A Profile of Rt. Hon. Okpolupm Ikpong Etteh – Hon. Commissioner for Special Duties
Rt. Hon. Okpolupm Ikpong Etteh is the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Special Duties. Born 50 years ago to the Royal family of Chief Ikpong Etteh of Upenekang in Ibeno Local Government Area. Until his appointment, he was a Honorary Senior Special Adviser to Governor Udom Emmanuel on Special Duties and has remained the longest serving Member of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly where he garnered sufficient experience in the art and science of law making. From an ordinary member and Committee Chairman in the Third Assembly, he rose on to become the Chief Whip in the Fourth Assembly between 2007 and 2011. He climbed up the ladder again to become the Leader of the House of Assembly between 2011 and 2015.
He attended the Central School, Upenekang, Ibeno; the Secondary Grammar School, Ibeno; the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State, and the Galilee College, Israel, where he bagged a Post Graduate Certificate in Public Administration and Civil Service Management.
Rt. Hon. Etteh has distinguished himself in various professional bodies. He is a Fellow of the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (FNIMN), Fellow of Institute of Management Consultant (FIMC), Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Industrial Administration (FNIIA), Fellow of the Institute of Oil and Gas Research (FIOGR), Fellow the Institute of Professional Managers and Administrators of Nigeria (FIPMA) and a Member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (MNIPR), Associate member, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. (AM-ACFE)Austin, TX.
His life of service to humanity has earned him numerous accolades including an Honorary Texan Citizen Award by the State of Texas, United States of America; Best State Legislator Award by The Ultimate Projector Magazine, Legislative Merit Award by Institute of Industrial Administration of Nigeria, African Democrat Merit Award as an African Outstanding Leader and Philanthropist by Trust Magazine, 2011 Merit Award for Humanitarian Service by NYSC Vanguard – Akwa Ibom State, 2011 African International Role Model Leadership Gold Award from Beema Communications Ltd., Gold Service Award from Rotary Club of Uyo Metropolis of Rotary International District 9140 – Nigeria, African Achievers Leadership Award Accra, Ghana; Excellence in Leadership Award from Ikot Akpa Idem Elite League from Southern Afaha Clan- Ukanafun LGA, Award of Honour from Afigh Iwaad Ekid and Certificate of Excellence in Leadership from Oron Development Union, Atlanta Chapter, USA.
Rt. Hon. Etteh holds several chieftaincy titles including Obong NseheUyo, Iberedem Ikono, Obong Uforo Esit Eket, Ntanta Ekpene Ukim and Offong Ubuedai Mbo. He is also a member of the foremost Akwa Ibom socio-cultural group, Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio, and member of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of Ngba Ndiak Obolo (Obolo People Assembly) as well as the Patron of Afigh Iwaad Ekid.
He was also one of the front runners in the 2015 Governorship race in Akwa Ibom State. Etteh was a strategic member of the Divine Mandate Campaign Organization where he served as Member of the Strategy Committee, Member of the Contact Committee and Vice Chairman Security Committee. Also served as Chairman of the State Electoral Panel of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) for primaries to the December 2, 2017 Local Government Election, a position he had held in 2009 for the party.
He is variously described as a man of Sound Mind and Integrity, Courageous, Principled, Dedicated, Influential, Humble, Focused, Reserved, Broadminded, Magnanimous, Meticulous, Approachable, Confident, Energetic, Exposed, a Community Leader, a man of Vision and Mission with great Leadership and Mentorship qualities and an experienced leader.
The Commissioner is happily married to Ekaette and the marriage is blessed with four children.