Biography of Godswill Akpabio, career, achievements, net worth, controversies

In this post, News360 Nigeria will work you through the biography and career achievements of Chief Godswill Akpabio.

Godswill Obot Akpabio CON, is a politician and legal expert from Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria.

He is currently serving as the Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria starting from June 13 2023.

He was the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs until his resignation on May 11, 2022, at President Muhammadu Buhari’s request so that he could run in the APC presidential primary.

In addition, he served as governor of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, from May 29, 2007, to May 29, 2015.

Between 2015 and 2019, Godswill was the Senate’s Minority Leader.

Profile overview

Name: Godswill Obot Akpabio

Date of birth: December 9th, 1962

State of origin: Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria

Education: University of Calabar

Spouse: Ekaette Unoma Akpabio

Religion: Christianity

Career: Politician, Businessman

Background

Godswill Akpabio was born on December 9th, 1962 in Akwa-Ibom State his hometown.

He lost his father when he was a little child, so his mother raised him singlehandedly.

He is an indigene of Ukana, Ikot Ntuen, in the Essien Udim Local Government Area, is the son of Chief Obot Akpabio and Madam Lucy Obot Akpabio (née Inyangetor).

Akpabio was educated at the Federal Government College in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the Methodist Primary School in Ukana, Essien Udim LGA, Akwa Ibom State, and the University of Calabar, Cross River State, where he obtained his law degree.

While enrolled at the Federal Government College in Port Harcourt, he was appointed Senior Prefect.

Akpabio was chosen to serve as the speaker of the students union government at the University of Calabar.

Career

Akpabio started out as a teacher before taking a brief job at Paul Usoro & Co., a Nigerian legal firm.

He also worked for EMIS Telecoms Ltd, a telecom company with headquarters in Lagos. Before joining EMIS, he was an ATCOM director and the National Publicity Secretary of the Association of Telecommunications Companies in Nigeria (ATCOM).

He was appointed the company’s CEO in 2002. Godswill Akpabio was appointed Commissioner of Petroleum and Natural Resources in Akwa Ibom State in 2002 by Obong Victor Attah.

He previously served as commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, as well as commissioner for lands and housing, prior to 2006.

He was elected to represent the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2007 gubernatorial election after defeating 57 other candidates in the primary election.

In 2007, he was appointed governor of Akwa Ibom State, a position he held for four more years.

Akpabio was named Senate Minority Leader of the People’s Democratic Party’s South-South faction in the National Assembly in 2015.

The APC’s victory in the 2015 election stripped the PDP caucus in the Senate of its “Power of Majority.”

Akpabio resigned as Senate Minority Leader in 2018 after joining the ruling APC.

In 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari appointed him as a minister of the federal republic.

He was sworn in as Minister for Niger Delta Affairs prior to resigning to run for president on August 21st, 2019.

Senator Godswill Akpabio resigned as Niger Delta Minister in June 2022.

This highly lucrative ministry, which oversaw the operations of the Niger Delta Development Commission, resigned on the night of the primaries in favor of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who went on to win the All Progressive Congress presidential nomination.

A few days after the presidential primaries, Godswill Obot Akpabio received the nomination for the Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District. However, it was marred by allegations of wrongdoing from party members in the state.

After winning 115,401 votes in the 2023 general election, the party’s standard-bearer defeated Mr. Enoidem, who received 69,838 votes, to become senator-elect.

Akpabio became Nigeria’s Senate President after defeating his rival Yari in the June 13 Senate Presidency race. Akpabio garnered 63 votes, while Yari received 47.

Private life

Godswill Akpabio is a Christian and he is married to Ekaette Unoma Akpabio, the founder of the Family Life Enhancement Initiative (FLEI), a non-governmental organization that provides a forum for redirecting development efforts toward the family as a strategy for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Akpabio, together with his wife has four daughters and a son.

Sen. Godswill Akpabio together with his wife, Ekaette Unoma Akpabio

Akpabio’s grandfather, Okuku Udo Akpabio, was the Warrant Chief for the province of Ikot Ekpene.

His uncle, Dr. I. U. Akpabio, was the former Minister of Education and Internal Affairs for the Eastern Region of Nigeria.

His cousin Justice Nsima Akpabio was a senator during the Second Nigerian Republic.

Controversy

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was investigating Godswill Akpabio on suspicion of stealing more than 100 billion Naira from Akwa Ibom State while serving as governor (2007-2015), with an American diplomat describing the level of corruption as “exceptional” at the time.

However, no complaints since no complaints was received, the police charged Leo Ekpenyong, a lawyer who also accused Akpabio of corruption, with slander and ordered him to appear in court.

According to Sahara Reporters, Akpabio gifted Farida Waziri, the head of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), a $500,000 Mercedes Benz GL 450 in 2008.

In an attempt to disprove the corruption case, Akpabio arranged a private screening for a few reporters to confirm that the vehicle was actually driven by one of the governor’s security officers.

The ruse was discovered when the chassis number of the displayed car, WDC 1648722A390877, differed from the one used to bribe Waziri, WDC 1648711A 390877.

The fact that the automobile’s license plate, SB 456 AAA, which Governor Akpabio claimed was in his security pool, was issued to Chief C. Orizu of Adotolo Nnewi in Anambra State rather than the Akwa Ibom State Government, is yet another damning piece of evidence against Akpabio.

Members of the House of Representatives summoned Akpabio to testify in May 2020 regarding the theft of 40 billion naira.

Net worth

Godswill Akpabio’s net worth has accumulated overtime, he is estimated to be worth over $150 million.

Awards

Godswill Akpabio has been honored with several awards for his stellar performances both within and outside Nigeria, these awards are listed below.

International honours;

The Congressional Certificate of Recognition of the United States Congress (2011).

Africa Lifetime Achievement Prize awarded by Millennium Excellence Foundation in Kenya.

The Gold Humanitarian Services Award of the Republic of Niger 2008 conferred on him by Niger’s Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, Alhaji Moussa Ibrahim.

Exam Ethic Marshall 2009: Exam Ethic International, Ghana.

Best Governor, Infrastructure Development 2009: BEN Television, London.

Honorary citizen of the city of Georgia, New Jersey in United States.

National honours;

Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).

Best Governor Infrastructure and Empowerment Award of the Central Bank of Nigeria (2012).

Most Prolific Governor by the National Councillors’ Forum.

Academic & professional honours;

Doctorate of Management Science, Honoris Causa, Nigeria Defence Academy (2011).

Doctorate of Law, Honoris Causa, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (2010).

Doctorate of Law, Honoris Causa, University of Calabar, Calabar (2009).

Doctorate of Law, Honoris Causa, University of Uyo, Uyo (2009).

Doctorate of Public Administration (Honoris Causa), Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (2009).

Doctorate of Management Science (Honoris Causa) Federal University of Technology, Owerri (2011).

Doctorate of Public Administration, Honoris Causa Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Enugu (2013).

Doctorate of Human Resource Management (Honoris Causa) Wesley University of Science and Technology, Ondo.

Honorary Fellow of Nigeria Society of Engineers (2010) (Only fourteen non-engineers have so far been so honoured in Nigeria).

Fellow, Kazaure Polytechnic, Kazaure (2008).

Fellow of the Yaba College of Technology, Yaba (2011).

Fellow of the College of Education, Bichi, and a host of others.

Most Education Friendly Governor in Nigeria (2008) by the National Parent-Teacher Association.

Best Booster Governor Award for Promoting Science, Technology and Mathematics by the Science Teachers Association of Nigeria.

Goodwill Ambassador of the Nigerian Medical Association.

Media honours;

Best Governor in Africa, Africa Development Magazine.

Governor of the Year 2012, Leadership.

Man of the Year 2011, Sun (newspaper).

Best Governor in Nigeria and Outstanding Human Brand 2010: Billboard World.

Man of the Year 2010: National Daily Newspaper.

Governor of the Year 2010: Nigerian Tribune.

Award of Excellence for Outstanding Performance 2010: Nigeria Union of Journalists.

Nigeria’s Emerging Tiger 2009: Thisday Newspapers.

Man of the Year 2009: The Daily Independent (Lagos).

Man of the Year 2009: National Daily Newspaper.

2008 Most Outstanding Governor in Nigeria (South South): National Daily Newspaper.

Governor of the Year (South-South): City People Magazine.

Best Governor Infrastructure 2009: Encomium Magazine.

Best Governor (South South): Encomium Magazine.

Excellency Award as Best Governor South-South 2009: Global Excellence Magazine.