Engr. Ben Ukpong, from Urue-Offong/Oruko, is Umana’s running mate

Mr. Umana Okon Umana, APC governorship candidate, Akwa Ibom State

Mr. Umana Okon Umana, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for Akwa Ibom State, has named Ben Ukpong as his running mate.
Ukpong, a retired Deputy Director of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Abuja, is a COREN-registered civil engineer and Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers.

An indigene of Urue-offong/Oruko local government area of Oro nation in Akwa Ibom State, Engr. Ukpong was born on 9 August 1962.

He holds a Master’s degree in Water Resources and Environmental Engineering from Ahmadu Bello University; a Master of Business Administration degree from Olabisi Onabanjo University (formerly Ogun State University), Ago-Iwoye and a Bachelor of Civil Engineering degree from University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

He has more than 28 years of work experience in the Engineering Profession, covering various scopes of engineering designs, construction supervision, and project management. He brings to the Umana-Ukpong ticket a most diverse experience gained during his years of meritorious services with the Plateau Directorate for Integrated Rural Development 1986 – 1987; Jos Metropolitan Development Board 1987 – 1990; Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) from 1st August 1990 to December 2014 when he voluntarily retired from service.

During his years in the FCDA, he rose through the ranks from Senior Engineer, Principal Engineer, Chief Engineer, and Assistant Director up to the position of Deputy Director. Among the various Engineering Infrastructure projects handled by Engr. Ukpong in Abuja were the construction of interchange bridges and expressways along Nnamdi Azikiwe Way, Inner Southern Expressway, Southern Parkway as well as construction of Phases 3 & 4 of the famous Lower Usman Dam Water Treatment Plants (20,000m3/hrs capacity) and the development of several districts (Garki II, Katampe Extension, Gudu and Kagini) with the provision of Engineering Infrastructure.

These projects, valued in billions of Naira, were executed professionally, honestly and transparently in keeping with international best practice under the watch of Engr. Ben Ukpong, FNSE. He is respected among his peers and senior colleagues, who routinely sought him out for his wise counsel and innovative ideas.

He is loved and revered by his people both at home and abroad because of unstinting identification with his people and their welfare at home in Urue-Offong/Uruko in particular and Akwa Ibom State in general.  His involvement in community service to his people began in Jos. He was a two term President of Oron Development Union (Jos and Abuja) and Akwa Ibom Community, Abuja as well as Trustee of Urue Offong/Oruko Peoples Alliance (UOPA), a formidable political group.