NYHOF INDUCTEE: BARR. BASSEY ETIENAM

BIRTH AND EDUCATION

Born on November into the family of Mr. and Mrs. Okon Etienam (NAMOBA), Hon. (Barr) Bassey Okon Etienam attended Stadium Road Primary School, Oron for his primary education. For his secondary education, the prevailing circumstances of the time saw him traverse the cities of Markurdi for Airforce Secondary School, Ikot Ekpene for Federal Government College, and Oron for Methodist Boys High School where he obtained his O’ Level certificate.

For his college education, he attended University of Uyo and obtained his Bachelor of Law Degree (L.L.B), in 1999. Thereafter, he proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, Bwari, and was subsequently called to the Nigeria Bar with a Certificate of Call to Bar (B.L). He holds a Certificate of Completion for the Comparative Tax Policy and Administration (2013) by Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Executive Education.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

He is a member of several professional bodies including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and the International Bar Association (IBA). He is also a member of Harvard Kennedy Executive Education alumni (HKS EE alumni).

OFFICES HELD/WORKING EXPERIENCE IN BRIEF

He is currently a legislator in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly. He is the Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum Matters and represents Urue Offong/Oruko State Constituency. He was Special Assistant on Project Monitoring to Governor Godswill Akpabio between 2007-2010. Prior to then, he was in the private sector. He ran Wings of Justice Chamber in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, as Managing Solicitor (2005-2007). He was Head of Soliciting in Echefu, Echefu and Co., Port Harcourt, Rivers State (2004-2005). Between 2003 and 2004, he served at the soliciting department of Chief Williams Chambers, Lagos State.

COURSES/TRAINING ATTENDED IN BRIEF

International Bar Association Professional Development Conference, Dublin, Ireland (2012); Akwa Ibom State Legislators’ Workshop on Democratic Governance and Sustainable Development, Mickey Leland Centre, Barbara Jordan – Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs, Texas Southern University; Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Conference, South Africa.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

Outstanding Representative Award in Recognition of Effective Representation and Positive Contribution to the Service of Humanity by Eket Senatorial District Youth Coalition; Award of Excellence for Outstanding Performance, Integrity and Selfless Service by African International Role Model Leadership Gold Award (2012); The Development in Nigeria Merit Award (DINMA 2011) in Recognition of Contributions to the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the Sphere of Legislative Services; Merit Award in Recognition of Leadership Exemplified by Mbokpu  Eyoakan Development Union, Lagos Branch; Certificate of Excellence for Exceptional Contribution in the fifth Assembly of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly by National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) 2012/2013 members, Batch A; Award of Excellence by Law Students Association of Nigeria (LAWSAN); Award of Excellence for Immense Contribution to the Development of Students and the Community by National Association of Akpakip-Oro Students (NAAS); Award of Excellence in Recognition of Selfless Service to Urue Offong/Oruko Students and Humanity by National Association of Urue Offong/Oruko Students Worldwide; Listed in Newstrend Who’s Who in Akwa Ibom State (2012). 

LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES IN SUMMARY

Within and outside the Chamber of the state parliament, Hon. Etienam combines legislative functions with human capacity building with superlative dexterity. As a parliamentarian, he has made noticeable contributions to debates, motions and bills deliberated on the floor of the House proportional to its progress. He has been outstanding too in his oversight functions as Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum Matters. Among these are a Bill for a law to establish Akwa Ibom State HIV/AIDS Control Agency and for other matters connected thereto; a Bill for a Law to establish a Customary Court of Appeal in the state; a Bill for a Law to amend the Magistrate’s Court Law 2000 and for other matters connected therewith.

In 2012, when the activities of IPMAN almost grounded economic activities in the state, the Petroleum Matters Committee headed by him rose to occasion and intervened and brought normalcy to the situation after the issue was deliberated on extensively on the floor of Parliament.

Also as part of his oversight functions, by way of Matter of Urgent Public Importance, he has drawn the House attention severally to cases of oil spillage in Akwa Ibom oil producing communities caused by the operations of oil companies with a view to holding the companies accountable to the aftermath of their economic operations and ensuring they become proactive to their responsibilities to the communities.

The most recent of one such of his efforts was his unequivocal condemnation during plenary, of the oil spill that occurred in Unyenge community, Mbo Local Government Area in which he had called on the oil firm to immediately clean up the area and award compensation to the people of the community to ameliorate the effects of the spillage on their economic activities.

In repaying the faith of his constituents, in just a year after his inauguration as a member of parliament, he floated a one-week free medicals in his constituency where over 4500 people were treated of different ailments – some life-threatening. Prior to the free medicals, Etienam had doled out various empowerment packages to his people which cut across the different strata of society, including physically challenged persons.

He made history too with his “inauguration largesse” when on his inauguration day, he splashed a whooping3.3million naira to 33 indigent widows in Urue Offong/Oruko to enable them start petty trading.

Hon. (Barr) Bassey Etienam is happily married with lovely children. His hobbies are reading, travelling, humanitarian service, golfing, politics, and listening to music.