PROFILE OF HIS EXCELLENCY
SENATOR BARRISTER LIYEL IMOKE
GOVERNOR CROSS RIVER STATE, NIGERIA |
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Senator Liyel Imoke was born on July 10th, 1961 at the University College Hospital
Ibadan – in the then Western Region of Nigeria. His father, Lat Doctor Samuel Imoke
was a medical doctor and first generation politician who played an instrumental
role in Nigeria’s nationalist struggle, eventually becoming a cabinet minister and
leader of Parliament in the former Eastern Region. His mother, Mrs. Comfort Imoke,
nee Imoukhede, is a retired nurse/midwife practitioner, and a pioneer community
and public health delivery expert.
Senator Imoke had his early education in a number of primary schools, Sancta Maria
Primary School, Enugu, Ireti Primary School, Lagos and Government Primary School,
Itigidi, where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC). In 1973,
he entered Mary Knoll College, Okuku, Ogoja, for his secondary education, which
he would complete as a member of the pioneer class of 1977 at the Federal Government
College Enugu earning his West African School Certificate (WASC).
Subsequently, he enrolled for a Bachelors Degree in International Relations (Major)
and Economics (Minora) at the University of Maryland, College Pak in the United
Stats. He graduated in 1982, and went on to study Law at the University of Buckingham,
England, earning and LLB
degree in 1985. Imoke would go on to pursue a Masters in
Law at the American University in Washington, DC. He completed his legal training
at the Nigeria Law School Lagos in 1988. After law practices in Washington DC and
Lagos, Imoke ventured into business, with interests in oil and gas, construction,
communication, merchandizing and management consultancy. As his deftness as a technocrat
evolved, circumstance, conviction and destiny compelled him into politics. In 1992,
aged 30, he was elected a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, becoming the
youngest legislator in the history of the Senate.
His political credentials were substantiated and he was thrust to national prominence
when he was appointed a Special Adviser on Public Utilities by President Olusegun
Obasanjo in 1999. He also served as executive Chairman of the Special Board charged
with responsibility for the winding down of Oil Minerals Producing Areas Development
Commission, OMPADEC. He also served as Chairman of Technical Board of the National
Electricity infrastructure to deliver 4,000 MW of electricity, a feat that was accomplished
and has not been surpassed to date.
In July 2003, Senator Imoke was appointed Nigeria’s Minister of Power and Steel
at a point, doubling as Minister of Education. As Minister of Power and Steel, Imoke
implemented comprehensive refers in the power sector including the management of
the passage of the Electric Power Sector Reform Bill in 2005, which resulted in
the promulgation of the Nigerian POWER Sector Reform Act of 2005, and consequentially,
led to the established of the Nigerian Energy Regulatory Commission (NERC), the
Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and the unbundling of the National Electric Power
Authority (NEPA). Also under Imoke’s leadership, the ministry devised, and began
the implementation of a 25-year national energy development plan, embarking on the
largest power programme in the world at the time the National Integrated Power Project
(NIPP).
Senator Imoke was elected Governor of Cross River State on April 14, 2007, in a
landslide. An Election Appeal Tribunal annulled that election in July 2008, which
necessitated a re-run on August 23rd of the same year. Governor Imoke’s previous
victory was validated as he won, again with a landslide.
Governor Liyel Imoke has received many awards, including the This Day Award as Best
Governor in Tourism Development for 1 2008. He is a member of the Nigeria Bar Association,
honourary Fellow of the Nigeria Society of Engineers, Fellow of the Institute of
Public Administration, amongst others.
He is married to Mrs. Obioma Liyel Imoke, herself a lawyer, business and political
leader, and a champion for children and women’s rights. Their marriage is blessed
with children.
Honourable Chancellor, Sir, Your Excellencies, your Royal Highness, my Lords Spiritual
and Temporal, distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, it is in recognition of the distinctive
merits of this political prodigy, model of a patriot, quintessential business magnate,
public servant and technocrat that it has pleased the Senate and Congregation of
Imo State University Owerri, to select His Excellency, Senator Liyel Imoke, Governor
of Cross River State of Nigeria, for the award of Doctor of Laws (LL.D) of Imo State
University Honoris causa, with all the rights and privileges pertaining thereto.
Honourable Chancellor, Sir, I therefore have the singular honour to present him
to you for the said Award.
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