The man Honourable Akan E. Okon and his distinguish wealth of experience

BY NTIENSE UMOREN

Human morality is set to be  the said of ‘Do’s and Don’ts’ to be observed by any other person other than themselves. And the morality sometimes propelself-echo, righteousness and pomposity whereby create room for blackmail especially, in this political era.

Witch-hunt by appointment fever as the government of Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel roll’s-in, some politicians have ignite the rage of the political blackmail in the state for cheap popularity, or favour.

Hon. Akan E. Okon, a simple man by nature in both art and science have been a self-made man before venturing into politics with a genuine desire to serve the people in Godly manner and should not become a threat to political office seekers hence the all-round blackmail against him. But they fail to understand that power belongs to God, that God gives appoint and places anybody in a position he likes against the will of man typical example, in the case of Deacon Udom Gabriel Emmanuel.

Born on1stOctober 1965 into the of Great Okon’s family in Itu Local Government of Akwa Ibom State, with   moral character, ability to touched feeling with great concern and capability to give reason for his actions, stated his education pursuit in is Local Government of Origin where he obtained his OL Level in 1981 at Itam Secondary School, Itam in Itu Local Government. He forwarded his education in the then school of Art and Science Uyo where he obtained his A/level in 1984 with flying colours.
Thereafter, he proceeded to the higher institution, the University of Lagos where he obtained his B.Sc in Business Administration with second class upper Division in 1987.
To be a good manager of resources, Hon. Akan E. Okon did not stop at that, but went further for MBA – Banking and Finance and obtained his Master’s Degree in 1991. To be well functional and combat the modernized, digital and Global competitive challenges in the present age and to add value to his education, Hon. Akan Okon attended so many courses abroad to acquire more and much knowledge to enhance productivity and capacity building.

Those courses he attended include:
· London School of corporate Finance. London (Euromoney October 2012)
· Project Finance: Energy and Infrastructure. Dubia (Euromoney February 2012)
· Financing Energy Projects: Oil, Gas and power. Montreal (Canada (Euromoney August 2011)
· Euromoney corporate finance programme Walton House Dorking UK, July 2008
· International Capital Market Conference – Citibank New York – May 2007
· Financial Engineering in Deal and Transaction Structuring Lagos – March 2007
· Gilts Game (A Bonds Trading Course with simulation) August 2006.
· Fixed Income Securities/internal process flow Training (NBS Assets Management LLC) London – May 2006.
· Corporate & Financial Course – DC Gardner UK July 2004
· The role of Financial Institution in the implementation of Cabotage Guidelines.
· Asset Securitization – Nigerian Stock Exchange & ALHN May 2004
· Transforming Corporate Leadership Seminar – John Maxwell April 2004
· Oil and Gas Summit – Institute of Bankers Lagos April 2003
· Advanced Financial/Credit Analysis. Augusto & Co, June, 1999
· Building Customer Service Capacity. Restral Consulting Ltd, March, 1999
· Investment Banking/Corporate Finance Seminar, November 2002
· Advanced Management Development Programme – LBS, December 2000.
· Effective Performance Management – Leadership Development Consulting October 2000.
· Foreign Exchange Data needs for Authorized Dealers organized by Foreign Market (FEM) Monitoring Committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria. June 1996.
Mr. Akan Okon started his banking carrier with the Central Bank of Nigeria and has worked in several other leading banks for over 20 years where he rose to the position of General Manager. During this period, he gained experience in the following areas of banking:

·    Investment Banking
·    Corporate Finance
·    Public Sector
·    Revenue Collection
·    Consumer Banking
·    Corporate banking
·    Electronic/retail Banking

OTHER LEADING BANKS HE WORKED WERE:
First Inland Bank Plc. Area Executive, South South (January 2009 to December 2009
· Under the First Inland, he was responsible for supervising all the Branches of the Bank in Akwa Ibom State, Cross River State, Rivers State, Bayelsa State and Delta State.
· Responsible for Business Development and the profitability of over 50 (fifty) branches in the South South region.

First Inland Bank Plc. Divisional Head, Investment Banking. (January 2006 to January 2009)
· Relationship Management with all Offshore Financial Institutions
· Infer-face with External Reserves Management Partner
· Financial Advisers for Offshore Funding in respect of Qua Refinery.
· N2.8 Billion Naira Rights Issues for Yankari Insurance
· N5b Offer for subscription and Rights Issues for Jackpaul Maritime Services
· Adviser to Deltagate Limited for the acquisition of Abuja International Hotels.
· N2b Private Placement for Mundel Asset management & Trust Limited
· N2b Private Placement for Beco Petroleum Products Limited

In First Atlantic Bank Plc. he was Head, Investment Banking. (October, 2002 to December 2006)
· Privatisation of Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria Limited (ALSCON) Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State (BPE Mandate)
· Advisers for the acquisition of Central Hotels Kano by Broadfields Intermediaries Limited from BPE.
· Packaging of First Atlantic Bank Plc Investment in Standard Alliance Insurance Company Initial Public Offer.
· Advisers to Foby Engineering on First Licencing for the Oil Block in the Nigeria-Sao Tome & Principe Joint Development Zone in the Gulf of Guinea.
· Feasibility Report/Information Memorandum on Lagos State Mass Transit Fund.
· Feasibility report/Information Memorandum on the Nigerian Oil Bond.
· Packaging of Beta Consortium for the acquisition of Ikoyi Hotels from BPE
· Development of a portfolio management company
· Packing of BPE’s financial/Lead privatisation advisory role
· Concessioning of Lagos International Trade Fair Complex
· Concessioning of National Arts Theatre
· Diagnostic Review of New Nigeria Newspaper
· Guardian Express Bank Plc Right Issue

He also worked with the Standard Trust Bank Limited Area Manager, Calabar and Uyo, (Jan – Sept, 2002) as:
· Supervision and coordination of Marketing, Administrative and operational activities of the two offices. (80 staffs)
· Development and implementation of marketing strategies to capture target market.
· Performance monitoring of the Strategic Business Units to ensure
· Achievement of budgeted target.

Group Head – Uyo (July, 2001 – January, 2002)
· Supervision and coordination of Marketing, Administrative and operational activities
· Development and implementation of marketing strategies to capture target market
· Performance monitoring of the SBU’S to ensure achievement of budget.

Group Head, Electronic and Retail Banking (North Central Region) – (September, 2000 – July, 2001).
· Covering 3 office in Abuja, Jos, Makurdi, Minna, Lokoja and Lafia
· Coordination of Electronic and Retail Banking activities in the eight office under the following units:
i.   Personal Banking
ii.  Franchise Marketing
iii.  Electronic Banking
iv. Electronic Money Transfer
v.  Consumer Finance and Savings Mobilization

Business Manager – Garki, Abuja (March – September, 2000)
· Responsible for setting up the Branch and Resource mobilization.
· Development and implementation of marketing strategies to win target markets in the location.
· Overall supervision of the various business units in the public sector, consumer banking, commercial banking in the office towards the achievement of target.

Business Manager – Uyo (February, 1998 – March, 2000)
· Responsible for setting up the Branch and Resource mobilization
· Development and implementation of marketing strategies to win target markets in the location.
· Overall supervision of the various business units in the public sector, consumer banking, commercial banking in the office towards the achievement of target.

Public Sector Group – Head Office (February 1997-Feb. 1998)
· Responsible for setting up of the Public Sector desk in the Bank.
· Coordination of all Public Sector activities of the Bank.
· Development and implementation of marketing strategies to win the public sector market.

First African Trust Bank Limitedalso employed his services as
1. Head, Treasury and Financial Institution Dept. – November, 1995 – February, 1997)
· Direct supervision of foreign exchange and naira treasury
· Efficient management of the various treasury activities to ensure the liquidity of the bank and contribute to the attainment of the profitability objective of the Bank.
· Evaluation/Analysis of money market to determine level of bank’s participation.
· Evaluate other banks with a view to determining placement/takings limits.
· Ensure timely submission of all returns to the Central Bank of Nigeria relating to treasury activities in the Bank.

2. Branch Manager, Victoria Island, Lagos – (May, 1995 to November, 1995)
· Seeing to the day to day running of the branch
· Organizing and presiding over branch Management meetings.
· Identification of new target market within Branch location and marketing them with a view to establishing business relationship
· Liaising with Branch credit Unit on customers’ credit request for H/O approval and Branch credit Committee approval.
· Liaising with Head Office and Branch operations unit on customers’ daily requirements.
· Review of approved TODs limits to customer and ensuring that they are not executed.

3. Branch Manager, Apapa (September, 1993 – May, 1995)
· Seeing to the day to day running of the branch
· Organizing and presiding over branch Management meetings
·  Identification of new target market within Branch location and marketing them with a view to establishing business relationship.
· Liaising with Branch credit Unit on customers’ credit request for H/O approval and Branch credit Committee approval.
· Liaising with Head Office and Branch operations unit on customers’ daily requirements.
· Review of approved TODs limits to customer and ensuring that they are not executed.

4. Treasury and Financial Institution Dept (Deputy Manager) – January, 1992 – September, 1993)
· FX/Naira Dealer
· Ensuring that deal slips for all inter-bank transactions are prepared daily.
· Review of daily summary report and trading reports.
· Preparation of bids for IFEM at CBN.

Under Central Bank of Nigeria, Lagos, he worked as:
1. Assistant Manager, International Remittance Office (IRO) – (March, 1991 – January 1992)
· Receipts and processing of bids for foreign exchange by banks.
· Issuance of foreign exchange allocation advise to successful banks and advising their correspondent banks.

2. Senior Supervisor, Investment Office (Foreign Operations Dept) – (January, 1990 – March, 1991)
· Responsible for remittance by foreign companies operating in Nigeria (Funds Repartition).
· Monitoring of disbursement on IMF and ADB guaranteed loans.

3. Senior Supervisor, Banking Office (Banking Operations Dept) – (September, 1988 – January, 1990)
· Superintendent in the Bankers Clearing House
· Verification of cash and clearing cheques
· Processing of cash withdrawals and deposits by banks
· Responsible for transferring from Government Ministries/Parastatal account from Commercial and Merchant banks to CBN.

4. Senior Supervisor, Loans and Advances Office (NYSC) – (June, 1987 – September, 1988).
· Receiving and processing of applications for loans and advances by staff.
Presently he is the Managing Director/CEO Fantixis Investment Limited
·  Fantixis Investments Limited is a Financial Advisory firm providing fresh impetus to the economy through the launch of an aggressive Enterprise Support Services spanning Corporate, Business, Project, Financial advisory and ICT/Telecoms consulting.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP
1. Chartered Institute of Bankers
2. Fellow, Institute of Sales Manager
3.Institute of Direct Marketing

Hon. Akan E. Okon has all what it takes and has gathered much experience in both private and public sector which is optimistic that he can contribute immensely to the success of Mr. Udom Emmanuel’s administration in all ramifications.