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His Life
March 16, 2013

BIOGRAPHY OF CHIEF DANIEL BASSEY UMOTONG AKPAN ACHAT (1909 – 2012)

Chief Daniel Bassey Umotong Akpan Achat was born 25th August, 1909 in Ibio Nnung Achat. Fate made him start life as an orphan as he lost his parents at a very tender age. But thanks to the support and goodwill of people, he was able to forge ahead in life – studying to become a teacher. He was married  to Grace Okon Ekaiko in 1950 in the Qua Iboe Church – a marriage that remained till his death.

TEACHING PROFESSION: He  studied in different institutions in the former Eastern Nigeria including  the  University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Chief Umotong worked as a teacher most of his life. He taught in various government and QIC mission schools in the present  Akwa Ibom State including: Ukam (Mkpat Enin LGA), Abiakpo (Ikot Ekpene), Opobo (Ikot  Abasi), Nto Edino (Obot Akara), Afaha (Ukanafun) Okoyo (Ukanafun), Ikot Akpan Anwa (Ika), Nto Otong (Abak), Ikot Edet (Etim Ekpo) for a period between 1945 and 1982. He voluntarily meritoriously retired with all benefits: gratuity and pension.

EDUCATION SUPPORT: Chief Umotong sacrificially supported education  at corporate and individual levels.  He confronted and conquered illiteracy, poverty and  their attendant negative impacts.  He on several instances gave up his salary as a teacher  to keep Ibio Group School alive. He mustered community resources to meet the needs of the school. In all the battles of his life, the war against illiteracy was the fiercest; giving him both friends and enemies  in the process. He won the war against illiteracy through the numerous successful men and women that trace their academic pursuits and successes to him. For this, God rewarded him by all his eight biological children  being university graduates and very successful in their chosen careers.

SPIRITUAL LIFE:  Chief Umotong remained  an unwavering member of the Qua Iboe Church, Ibio from childhood till his death. He was baptized in the church in 1935 by Sir Bellington  and a committed member of the choir till lately. He played a major role in the granting of autonomous status to QIC Ibio Nnung Achat as a superintendency. In his usual giving way, he provided the first set of communion vessels and accessories to the new superintendency.

POLITICS:   The zeal for public service in him led him to politics. He contested the 1961 Eastern Regional General election under the platform of the Action Group. As part of his campaign that year, the party’s helicopter landed in Ibio on February 2, 1961 – a feat that has not  been repeated since then. This brought greater awareness of the Action Group to a previously predominantly NCNC controlled area with pomp and pageantry. In partnership with the political leaders like the head of the Action Group Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Grace Ikoku and Chief E O Eyo, Chief Umotong fought for the creation  of the Calabar-Ogoja-Rivers (COR) State. It is this COR state movement that eventually led to the creation of 12 states from the previous 4 regional structure and  later led to the present state structure in Nigeria.

BUSINESS LIFE:  Chief Umotong early in life recognized the importance of business as a vehicle of community development, service provision, employment creation  and  income generator. He exported raffia products to Egypt and Lebanon in the fifties. He imported industrialized goods for Britain and France. From the proceeds of these enterprises, he built his two storey residential building and became the first person in the area to deck it with concrete as against the wooden decking of  colonial legacy.

In the eighties, he went into partnership with the Koreans and established the multi-national corporation: FAKOL – an agro based conglomerate owning rubber, cocoa, oil palm  and  coffee  plantations, piggery and poultry farms and involved in deep sea fish trawling.

He invested  in real estate – building both residential and commercial property.

COMMUNITY SERVICE:  Chief Umotong served in many boards and commissions of government. He was the pioneer state chairman of Nigerian Union of Pensioners, Cross River State chapter (1983 – 1987),  National Trustee,  Nigerian Union of Pensioners (1983 – 1992), President, Obong District Court (two terms),  Chairman, Contractors Board, Abak Division (What is now called Due Process Bureau 1972 -1976).  He submitted one of the five recognized memoranda that led to the creation of Etim Ekpo Local Government Area. Thanks to God’s benevolence, two of his kids  were at different times  secretaries to council and another, a vice chairman.

Chief Umotong was the Head of Ibio Nnung Achat. During the three decades he reigned,  there was unexplained unprecedented peace with neighbouring communities. No communal clashes, no court cases were recorded at this time. This is seen  by many a miracle because such extended periods of peace had never been experienced before. Prior to becoming the head of Ibio, he had served as the secretary of Nkuku Conference (The highest traditional rulers’ council in Obong clan). He served as Akpan Okuku of Obong  and later the Group Head of Ufot Obong Group of villages – a position he held till august 12, 1998

CHIEF DANIEL BASSEY UMOTONG was a very fulfilled man. Though of humble and difficult beginnings, he was able to rise above all hindrances to be whom he was. Today, we celebrate his life as he is promoted into eternity. ADIEU PAPA ETOTOK !