PROFILE OF Mr. DAVID OKPON, 2023 PDP GOVERNORSHIP ASPIRANT IN AKWA IBOM STATE

By Pearl Udeme Michael (Lagos)

Experience, hardwork, loyalty and integrity are words to best describe the personality of Mr. David Okpon. Born on the 4th of September, 1960, Engr. David Okpon is an indigene of Ikot Akpan in Oku Uyo, Uyo Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State. Okpon is a distinguished and a successful administrator. As an eminent boardroom guru, Mr. Okpon is the Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of Goshen Greenland Limited, a wholly owned Nigerian Company, involved in Agriculture Development & Consulting, Research & Development of Renewable Energy Resources.

He started his education from Primary School Ikot Ntuen Oku, Ikot Ekpene Road, Uyo and later attended Holy Family College, Oku Abak, Abak Local Government Area. After his primary and secondary education, he furthered his studies at the College of Education, Uyo, now University of Uyo and obtained the Certificate of Education (NCE 1983) in Arts and Industrial Design and later at Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria, (ABU, Zaria), where he got his Bachelor of Arts degree in Industrial Design, (1988).

His course of study at both higher institutions afforded him the opportunity of an intensive program beginning with basics in Engineering and Architectural Drawing, which are trainings necessary for proficiency in conceptualization, designing, manufacturing & production process and delivery; detailed study and mastery of the human anatomy for product design related ergonomics; studies in materials science, Tensile strength and Modulus. These also include Visual Communication and Product Packaging Science, which afforded him the opportunity in his degree project to innovate neon sign with Plexiglas and Epoxy, which was a pioneering work in those University School days.

With the goal to develop human capacity and innovate agricultural systems to in Nigeria, the Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of Goshen Greenland Limited, Mr. Okpon’s organization is to attain national food self-sufficiency, and create new energy resources to increase the national energy resource base and contribute to reducing the nation’s carbon footprint. This is aimed at creating an industrial heartland in Akwa Ibom state and its regions, leading to substantive job creation, mitigation of poverty, and raising new capabilities among our young Nigerians.

In the light of the above, Okpon is currently involved in the following projects:

• Joint Venture Partnership with the Renewable Energy Division of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation NNPC, for the Development of Bioethanol Distillery, in Akwa Ibom State. This project is towards meeting the Federal Government requirement of Automotive Fuel Blending Program to the “E10” specification.

• Development of ‘Greenland Industrial Park’ typed after the concept of the outstandingly successful global “Eco Industrial Park’ model projects. The site for this project is a 420 hectare parcel of land, situated by a large body of water, for a 200 unit “Greenland Industrial Park”, planned for one hectare of land per unit. This Business Park is proposed to accommodate industrial tenants, including Goshen Greenland Limited Projects, e.g. the Bioethanol Distillation Plant, among many other such projects, in Akwa Ibom State, within the Southern part of Nigeria.

• Agro Industrial City, this project is to develop an Agro-Industrial Hub within 10,000 hectares of land, based on the concept of an ‘Integrated Farm Estate’ with symbiotic and interdependent Aquacultures. The major crop from this initiative, which is Cassava, shall be planted in 7000 hectares, and will serve as feedstock for production of Ethanol in the Bioethanol Distillery.

This Agro Hub will host other crops, particularly, critically important food crops and it will have Aqua Culture and an Aquarium in an Integrated Multi-tropic Aquaculture IMTA, Animal husbandry and Poultry, Aquaponics and Hydroponics systems, Fruits and Vegetables Plantations, Organic Fertilizer Plant and an Agro R&D Centre, Residences, Schools and a hospital, with infrastructure for boarding, games and sports, safety & Security, internet of things IOT, etc..

As Agriculture is the mainstay of Nigeria’s economy today, Mr. David Okpon and members of his team are looking to also create an ‘Agritourism Ecosystem” within this Agro Industrial City. This very important and potentially very sustainable resource base is expected to create jobs for over 4,000 persons both directly and indirectly, in our State and in Nigeria.

Professionally, he brought a cumulative experience to bear. Some of his works include:

Twelve years’ experience in developing, implementing and managing complex projects in Oil and Gas and similar Organizations within time and budgetary constraints.

Over seven years’ experience in training, development and delivery; motivation and team building in Leadership

General and Technical Project Management, Negotiation and Mediation in Petroleum Down-Stream Logistics

Experience with government regulations and compliance issues for hazardous products and wastes incidents, for emergency planning, in the Oil and Gas and related sectors

• Due to his assiduousness in nation building Mr. David Okpon has the proficiency in Transformational and Motivational Leadership with Emotional Intelligence; Leadership Training, Team Building and Mentoring. Others are:

-Professional Skills in Design and Industrial Fabrications/Steel Works & Manufacturing

Knowledge in Science and Development of Production and Process Materials

-Certified Industrial Assets and Facilities Management Expert (Particularly in Oil & Gas & related Industries), Certified at Energy Institute, London

Still climbing the ladder of the height of his profession, Mr. Okpon had experience in certain skills. They are:

• NON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR of a Subsidiary of AITEO CONSORTIUM (2013 till date) whose competence and major business areas are Petroleum Exploration, Production and Down-Stream Logistics, in Nigeria.

• REGIONAL MANAGER (South Eastern Operations) Business Development and Sales of Down Stream Petroleum Products for AITEO Energy Resources Limited, another subsidiary of AITEO Global Group, Nigeria, (2012 – 2013).

• TERMINAL MANAGER – (Former SIGMUND DEPOT, now AITEO/AVIDOR OIL tAND GAS DEPOT) within AITEO GROUP at Abonnema Wharf Road, Port Harcourt Nigeria. (07 /2008 – 03 /2012)

• GENERAL WORKS AND STELL FABRICATIONS – the defunct AMAKPE REFINERY in Eket, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. (2006 – 2008)

• Member of the PIONEER PROJECT PROMOTERS: Ibaka OIL & GAS City and Ibaka Deep Sea Port Project, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. (2004 – 2007).

• PROJECT DIRECTOR – OHKMAN & DEAN, LAGOS – Procurement Manufacturing and Sales of Industrial Props, Home & Office Furniture (2003 – 2004)

• MANAGING DIRECTOR – G-HAUL, LAGOS. Hauling and Moving Goods, with a major contract to haul PET Preforms from LEVENTIS plant Ibadan for COCA COLA depots nationally. Hauling for Homes and Offices. (1996 – 2003)

In his life’s pursuits, Mr. David Okpon has accomplished a lot in his business, politics and his religious pursuits.

• Politically, in 2014 elections preparations, he was a Gubernatorial Aspirant and a member of the powerful ‘G22’ group in Akwa Ibom State.

• Deputy Gubernatorial Candidate of the Labour Party in Nigeria in 2015 elections with, the Distinguished Senator Helen Esuene as his Principal.

• Okpon is presently member of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Uyo Urban Ward 2.

• As a Non-Executive Director of AITEO GROUP in 2013, he was a key member of the team that led the AITEO CONSORTIUM, the promoters and the majority shareholders, in the acquisition of the most coveted and prolific Oil Mining License, OML 29, with confirmed reserves of (P1 + P2), holding about 2.2 Billion Barrels of Oil Equivalent (BOE); with Hydrocarbon fields capable of delivering over 160,000 barrels of oil per day and 300mm scf/d of Gas at peak.

• The acquisition included the Nembe Creek Trunk Line, a 60-mile pipeline which serves Nigeria’s major crude oil transportation channel moving oil through the Niger Delta to the Atlantic Coast, all sold by Royal Dutch Shell and its partners at the sum of 2.7 billion Dollars.

• This historic stake is recorded as one of the most outstanding moves by a Nigerian, and therefore a major boost to the Nigerian Content Development Initiative and deepens Nigeria’s indigenous participation in Oil and Gas exploration, poised to create over 20,000 jobs in the exploration and production sub sector of the Oil and Gas industry.

• Providing key leadership and training for teams and consistently achieving an increase in company revenue by 60 -70 percent annually. Maintaining high levels of client satisfaction by developing strong sales and customer service teams with up to 100 staff.

• Successfully generating over 60 Billion Naira in profit annually, by developing and launching innovative programs and canvassing prestigious new clients.

• He is a member of the pioneering team that developed the vision, design concepts and financing for the proposed ‘IBAKA Oil and Gas City’ projected to sit on 13,500 acquired hectares of land, the’ IBAKA Deep Sea Port’, beginning from the ‘500-unit Industrial Park’ as the original project concept from 2004.

Apart from obtaining degree in tertiary institutions, Mr. Okpon has several certifications in Education and related Services which have been helpful in the pursuits of his goal. They are:

1. Certification in “STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT OF OIL AND GAS ASSETS AND COMPANIES” Energy Institute, London – October 2010.

2. Certification in “LOADING RACK APPLICATIONS” FMC TECHNOLOGIES, Germany – November 2008.

CONFERENCES, SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS:

Over the years, and through diverse positional opportunities and responsibilities, he had the good fortune to attend and participate in several Conferences, Seminars and Workshops in various industries and discipline within the country Nigeria, and very many of them, overseas, in Israel, United Kingdom, USA, South Africa, Switzerland, Cyprus, Italy, France, Ireland, Cote d’Ivoire, and Ghana.

His areas of special interest are:

– Industrial Parks, and Small and Medium Scale Industrial Development

– Oil and Gas systems design and construction

– Power systems design and construction

– Sustainable Development – Business, Environment and Communities

– Sustainable Livelihoods

– Education and Youth Development

– Leadership Development

– Project Management

– Business Planning and Development

– Business Systems Analysis

– Negotiation and International Relations

– Information Systems, Computer Systems and Total Quality Management

– Alternative Energy Systems, Micro Grids

– Waste Management and Recycling

– Technology-driven infrastructural development

– Agriculture Value Chain & Process development

His sterling performance earned him affiliations into some professional bodies both in Nigeria and overseas.

– Member of the Energy Institute of London

– Member Nigerian Society of Arts.

– Board Member of International Christian Chamber of Commerce (ICCC, Nigeria).

– Member – Board of Governors of, ‘The Redeemers Christian Academy’, Uyo.

– Director – Alternative Petroleum and Energy Limited, Nigeria.

– Director – XPT Trade & Ventures Limited, Nigeria.

– Director – Frontiers Healthcare Consortium, Nigeria.

– Director Ohkman & Dean Limited.

Mr. Okpon is a devoted christian, who, by the grace of God, stands tall in the vineyard of the Almighty God. He is a Pastor by calling who has devoted over three decades of his life in winning souls for the Lord.

He is a founding member of the popular House on the Rock Church headquartered in Lagos led by Pastor Paul Adefarasin.

His pastoral duty in interceding for peace and tranquility is well known across the nation as well as in the continent. He is a full member of the Intercessors of Nigeria (IFN) for 25 years and still counting. He is also a member of Intercessors for Africa where the face of the Lord was and is still sought to hear our cry, heal our lands and establish His purpose for mankind. This has made him to preach the gospel and praying for the Nation. Through the Ministry, Fresh Anointing Gospel Crusaders, he was able to travail the nooks and crannies of the 31 Local Government of Akwa Ibom State doing the Rural Prayer Evangelism.

The gospel of the Lord cannot be preached without the assistance of other believers. Some of the personalities he was privileged to work with in the vineyard are Dr. Uduak Udofia, BOT IFN, Engr. Ntiense Ubonisrael, BOT IFN, The Hon. Justice Godwin Abraham, the State Coordinator IFN, Senator (Bishop) Helen Esuene, member IFN, Barr. James Essien, former Attorney General of the State, Group Captain Sam Ewang, member IFN, Mr. Effiong Esang, late, former Secretary to State Government, Apostle Joshua Israel, National Officer IFN.

Mr. David Okpon is happily married with children.

Mr. Okpon has declared his intention to run, come 2023, for the governorship position in Akwa Ibom State, under the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.