Akwa Ibom Gov Mourns Former SGF, Ekaette

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 Image result for pioneer Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Obong Ufot Ekaette,



The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) in the then President Olusegun Obasanjo government and pioneer Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Obong Ufot Ekaette, is dead. 81.


Late Ekaette, who was 81 at his death, was born in 1939 in Ikot Edor, Onna Local Government Area of present-day Akwa Ibom State, and was said to have died last September 25, 2019.

A condolence message, from Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, to the family acknowledged the contributions of the deceased to the development of the state as a former deputy governor of the state.

The governor in the message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Ekerete Udoh, said the departed elder statesman would be celebrated for his contributions to the development of the state in particular and Nigeria in general.

 “He was a thoroughbred public servant who was transparent, honest and a stickler for excellence, qualities he brought to bear in the execution of the key offices of public trust he held in the course of his illustrious career.

Late Ekaette was appointed the first Minister of the Niger Delta Ministry on December 17, 2008, by the late President Umaru Yar'Adua.

He left office in March 2010 when then acting President Goodluck Jonathan dissolved his cabinet.

He was the SGF and also served his state in many capacities.

The late minister attended King’s College in Lagos and graduated in 1960, and proceeded to University College, Ibadan, where he bagged a BSc in Economics in 1964. He joined the Federal Civil Service on July 28, 1964. Ekaette was a principal secretary to the Head of State General Yakubu Gowon from 1968 to 1975.

Later he served in the Federal Ministries of Industries (1975); Information (1977 to 1979); Education (1979) and National Planning (1979 to 1983). He was the Secretary of Public Service Department and Head of Service (1984). He was also a Director of External Finance at the Federal Ministry of Finance (1985 to 86).



Ekaette was appointed the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industries in January 1986; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing in 1988; Director-General, Directorate of Food, Roads and Rural Infrastructure (June 1988 to March 1989); Director-General, Federal Ministry of Social Development, Youth and Sports (1989) and Director-General of Planning, Federal Ministry of Budget and Planning (1990).

In 1990, he was appointed Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State in the Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga military government.

Ekaette was appointed SGF on May 29, 1999, by President Olusegun Obasanjo, an office he held until the end of Obasanjo's second term in May 2007.

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