Mr. Umana Okon Umana, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for Akwa Ibom State, has named Engr. Ben Ukpong as his running mate for the 2015 gubernatorial election in the state. Engr. Ukpong, a retired Deputy Director of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Abuja, is a COREN-registered civil engineer and Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers.
An indigene of Urue-offong/Oruko local government area of Oro nation in Akwa Ibom State, Engr. Ukpong was born on 9 August 1962. He has already been presented to the state working committee of the Party.
Engr Ukpong brings to the Akwa Ibom APC ticket a rich background of experience in public service, quality education in some of Nigeria’s best educational institutions and a distinguished track record in community service and philanthropy.
He has more than 28 years of work experience in the Engineering Profession, covering various scopes of engineering designs, construction supervision, and project management. He brings to the Umana-Ukpong ticket a most diverse experience gained during his years of meritorious services with the Plateau Directorate for Integrated Rural Development 1986 – 1987; Jos Metropolitan Development Board 1987 – 1990; Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) from 1st August 1990 to December 2014 when he voluntarily retired from service.
During his years in the FCDA, he rose through the ranks from Senior Engineer, Principal Engineer, Chief Engineer, and Assistant Director up to the position of Deputy Director. Among the various Engineering Infrastructure projects handled by Engr. Ukpong in Abuja were the construction of interchange bridges and expressways along Nnamdi Azikiwe Way, Inner Southern Expressway, Southern Parkway as well as construction of Phases 3 & 4 of the famous Lower Usman Dam Water Treatment Plants (20,000m3/hrs capacity) and the development of several districts (Garki II, Katampe Extension, Gudu and Kagini) with the provision of Engineering Infrastructure.
These projects, valued in billions of Naira, were executed professionally, honestly and transparently in keeping with international best practice under the watch of Engr. Ben Ukpong, FNSE. He is respected among his peers and senior colleagues, who routinely sought him out for his wise counsel and innovative ideas.
He is loved and revered by his people both at home and abroad because of unstinting identification with his people and their welfare at home in Urue-Offong/Uruko in particular and Akwa Ibom State in general. His involvement in community service to his people began in Jos. He was a two term President of Oron Development Union (Jos and Abuja) and Akwa Ibom Community, Abuja as well as Trustee of Urue Offong/Oruko Peoples Alliance (UOPA), a formidable political group.
Through these groups, he has affected many lives among the youths, men and women as well as elders across the various sections of Akwa Ibom state. It is worthy to note that in addition to his community service, he mobilized more than 10,000 Akwa Ibom indigenes in Abuja and the 19 Northern states to register during the previous voters registration exercise and to vote in Akwa Ibom State during the 2011 general elections where he served as the unit head at his polling unit in ward 4, Urue-offong/Oruko LGA. As a grassroots mobilizer, he has been involved in various electioneering activities in Akwa Ibom State since the birth of the current democratic dispensation.
Due to his hard work, humility, friendly disposition, generosity and philanthropic services, he has received various awards, too many to name one by one. In view of his contributions to his community and the Oro nation in general, he was honoured with the Chieftaincy title of Nta-Nta (the STAR) of Oro by the Council of Oro Traditional Rulers. This is a revered title meant for all rising “stars” in Oro nation.
Engr. Ben Ukpong, FNSE, is registered and affiliated to international and national professional bodies such as the International Society of Environmental Geotechnology; Council of registered Engineers of Nigeria; Nigeria Society of Engineers. He is a distinguished Fellow, Nigeria Society of Engineers.
He was until his retirement a Deputy Director (Water and Sewage Division) in the Department of Engineering Services, FCDA, Abuja before accepting to serve Akwa Ibom State as the Deputy Governorship candidate in the 2015 general elections under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Engineer Ukpong is married to the beautiful, knowledgeable and amiable Dr (Mrs) Ini-Abasi Mary Ben Ukpong, a medical doctor. The family is blessed with 5 children.
Signed:
Dr. Amadu Attai
APC State Chairman
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