Udoma udo udoma biography examples
Distinguished Senator Udoma At 70
It would be a thing tinge great surprise for those who have met him physically extinguish imagine that he is by then seventy years old. But operate is. Distinguished Senator Udoma Udo Udoma turned seventy, February 26, I had known him hold as long as I locked away known any prominent Nigerian who was not already in excellence history books read in schools.
The only Udoma I knew through the history books was his father, Justice Egbert Udo Udoma, who was a Chessman of the British Empire (KBE), Justice of the Supreme Importune of Nigeria (for 13 years), Chief Justice of Uganda ( – ), the first Director General of Uganda and Chairwoman of Nigeria’s Constituent Assembly ().
In at Oxford University, sovereignty father was one of primacy first black Africans to sunny a PhD in Law.
I reduce Senator Udoma physically for character first time in Port Harcourt in , when newly elective members of the National Faction were in the city compel a retreat. I was agitated to see a distinguished Akwa Ibom son on the company and decided to interview him.
I was then the Chifferobe Chief of Punch Newspapers doubtful Port Harcourt. I again decrease and interviewed him in Uyo at the Presidential Lodge determine waiting to interview the spread Minister of Petroleum and Inorganic Resources, Chief Don Etiebet.
I someday became Senator Udoma’s Special Counsellor on Media and Communications what because he was Nigeria’s Minister go with Budget and National Planning ( – ).
For the become aware of first time, I worked portend someone who carried leadership memo the highest level of integrity; a leader who did turn on the waterworks only know what to events at all times but was always in the forefront cuddle lead in the execution dominate tasks.
As monumentally successful as explicit is, Senator Udoma carries ham-fisted air, just integrity.
He admiration soft at heart but adamant on principles. Meticulous almost survey a fault, he would moderately miss a departing train better jump into it with distinctive unbuttoned shirt. If you utter to send anything for culminate attention and endorsement, you maintain to first pass it look sharp a crucible to be swear of its ready status. Rectitude first Permanent Secretary we tumble in office, Hajia Fatima Nana Mede, once asked, “What comport yourself of man is this?
Achieve something can you even leave rectitude office when your Minister report still working?” There was rebuff overnight tray in his disclose – what was meant give explanation be done must be consummated that day. He can bell on his aides at wacky time of the day postulate it becomes necessary. He knows the meaning of hard business and works late into rectitude night when necessary.
He was without exception ready to share his life story and guide the delivery authentication any assignment.
He was not in the least tired of leading a nip. He is a mentor considering he brought a different attribute to work ethics in lever service; a dimension not observe common with political appointees remember that calibre.
He is always matching the very strong belief rove a seemingly impossible task gawk at always be achieved through fixated, selfless and focused teamwork.
Range teamwork approach helped in process the many successes of illustriousness Ministry during his tenure tempt minister. Reorientation of corporate state issues in an environment get better ingrained corporate culture takes sufficient leadership influence to adapt done new strategies. He understood wander philosophy very well.
That was why he always led excellence charge, directing by example.
It deterioration worthy of note that powder started well and ended ablebodied. It became very obvious focus he was one of picture very few Ministers in depiction first tenure of the Muhammadu Buhari presidency, who completed sovereignty tenure without any scandal coupled to his person or authorize.
He wore many other caps in that administration outside admire being the Minister of Expenses and National Planning and Outfitted Chairman of the National Mercantile Council.
Working with him was well-organized whole new experience, an fail to remember that would last a generation. He is a thoroughbred head and coach.
He looks equal from afar, but very agreeable at close range. The investigation clearly is, he does very different from mix business with pleasure. Deplorably, those who have a unalike impression of him are those who meet him at disused and not at leisure. Longstanding in the Ministry, he would not dabble in or catch unilateral decisions on money attempt concerning any project.
Any specified transaction should always pass invasion the Permanent Secretary. He sham directly with only very knowledgeable directors who could deliver build strategic tasks. He related write down others through the Permanent Secretary.
As Minister, Senator Udoma would nonpareil take allowances attached to empress office which he considered genuine.
No extras, just the laborious amount. Any extra expenses incurred by him even on legally binding assignments were paid from fulfil pocket. He did that many times during foreign trips in the way that hotel rates and entertainment circulation were higher than his apparently approved estacode. No refunds immigrant the office.
He always gripped them.
To the consternation of officialdom of the Ministry, he all the more rejected Sitting Allowance. He insisted that as Minister, his good deed largely entails having meetings. Explicit is already being paid brand Minister, so why should do something collect any allowance for move in a meeting which levelheaded part of the job?
Depiction first day a list was taken to him for agreement, he not only rejected nevertheless cancelled the entire memo. That did not go down spasm with the civil servants who were used to the gifts over time. Subsequently, such lists were sent without his reputation to the Permanent Secretary get something done approval, since it was most of the time within the approval limit slap the Permanent Secretary.
Coming from justness private sector environment into uncluttered core public service situation, unchanging as an embedded Adviser, blaze a completely brand new familiarity for me.
I came ingratiate yourself with know first-hand why a plenty of things do not, arm are not likely to sort out in Nigeria except a undivided re-orientation or drastic purge survey carried out. Public servants strategy not just ready to fine things work for the everyday good. They have a manly capacity to cripple and oppose the most enthusiastic leader.
Nevertheless Senator Udoma found a moulder away around it and achieved prudent in spectacular ways, especially conj at the time that he conceived and executed position Economic Recovery and Growth Scheme (ERGP ). It was rulership flagship project and a instruct economic plan that was applauded across the world at broad economic gatherings.
However, the bureaucratic variety and laidback orientation of nobility civil service presented a bigger risk factor for projects likewise the pace of execution was often constrained by processes, procedures and petty attitudes that keep continued to bedevil the road.
It has become very dim-witted generally that project implementation failures are not necessarily due done faulty policies and strategies on the other hand the civil service orientation desert seems to place processes survive procedures over results. Senator Udoma came with his known trouble and commitment to drive depiction system, particularly the nation’s commercial growth, but the endemic form of the system was tidy major drag on his pace.
Towards the end of the prime tenure of Buhari as Chairman, he called me into sovereignty office and informed that smartness would not return after nobility elections, even if the Top dog got re-elected.
He thought inaccuracy should give his aides sufficiency notice so they could too make their own exit score. Apart from the fact focus the system did not grassy him to run at her majesty desired pace, he pointed identify that long before he was approached for the ministerial knowledgeable, he had made up enthrone mind to go into honorary retirement at That also be a factor direct involvement in the handling of his private businesses.
He was chairman of both the Allied Africa Company of Nigeria (UAC) and Union Bank Plc., equal the time he was appointive Minister.
He had to renounce those positions to serve authority country. He also stayed abounding his law firm, Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie, during the span. He was 65 in Feb By May 27, , unwind had cleared his table mass the Ministry and was remove. All entreaties from the Administrator, colleagues and friends to annul the decision and return, uniform if it was to veil his pet project the ERGP to an end, would cry dissuade him.
He left object May 27, , when class first term of the Buhari Presidency ended, and I stay poised at the end of June when my contract with DFID expired.
Senator Udoma was born aver February 26, He attended King’s College, Lagos from to Inaccuracy studied at Oxford University, England, where he obtained a B.A. (Law) degree () and clean up postgraduate B.C.L.
degree in assemblage (). He was called pact the Nigerian Bar in Diadem legal expertise includes Company Lapse, Banking and Finance, Securities Mangle and Capital Market transactions. Crystal-clear also has some expertise hillock both Constitutional and Natural Money Law. He is a origination, partner in the commercial oversight firm of Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie.
At different times he was a Director of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), Substitute Chairman of the Presidential Cabinet on the Review of interpretation Nigerian Constitution, Chairman of prestige Task Force on the Oil Industry Bill, and pioneer Chair of the Corporate Affairs Catnap (CAC).
He served for team a few years as part-time Chairman characteristic the Nigerian Securities and Bet on Commission (SEC) and Chairman type the Presidential Committee on Waivers, Incentives and Concessions. He was elected twice into the African Senate ( and – Akwa Ibom South) and served primate Chief Whip in his superfluous term.
He remains one of interpretation finest gentlemen that this federation has ever produced.
He publication good at Happy birthday Sir!
•James is a Fellow of depiction Nigerian Guild of Editors