Hon. Nseobong Umanah: An epitome of an astute resource manager

BY KENDI JUMBO

“Building a team/organization requires leaders to be knowledgeable as well as inspiring. They should understand the nature of productive teamwork and feel a passion for creating it”-Dean Tjosvold

The above quoted statement from Dean Tjosvold, a renowned American psychologist and author reflected not just the thought of but the practical ideology of resource management either at the institutional or governmental level.
It emphasizes on the salient but requisite qualities that are required of a manager of resources both materials and personnel, entrusted at his disposal.      

Whereas, the thrust of these qualities, according to Mr. Dean, are: knowledgeability of the technicalities involved in management of resources, being inflamed with the needed inspiration and understanding the value of synergy and teamwork as well as passion for service.
Truth is, without the preponderance of the above variables, organizational efforts would either be in shamble or in absolute fiasco. Hence far from achieving it set goals.

This notion has however, placed the personalities and leadership strength of the Chairman, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Akwa Ibom State chapter in a better preferential scale, judged by his landmark achievements in the sub sector as well as in consideration of his ever-rising profile of effective service delivery.

Needless to say, today in Akwa Ibom State, the petroleum sub sector especially in terms of disbursement – availability and price (s) compliance has received a major boost, following the timely effort of IPMAN (being the body saddled with the responsibility of timely disbursement, marketing and regulation of the price (s) of the products in conjunction with its related task force machineries).

Again, it lies within IPMAN’s discretion to salvage the larger populace of their daily petroleum products needs and services – and in a most timely and friendly manner. The body, in umpteen time, has not been found wanting in this onerous task.

IPMAN, as an independent organization in the nation and with a formidable but responsible branch in the state has continued to work in tandem with the directives of the federal government towards ensuring that prices of oil products in the state are in uniformity. For example, here in Akwa Ibom, the 87 naira pump price of petroleum has been promptly honoured, hence every filling stations across the state – even in the hinterlands, are keeping to that price tag.

This development has in recent time however, provoked most motorists to throw various goodwill messages and encomiums on IPMAN’s leadership for this glorious feat so far achieved in the state.

Most of them who spoke with our reporters lauded the chairman of the body, Hon. Nseobong Umanah (A.K.A. Nesman) for his sincere and purposeful leadership aimed towards repositioning as well as sanitizing the body.
They described him as a man with a large heart especially for the development of the downtrodden who, according to them, are the ones usually flogged by the hitherto incessant rise in the prices of petroleum products in the state.

The motorists who however scored him and his team high, sued for the state government’s continued cooperation with IPMAN in order to establish a more harmonious relationship as well as checkmate their operations and give input when necessary.

While the commendations continued to trail from various quarters, the Hon. Umanah led IPMAN has remained focused and promising better deal.
However, in his drive for pocket-free and hand-free supply/sales of petroleum, the IPMAN boss has deliberately align himself with the words of Peter Drucker “before an executive can think of tackling the future, he must be able to therefore dispose of the challenges of today in less time and with greatness impact and permanence”.

Whereas, the question of greatness and impact has been answered through the already established gestures but it bothers now on permanence. Will the federal government maintain the status quo or will it fluctuate upward as usual or downward this time? It is the prayers of both motorists and the commuters for sustainability and even downward review of the price. 

Meanwhile, Hon. Nesman as a renowned resource manager has continued to set the ball rolling, leaving no stone unturned in his stride towards ironing out the kink in the system as well as leaving IPMAN in a better pedestal. 

Apart from his high rated corporate leadership at IPMAN, this true born son of Afaha Clan in Ukanafun has always been a rallying point every fora and even in his homeland. 

His political index is another voluminous chapter of his life’s chronicles. He has sustained a resounding track record of service as a former transition chairman in 2003. Also, his aspiration to serve his own State Constituency on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the last conducted PDP primary can never be forgotten in a hurry. His impacts during the said contest and his aftermath faith in his party (PDP) are proofs of his stewardship, belief and maturity as an unmistakable stakeholder, despite sinking in more than fifty million naira (50m) during the said exercise which perhaps ended in near fiasco.

 
As a thoroughbred in the PDP and perhaps one of the founding members in the area, his decision in that critical moment could not be out-casted or unwarranted as earlier perceived, but he un-provokingly and undeniably collapsed his structures to his brother (Hon. Otobong Akpan) in the PDP and the gesture, eventually, boosted the party’s overwhelming victory at the end of the main election. 

Like the Indian Philosopher, Mohandas Gandhi “you cannot lead a people without their consent” and “leadership is determined by fellowership”, Hon. Nseobong Umanah believes strongly in follower ship, hence his office is always kept open for his people in order to listen to and thereby solve their problems. He believes also that ‘philanthropy’ is a virtue and not ‘propaganda’ and this belief has made him to always give without causing alarm or blowing siren.

 Like, Norman Vincent Peale’s philosophy, “the man who lives for himself is a failure. Even if he gains much wealth, power or social position, he remains a failure”, Hon. Umanah is one man that loves sacrificing his own to satisfy others. His reasons are that “sacrifice pays in large quantity as well as prompts God’s abundances’.

  This particular virtue has thus earned him the name ‘community leader’ that he is known for by his kith and kindred. In fact, Afaha and indeed Ukanafun people having confided in him these upright virtues are holding him (Hon. Nesman) in a very high esteem just like a golden egg in a golden land.

Hon. Nseobong Umanah, by all known virtues and experience is a man to reckon with. His excellent track record of selfless service is a well scripted testament of a leader with a human face. His corporate cum political indices are template of goldmines. His characters and skills in prudent management of corporate/public affairs are fibers of caliber and greatness. His well known virtue of philanthropy is a weapon against cynical tendencies. His cerebral and liberal dispositions are his sure ignition to successes. Above all, his Godly spiritual grandstanding remains his refuge and his rock of ages.

 It is therefore gratifying to conclude that “excellence knows neither bound nor discrimination, but she rather rewards those who tarry on her path”.  This perhaps philosophical assertion craves for him a place of esteemed reward for his excellent works in the state- his fatherland.       
To be continued.