, was the first female president of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN). Essien-Igbokwe’s fluency in Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, English and her native Ibibio languages enabled her sing in these various languages, earning her national appeal across tribal lines.

Late Barr. Vincent Uwemedimo was a well-known practicing Lawyer in the then South Eastern State of Nigeria. He became the first ‘Ntisong’ Ibibio at inauguration of ‘Akwa Esop Imaisong Ibibio’ in 1981. Obong Akpan James Isemin was the first democratically elected governor of Akwa Ibom State and served in this capacity between January 1992 and November 1993. He was able to persuade the Federal government to increase the oil revenue allocation through the abrogation of the Oil Dichotomy law.

Air Marshall Nsikak Eduok (rtd) was the country’s 12th Chief of Air Staff ( a position he held twice) and also served in the Federal Executive Council as the Minister of Aviation.

Late Obong Sampson U. Etuk (1903-1954) was initiator of the Ibibio Scholarship Fund, the first communal Education pursuit in Nigeria. He was the first president General of the Amalgamated Ibibio Union. He was the first Provincial Education Officer for Warri Province (now Delta State). In 1943 he founded the Abraka College of Education now Delta State University. Edidem Thompson Udo Uyoata Akpabio III, OFR (1907-1989) became the Paramount Ruler of the 6 Ibibio -speaking Local Government Areas of the then Cross River State known as “Ifim Ibibio”. He led the cause of Ibibio land and even proffered the name “Akwa Ibom State” instead of “Qua Iboe State” which was first suggested.

Brig. Udoakaha Jacob Esuene (1936 – 1993) was the first Military Governor of South-Eastern State (later renamed Cross River State) and served between May 1967 and July 1975.

Obong (Arch.) Victor Bassey Attah was Governor of Akwa Ibom State from May 1999 to 2007. He was in 2003, elected Chairman of the Forum of the 36 Governors of Nigeria. He designed the master plan of Uyo at the creation of Akwa Ibom, but more significantly laid the foundation for the establishment of several visionary projects in the state in the telecoms, power and air transport sector.

Late Chief Nyong Essien (CMG, GCON) was the first representative of Old Province in the Legislative Council in Lagos. He was also the first president of Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, and the first installed president of Ibibio Union. Chief Etim Okpoyo is the first democratically elected deputy Governor of the State and served between January 1992 and November 1993. He went on to serve the as the Nigeria’s Ambassador to Italy and Albania.

Mr. Paul Usoro, SAN is Founder and Senior Partner of Paul Usoro & Co. Mr. Usoro is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. A highly experienced litigator, he is acknowledged as Nigeria’s foremost communications law expert. Mr Udom Gabriel Emmanuel was appointed the Secretary to the Government of Akwa Ibom State in 2013. He later resigned to run for the office of Governor in the 2015 polls which he won, thereby becoming the fourth democratically elected and incumbent Governor of Akwa Ibom State.

Dear Mother,...

Special tribute to Wives of our Governors

Martha Emmanuel Unoma Akpabio Alison Attah Chinwe Ebiye Iyabode Adeusi Aisha Bako Imoh Isemin Uduak Nkanga Patience Abbe Jacklyn Ogbeha

Dear Mother, While your men toiled daily to give us peace and a better life, You didn’t just pray for them, You didn’t just fold your arms to watch, Rather, you came down to us from your exalted place;

You picked up shreds and stitched them to clothe us You picked crumbs and made sumptuous meals to feed us You took us from the rain and sheltered us You were there to sooth the pain of ill-health

Thank you for standing in the gap, Thanks for being the mothers you are, You’ll remain forever in our hearts. Your children, Akwa Ibom women and children