Mr. Usoro Usoro, the former
chief press secretary to the immediate past governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio,
yesterday blasted Gov Udom Emmanuel for submitting Dr. Dominic Ukpong’s name,
along with others, to the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly for screening and
approval as commissioner.
Besides saying that Dr. Ukpong is not even up to half
a commissioner for Eket,” Usoro said in a public state that “to appoint a 70-something year old man who reportedly has
no voter's card, is a spite on Eket.” In case you missed it, read the story
here.
Ukpong who retired as a director
in Mobil Producing Nigeria is a medical doctor, with rich experience in
occupational health, and the first chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association
(NMA) in Akwa Ibom State.
Read below a brief on Ukpong as
published by the Society of Occupational & Environmental Health Physicians
of Nigeria on its website.
Dominic Ukpong, an ex-student of St Patrick’s college, Calabar,
graduated with MB,BS., from the University of Benin, Benin City Nigeria, in
1976. He is a Chief Consultant Occupational Physician with a Diploma in
Industrial Health, (DIH), from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical
Medicine. He also holds certificates in Diving Medicine from the University of
Aberdeen,(1990); Advanced Trauma and Life Support, (ATLS) from the
Witwatersrand University, Region Houghton, Gauteng, Republic of South Africa.
He is currently a certified trainer in ATLS. He also trained in Advanced Burns
Management, from St Andrews Hospital, North East Thames Burns unit, Billericay,
Essex, UK; and Surgical Intensive Cardiac care in Jackson Memorial University,
Miami Florida, USA.
DR Ukpong was the NMA Chairman of Cross River State, 1987-88; First NMA
Chairman of AkwaIbom State (1988-1989), Chairman of (National)NMA Committee for
the Regulation of Private Medical Practice in Nigeria (1988).
He is a member of the American Commission of Occupational and
Environmental Medicine (ACOEM). Dominic is also a Pastor. He retired in 2010
from Exxonmobil as the Group Medical Director and Country Manager, Medicine and
Occupational Health Services department, after 30 years of service. He is the
current National Chairman of SOEHPON, the Society of Occupational and
Environmental Health Physicians of Nigeria.A former soccer star, he is married
with three children.
I do not know Mr. Usoro and as an expatriate I do not pretend to understand the intracacies and nuances of Nigerian politics. I do however know Dr. Ukpong and had the privilege of working with him in 2012 to 2013. I know him to be a God fearing man of the highest integrity who focuses not on problems but on solutions. He has the energy of a man 20 years his junior and has the highest credibility both as a clinician and as a leader. Akwaibom have appointed a man who will work tirelessly to improve accessto and quality of healthcare in the state. I consider myself blessed to have served with him
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