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It is often said that many are called but few are chosen. Engr. Ukeme Okpob is one of the very few chosen to serve as a model in business and manpower development globally.
A graduate of Civil Engineering from Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUST), this noble entrepreneur coordinate activities of Kenzai Ceramic Tiles Industry in Nigeria, a Thailand based company worth over THB120million in the global market over the past decade.
Ukeme is a registered Engineer with the Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and a member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE).
In 2001, he was nominated into the ESUST hall of fame for being the first non-indigene to have been president of a student Association in the institution.
His Political Engineering career has recorded some remarkable feats in recent times.
He was Senate member of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).
In 2010, he was appointed Akwa Ibom State Coordinator of G36 for president Goodluck Jonathan, a group that played a significant role in mobilizing for the election of the president.
In 2005, he was awarded for his contribution towards the growth of his community by some political bigwigs from his locality and was also recognized among 29 others for selfless service to humanity by the member representing Nsit Ubium State Constituency, Hon.( Barr.) Onofiok Luke in December, 2012.
He was site engineer for AEC works limited during the construction of the famous Use Ikot Amama road by the Governor Godswill Akpabio led administration.
He also had spells with EtteAro & Partners and BASESTAR Engineering.
He is a member of the Young Engineers Forum, a group saddled with the responsibility of hosting the 2014 World Engineering Forum slated for Abuja in November.
He is an Architectural design technocrat and a certified design and build engineer.
This young entrepreneur is billed to tie nuptial knot with Jessica Charles in May, 2014.
Engr. Ukeme Okpob owns a franchise with Kenzai Ceramic Tiles company of Thailand in Nigeria.
The Ceramic Tiles produced by the company is an perfect replacement for interlocking stones, as it does not allow for growth of weeds and moss with fungi.
As a determined and focused individual, he was the first to negotiate, persuade and draft the company to Africa.
With little resources to his credit, he has succeeded in opening a new phase of business and bilateral relationship between two countries.
According to experts, the business relationship he has succeeded in creating with this global company will further boost other economic sectors of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria and Thailand in the areas of industrialization, technology, agriculture and business development opportunities.
Already, plans are underway through his initiative with the state Government’s through Public Private Partnership (PPP) to see possible areas of collaboration with Kenzai Ceramics and other key stakeholders for revamping of the defunct Quality Ceramics Industry in Akwa Ibom State.
If he can achieve this as an individual, we can do more collectively.
Time now for Government and the private sector to synergize, brainstorm and create an enabling environment for sustainability of investment driven industries like Kenzai Ceramic Tiles in Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria
