PROFILE OF A RISING POLITICIAN

Hon (Prince) Melu-Bari Nkorobia Akekue, chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal College of Education, Eha-Amufu in Enugu State, South East Nigeria is a rising Politician destined for greater service for his country.

As a seasoned Politician, before his appointment to the Board of the Tertiary Institution by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu via a letter signed by Secretary to the Federal Government (SGF), Senator George Akume last June 14, he had served as a Commissioner in the Rivers State Civil Service Commission and a member of the Governing Council of Ken Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic (formerly Rivers State Polytechnic) Bori in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Thirteen years ago, in 2011, Hon Melu-Bari Akekue worked tirelessly as Director incharge of Special Duties under present FCT Minister, Chief Nyesom Wike as Director General of the Campaign Organisation for the second tenure re-election of former Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. He was also a Special Duties Adviser to the Executive Chairman of Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State in 2007.

The Banker turned Politician is one of the leaders of Senator Magnus Ngei Abe (SMA ) political family in Rivers State and doubled as the Chairman of SMA Governorship Campaign Council in Tai Local Government Area during the 2023 governorship election under the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the state.

As a member of the Senator Magnus Abe (SMA) political family, he is the President General of Progressive Alliance 4 SMA worldwide, a political pressure group for the former Senator in Rivers State; as well as the chairman of Ogoni Mandate Forum (OMF) for political emancipation of the Rivers South-East Senatorial District to actualize the hopes and aspirations of the ordinary people; eulogizing the virtues of truth, faith, integrity, courage and vision in politics.

Before then however, he was a political Advisor to the United Nations Environmental Assessment of Ogoniland (UNEP), representing Ogoni people because that study wouldn’t have been possible without support of the Ogoni stakeholders in 2011.

The study, which covered the thematic issues of contaminated land, groundwater, surface water and sediments, vegetation, air pollution and public health birthed the famous UNEP report on the pollution of the Ogoni environment, culminating in the establishment of the current Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Programme (HYPREP) by the federal government.

At the national level, the Human Resources Expert served as a Committee Member of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Taraba State Governorship & House of Assembly Screening/Primary Elections Committee in 2014 and the All Progressive Congress (APC) Nasarawa State National Revalidation Exercise Committee.

His working career included a stint as Branch Relations Manager in defunct Allstates Trust Bank and the South South Regional Manager of Amana Capital Pensions Limited in 2009. He also taught briefly as a teacher during his national service at Agbado Primary School, Benin City, Edo State in 1989/90 as a Youth Corper where he pioneered free NYSC JAMB Preparatory classes.

Also during his national service in Edo State, he co-founded the NYSC Legal Aid Clinic and served in several committees that included Legal Aid Litigation, Publicity, Law Review and Advisory Committee; offering free legal aid services as Board Secretary which earned him the NYSC 1990 Meritorious Award.

Hon (Prince) Melu-Bari Akekue also has several meritorious awards in his kitty.
As an Occupational Safety Administrator, he bagged the Ambassadorial Award of World Safety Organisation of Nigeria (WSO), Special Consultative Status to the United Nations ECOSOC, as SAFFERR Ambassador in August, 2021. A responsibility for active representation, participation, support and promotion of Health, Safety, Security & Environment (HSSE) programme.

He also bagged the SAFFERR Africa Ambassador in 2023 in recognition of his efforts and support to the success and promotion of health, safety, security and environmental sustainability programmes by the the SAFFERR Africa Ambassador Network (SAAN).

Furthermore , he has participated in several national and international seminars and workshops that included ‘Training Programme on Enhancing Public Sector Ethics and Integrity ” held in Berlin, Germany by Transparency International Deutschland e.v.

Prince Akekue attended the prestigious Rivers State University (formerly Rivers State University of Science and Technology), where he obtained his Diploma in Computer Science, first degree and a Master of Business Administration Degree (majoring in Management). He was a chapel Prefect during his secondary school days and is currently an Elder and a decorated Ambassador of Christ in the The Apostolic Church of Nigeria (TACN).

Prince Melu-Bari Akekue is the President General of Gbo-dabeelo Foundation, a socio-cultural organization responsible for youth/Girl child development in Tai LGA .

A native of Kpite Town in Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State, he was born in 1965 and is married to former Miss Marie Okorite Harry and their union is blessed with children.