The President of the Senate, Mr Godswill Obot Akpabio, is among the four recipients of honorary doctorate degrees conferred on them by the Federal University Dutsin-ma, Katsina State on Saturday, November 2, 2024.
The three other recipients are Nigerian First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko and Honorable Abubakar Kabir Abubakar, member representing Bichi Federal Constituency, who doubles as chairman House Committee on Appropriations.
The award conferred on them was in recognition of their outstanding contributions in various capacities of their chosen professions which directly or indirectly impacted on the lives of their constituents in particular and humanity in general.
Born on December 9, 1962, in Ukana, Ikot Ntuen, Essien Udim Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Akpabio attended Methodist Primary School, Ukana, Essien Udim LGA, Akwa Ibom State, Federal Government College, Port Harcourt, Rivers State and the University of Calabar, Cross River State.
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During his time at the Federal Government College, he served as a senior prefect, while at the University of Calabar; he was elected Speaker of the Students’ Union Government.
After graduation from the University of Calabar, Akpabio, a professional lawyer, began his career as a lecturer and later worked for Paul Usoro and Co. law firm in Nigeria. He also held positions at EMIS Telecoms Ltd, a Lagos-based telecommunications company, and served as National Publicity Secretary of the Association of Telecommunication Companies (ATCOM) in Nigeria.
Akpabio’s entry into politics was marked by his appointment as Commissioner for Petroleum and Natural Resources in 2002 under Governor Obang Victor Attah in Akwa Ibom State. He later served as Commissioner for Lands and Housing, as well as Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
In 2007, Mr Akpabio became the governor of Akwa Ibom, a position he held till 2015. In the same year, he was elected senator representing Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District and became the Senate Minority Leader.
He resigned in 2018 to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) and was appointed Minister for Niger Delta Affairs by the immediate past President, Muhammadu Buhari, in 2019. Again, in 2022, the President of the Senate resigned his position as Minister for Niger Delta Affairs to contest the presidential primary of the APC.
A politician and lawyer of a high repute, who has made significant contributions to the country in different capacities, today, Akpabio is serving the country as 15th President of the Senate, a position he assumed in 2023.
Senator Suleiman Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila, a senator representing Kano South in the Upper Chamber, who commented on the award conferred on the President of the Senate, described the award as an honour well-deserved, adding that the man deserves more than an award from institutions of higher education. Sen. Sumaila attested that considering the position he is occupying and the role the National Assembly is playing in governance, the honour done to him is well deserved.
Senator Sumaila explained that as a number three citizen in the country, his contributions to the development of Nigeria cannot be over empathised, adding that the institution that found him worthy for the award knows best why it picked him for the honour.
“We, members of the Red Chamber that are working closely with him also believe that he deserves the honor. He is a leader of an exemplary character who believes in oneness and progress of our dear nation. He is a kind of leader that always promotes unity and togetherness among his subordinates.
“A leader with a listening ear and sense of belonging, the President of the Senate always carries everybody along irrespective of political party affiliations. A grassroots politician, the man was very conversant with the nature of our country and its people.
“I am sure the Federal University Dutsin-ma tracked the records of Mr Akpabio before it finally conferred this prestigious award on him and the institution has made the best choice for the honour. The honour is not for the President of the Senate or members of his immediate family, but an honour for the entire senators in the Upper Chamber. Whatever happens to our great leader, be it good or bad, surely it affects all the senators.
“So, I must confess that the senators and indeed, the entire members of the National Assembly felt honoured by this award and we cherished it with all our hearts. It is a gesture we will never forget in our lives because it signifies that the contributions we are offering to this country are being recognised by others outside the chamber. This is something we need to appreciate,” Sen. Sumaila concluded.
Although the President of the Senate did not attend the ceremony for the conferment of the award because of his tight schedules, Senator Muntari Dandutse from Katsina State represented him at the occasion which was held at the Federal University Dutsin-ma Sports Arena, Take-off Campus of the university, Dutsin-ma, Katsina State.
Speaking to journalist shortly after the occasion, Sen. Dandutse said the President of the Senate had wanted to attend the event in person, but that was not be possible because of other national engagements which he (Akpabio) cannot overlook and come down to Katsina State to receive the award.
“I feel delighted and honored that out of hundreds of colleagues, the president of the senate chooses me to represent him and receive the award on his behalf. The award, for me, is something valuable not only to the recipient but to all members of his family and political associates. We are happy that even the institutions of learning are following our activities with kin interest for the purpose of assessment and rewarding us.
“I hope other institutions of higher education and their alike will borrow a leaf from the FUD-ma by assessing the activities of members of the NASS for the purpose of rewarding them for their outstanding performances. This is one way of encouraging members of the National Assembly to compete among them in executing meaningful projects that will positively impact on the lives of their constituents. You know with competition among members of NASS, the electorates across the country will enjoy more dividends of democracy in their respective communities.
“I hope the electorate will also begin to assess the performances of their representatives and reward them according to their performances. This will also help in shaping the thinking of the elected members at the NASS to initiate more developmental projects for their constituents,” Dandutse concluded.
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