PROFILE OF THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF STATE (OIL) PETROLEUM RESOURCES. SENATOR HEINEKEN LOKPOBIRI Ph.D.

Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, (Ph.D), the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), was born on 3rd March, 1967, and hails from Ekeremor Local Government Area in present-day Bayelsa State. He completed his Senior School Certificate at Government Secondary School Borokiri, Port Harcourt, and then pursued a Bachelor of Law degree (LL.B) at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt (Now Rivers State University).

After graduating, he attended the Nigerian Law School Victoria Island, Lagos, where he obtained his Qualifying Certificate and Certificate of Call to the Bar as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Driven by a thirst for knowledge, he furthered his education at the Leeds Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom, earning a Masters in Law (LLM) in 2012 and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in 2015.

Throughout his career, Senator Lokpobiri attended various seminars and courses, including The Oxford High-Performance Leadership Programme at the Said Business School, University of Oxford (November 2012), the Programme on the United States Election System at the International Law Institute, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C (April 2014), and Executive-Legislature Relations and Effective Legislative Performance at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University, Washington, D.C (April 2014).

Senator Lokpobiri’s career spans both the private and public sectors. He served as a Pupil Counsel during his National Youth Service (NYSC) scheme at the Badagry Local Government Council in Lagos. From 1999 to 2003, he was a member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, representing Ekeremor Constituency II and serving as Speaker of the House from 1999 to 2001. Subsequently, he worked as the Principal Legal Director at Lokpobiri & Co (Legal Practitioners and Consultants) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, from 2003 to 2007. Between 2007 and 2015, Senator Lokpobiri served as a member of the National Assembly, representing Bayelsa West in the 6th and 7th National Assembly. During his tenure in the Senate, he held the position of Chairman of the Committees on Water Resources, and Sports and Social Development; and was a member of various committees, including those on Niger Delta and Petroleum (Down Stream). He was also recognized for sponsoring several bills and motions during his time in the Senate.

In 2015, Senator Lokpobiri was appointed as the Honourable Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, a role he held until the dissolution of the cabinet in 2019. In August 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, appointed him as the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil).

Senator Lokpobiri is the recipient of multiple awards and recognitions and has authored several publications during his career

PROFILE OF RT. HON. EKPERIKPE EKPO, HONOURABLE MINISTER OF STATE (GAS), PETROLEUM RESOURCES

Rt. Hon. (Obongemem) Ekperikpe Ekpo, 58, hails from Ikot Udom Village in Ika Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

Ekperikpe Ekpo gained admission into the University of Calabar for his first-degree and graduated with a Bachelor of Science, (B.Sc) in Biology (Ecology) in 1989.

In 2015, he proceeded to the University of Calabar for his Post-Graduate studies and obtained a Masters degree in Environmental Pollution and Toxicology.

During his NYSC year, he served as a teacher and Head of Science department at Ise/Emure Grammar School, Ekiti State. Upon completion of his NYSC, he taught at the prestigious Queen of Apostles Seminary, Afaha Obong, Abak for eleven years and rose to the position of Head of Department (HOD) Science, and Dean of Studies.

He resigned his appointment with Queen of Apostles Seminary in 2002 for higher public service.

In July 2003, he was appointed Care-taker Chairman of Ika Local Government Council for a period of seven months. He was later elected as Head of Council, Ika Local Government Area in May, 2004.

He also held sway as Secretary, Forum of Heads of Councils, Akwa Ibom State between 2004 and 2005.

As Chairman of Ika Local Government, he facilitated the completion of the abandoned Federal Government Electrification project and linked Ika Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State to the National Grid for the first time in history.

He was responsible for the building of Ika ultra-modern Unity Hall, payment of electricity bills for all power consumers in Ika throughout his tenure in office, provision of 13 borehole water projects in the ten Wards and the three major markets; Mkpohoeto, Urua Inyang and Nyieheiso markets in Ika.

Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo also provided free medical services to pregnant women in the Local Government Area, among other life touching projects executed.

In 2007, he contested and won the House of Representatives seat for Abak/Etim Ekpo/lka Federal Constituency in the National Assembly. He served as Secretary, Akwa Ibom Legislative Caucus in the National Assembly and Chairman Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District Legislators Forum 2007- 2011.

While in the Green Chambers, he was appointed Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Industry. He also served as member, House Committee on Customs Service, House Committee on National Security and Intelligence, House Committee on Power and House Committee on Niger Delta Affairs.

In 2020, he assumed office as the Director- General of Akwa Ibom Democratic Forum, a political pressure group that led the party to the unprecedented victories recorded in 2023 in Akwa Ibom State.

He is a holder of several awards and recognitions.

• A knight of St. John International (KSJ) Ikot Ekpene, Diocese.
• The Spirit of Detroit Award, Michigan United States of America.
• Obongemem 1 of Ika by the Traditional Rulers Council, Ika Local Government Area.

Obongemem Ekperikpe Ekpo is a proud Catholic from Ikot Ekpene Diocese, Akwa Ibom State.

He is a Christian, a Politician of repute and a great community leader who cherishes hard work and service to humanity as his guiding philosophy.

Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo is married to Lady Esitmbom Ekperikpe Ekpo and their marriage is blessed with five lovely children.