Media/publicity crew, Ibom Harmony network
The Biblical significance of the name “Samuel”, the promised child whose mother, Hannah made a vow in a prayer to the Lord all Almighty to give her a child, preferably a son, whom she promised to give back to God for all the days of his life as recorded in the book of first Samuel chapter 1 verse 11, is phenomenal. And Samuel in the Holy Bible was the “chosen one” who served God diligently and rendered selfless services to humanity as well.
But in the political landscape of Akwa Ibom State, the promise land of Nigeria, the name Bishop Samuel Friday Akpan rings a loud bell. Like Samuel in the Bible, Bishop Sam Akpan (as he is simply called) is a clean and humbly man of unshakable character and vim with stint of truth and straight-forwardness which are some of the rare qualities and attributes lacked by most Nigerian politicians.
The ever-cheerful and ever-smiling gentle-man is noted for his humility, patience and tolerance. He is focused and well-principled, ever ready to render help and bear the cross of others on their way to the
top as a de-tribalised Nigerian.
For instance in 2006 and 2007, the clergy-man politician then known as Apostle Sam Akpan, an ESD man interestingly, championed the campaign for the nomination and election of Chief (Dr.) Godswill Obot Akpabio, a man from the Annang extraction as the Governor of Akwa Ibom State respectively, having been the founder and International Coordinator of Akwa Ibom State People Forum (AKPF), a socio-cultural group that facilitated and enthroned Akpabio in 2007.
As a clergy-man who preaches “Unity and Love one another”, and has even touched the lives of many Akwa Ibomites in so many ways with good structures on the ground over the years, Bishop Sam Akpan is one man who has affiliations across the three senatorial districts of the oil-rich state.
Born on June 20, 1957 in Ikot Ibekwe village, Ukanafun Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Bishop Sam Akpan
originally comes from Ikot Akpan Ishiet, Onna Local Government Area of Eket Senatorial District which leadership baton is expected to fall on in 2015.
Interestingly, one can unmistakably say that Bishop Sam Akpan is an Annang man by birth, having been born and grew up in Ukanafun Local government Area of Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District and ESD man by parentage as his parents originally came from Onna Local Government Council of Eket Senatorial District where his father hailed from and married to Deaconess Vivian Akpan from Etinan L.G.A. in Uyo Senatorial District.
But one may conveniently ask: what is a Bishop looking for in politics? Or what does politics concern a clergy man? Well the answer is simple. Akwa Ibom State at the moment needs a God fearing and purposeful
leadership to consolidate and add values to the good works of Governor Akpabio after 2015.
It is only in this part of the world that politics has been seen as a “dirty game” not good enough for men-of- God to be involved in. If clergy-men run away from politics then the big questions will be:
who will sanitize the system?
Who will correct the plethora of injustices and corruptions abound in the in the land?
It will be a big plus, if more people with god-fearing mind go into politics and take responsibilities like Bishop Desmond Tutu in South Africa.
This is the more reason Bishop Akpan’s serious entry and involvement in politics is seen by right-thinking people as a welcome development and huge blessing to the state.
Bishop Akpan attended Ishiet UACC Primary School, Ikot Akpan Ishiet, Onna Local government Area and obtained his First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC) in 1970.
He proceeded to secondary commercial school, Ibekwe, Ikot Abasi L.G.Area and obtained the West African School Certificate (WASC). In 1997.
He sat for Royal Society of Commercial (RSA) and obtained stage 111.
He got his post-Graduate Diploma in peace and conflict studies from the University of Uyo (UNIUYO) and obtained master of Business Administration (MBA) from the
United Nations University in 2004 and got Doctor of philosophy (PH.D) in international business.
Bishop Akpan was one time a senior clerical Officer (Supervisor of the defunct Mercantile Bank of Nigeria Limited) between 1976 and 1981, Chairman of Revenue mobilization, Onna L.G.Area and
Honourable special Adviser – Bureau of Political & Legislative matters between from 1976 to 1997.
And between 1996 and 1997, Bishop Akpan had served as the special Adviser, Bureau of political and Legislative matters.
He is currently the chairman/managing Director/CEO of some reputable organizations of International standard
inclusing SAMAK Nig. Ltd, Godmaster Nigeria Ltd; Third Investment Nig. Ltd, Uyo Business School (UBS), Unity Project Ltd, president of Akwa Ibom Integrated Specialized Co-operative Association Limited, President of Akwa Ibom Integrated Specialized Co-operative Association Limited.
As a core “party man”, Bishop Akpan has several political positions that include chairman of campaigns, Democratic party of Nigeria (DPN) Onna Local Government Area in 1996, pioneer member of the ruling People Democratic Party (PDP) in 1999 and became Ex-official member of Akwa Ibom
State, Executive (Exco) of PDP in 2000 and served as the state chairman of Yar’Adua/Jonathan Goodluck Presidential Network in
Akwa Ibom in 2007.Bishop Akpan is one man that has paid his dues in the politics of Onna Local Government, politics of Akwa Ibom State and above all, national politics, having been a “core party man” right from the inception of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) since 1999 till date. Having successfully backed and facilitated the safe-landing of the incumbent Governor of the State in 2007 election bid.
Bishop Sam Akpan was appointed the Special Adviser on Political and Legislative Affairs and later became the Deputy PDP state chairman in the state in 2008. And now, the “ Bishop” is currently the Chairman of Akwa Ibom State Road Maintenance Board and is entrusted with the responsibility of road maintenance in the state, which he is religiously carrying out to the best of his abilities.
Bishop Akpan belongs to many renowned professional bodies, which include member, institute of Transport Administration of Nigeria, (Mins TA); fellow Nigerian Institute of Shipping (FNIS); fellow chartered
Institute of Commerce of Nigeria (FCICN); fellow Institute of Company & Commercial Accountants of Nigeria (FICCA); fellow, strategic finance & Administrative Institute (FSFAI); Fellow Institute of Corporate
Managers & Public Administration of Ghana (FCIPA); Fellow Institute of Corporate Managers & public Administration of Nigeria (FCMPA) as well as Honorary Fellow Dorben polytechnic; Abuja.
As a devoted Christian, Bishop Sam Akpan has been a staunch member of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star (BCS) and is noted for his simplicity and devotion to the service of humanity.
Bishop as a philanthropist has given scholarships to over 2000 Akwa Ibom students in different higher institutions across the nation and has sponsored over 82 Akwa Ibom students who had choosed to study abroad. Not only in the education sector, Bishop Sam Akpan has over 750 youths of the state for a skill acquisition training in the oil and gas sector which is taking effect from 5th of this September and they shall
be awarded it a diploma certificate after 6 months. He is the chairman of BCS Nigeria and Christ New True Missionary (CNTN) Board of BCS Nigeria and Deputy Dean II College of Bishops Brotherhood of the Cross & Star, having been promoted from the position of an Apostle to Bishop in 2009. One thinks that a man with such pedigree in leadership and politics with a stint of Godliness like Bishop Samuel Akpan deserves a chance to further develop and carry Akwa Ibom state to the next level.
VISION STATEMENT
To be the foremost, honest and outstanding governor of Akwa Ibom state of Nigeria from 2015.
MISSION STATEMENT
To effectively lead the people of Akwa Ibom state as a servant-governor, to the much desired promised land in Nigeria from 2015 and to deliver the much needed democracy dividends to the people.
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