Hon. Chief Benjamin Yakubu Anyuabuga Awumi-Atauya Ekom: A Brief Biography

By Matthew Kuju

Born on 28th April, 1951, Chief Benjamin Yakubu Ekom attended the famous RCM Transferred Primary school, Aloce. On completion and after obtaining his First School Leaving Certificate, he picked up an appointment with the United Nigeria Textile Limited (UNTL), Kaduna as a clerk to the Director of printing of the company.

When the Federal Government under General Yakubu Gowon established the Universal Primary Education (UPE) Teachers Colleges in 1974, Hon. Chief Benjamin Ekom picked advantage of this and gained admission into GTC Jengre in the then Benue Plateau State and obtained his Grade Two certificate. His insatiable hunger and thirst for more education drove him to University of Jos to obtain a Diploma in Journalism, and then proceeded to get a certificate in Computer Based Management Information System (CBMIS) from Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), Topo Badagry Lagos.

Chief Ekom proceeded to Awka-Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua where he obtained the National Diploma and Higher National Diploma in Public Administration respectively. In his quest for higher qualification, Hon. Ben Ekom gained a professional Diploma in Protocol and Passages Operation Management and Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) in journalism also from University of Lagos. He was trained and obtained a certificate from the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations.

He attended so many Seminars, Conferences and workshops, few among them include:- Information management and dissemination; The effect of global economic and social work practice; education and research; Communication in the civil service; Managing the public relations functions for peak performance; State and local governments funding; information and Grassroots development; Community development as a tool for rural transformation; Essential skills in public management; Strategies for effective social services delivery system at Local government level; Local government service in information technology era; Journalism skills, effective PR, political campaign and disaster crisis reporting to mention but a few.

Armed with the necessary technical know-how of his chosen career, little wonder his giant strides in the service to his fatherland were there for humanity to judge.

Chief Ben Ekom During Swearing In As ECDA Secretary General in November 2015

Hon. Chief Benjamin Ekom started as a classroom teacher and rose to the rank of headmaster. He transferred his service from Education Authority to the mainstream of the local government where he served as an Assistant Information Officer, Information Officer and rose to be Head of Information and Protocol in many Local Government Councils of both Plateau and Nasarawa States. His hard work, zero tolerance for corruption and the fear of Good saw him being appointed Acting Protocol Officer, Government House, Lafia on creation of Nasarawa State in 1996. He was appointed to serve in different capacities as the Deputy Chairman Akun Local Government from 2003 to 2004, Supervisory Councillor for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Akun Local Government, re-appointed Head of Information and Protocol and retired as a Director Social Services.

Hon Chief Benjamin Ekom belongs to the following professional bodies: Members, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT); Member Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ); Member Nigeria Association of Social workers (NASOW); Member, Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR); Associate Member, Registered Administrative Managers of Nigeria; Fellow, Corporate Institute of Administration Fcia; Fellow, chattered Institute of Protocol and passages operation management of Nigeria (CIPPOMN).

At various times, Chief Ekom held the following positions: President Eggon Youth Movement – Wangibi Branch; Assistant Secretary NUT Akwanga LGC; EX-Officio NUT, Plateau State; Member Electoral Committee, NUJ Federated Chapel, Plateau Council; Member, NUJ Press Centre Committee  –  Plateau State; Pioneer Secretary, NUJ Federated Chapel, Nasarawa State; Pioneer treasure NUJ Nasarawa State Council; Publicity Secretary ECDA Wangibi Branch; Secretary Joint Ikka/Wangibi ECDA.

Others were: Chairman Washo community; Co-ordinator Nasarawa State Action Forum; Served as member/Secretary/Chairman of various Ad-hoc committees both at the Local and state levels; Chairman National council of Local Government Information officers of Nigeria (NACOLGION), Nasarawa State chapter; Co-ordinator for Senator Patricia Akwashiki 2007; Member NUJ credentials committee; Member, NUJ Ethics and Disciplinary committee and Chairman, NUJ Federated chapel.

The most recent position he held when he rendered services to the Eggon nation was when he held the elected position of Secretary General from 2015 to 2919.

AWARDS: For his services to the nation as a public officer, civil servant, journalists and a major player in community services, Chief Benjamin Ekom was severally honoured including the followings: The best Grassroots Reporter of the year 1998; Founding member and secretary, Jengre Old Students’ Association (JENOSA) Nasarawa State chapter; Fellow, Corporate Institute of Administration; Leadership merit award for immense contributions, to the growth of student union government (SUG) Akwa-Ibom State Polytechnic; Fellow, chartered institution and Eggon Hills Pilgrimage (EHP).

CHIEFTANCY/TRADITIONAL TITLES

Hon. Chief Benjamin Ekom distinguished himself in no small measure though his vibrant and astute contribution. In recognition to his service, the traditional institution of Washo Village, Ikka/Wangibi District and Akun Kingdom bestowed on him the following traditional titles: Anwyen la ayi ba Washo (Dan Masannin Washo); Eyi-eho moa Ikka/Wangibi (The Star of Ikka/Wangibi) and Ayi’akpo ba Akun (Iyan Akun)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

%d bloggers like this:
Verified by MonsterInsights