Unyime Idem

Unyime Josiah Idem (listen^ⓘ) (born 14 January 1975) is a businessman, politician, philanthropist and honourable member representing Oruk Anam/Ukanafun federal constituency in the Nigeria Federal House of Representatives.^[1][2] He is the Founder of Idems Ultimate Limited- a telecommunication service provider, and Stanford Microfinance Bank Limited ^[3][4] with stakes in several other companies in agricultural sector, real estate, construction with over five hundred employees. In May 2022, Idem was nominated for second term as PDPD Candidate for Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency race.^[5]

Early life and education

Unyime Josiah Idem was born in Usung Atiat in Ukanafun Local Government in Akwa Ibom State. He attended Western Annang Secondary Commercial School – Wasco, Ikot Akpa Nkuk finishing with Senior School Certificate Examination, SSCE. An alumnus of University of Uyo, he holds a bachelor's degree in business management and a master's degree in business administration. He presently awaits a PhD in Leadership, Monarch Business School, Monarch University, Switzerland.^[2] Idem holds several professional certificates in telecommunication and management including Telecoms Customer Service Training, Accra, Ghana; Resource Management Course, Johannesburg, South Africa; Telecoms Customer Service Training, New Delhi, India;^[6] Marketing Management Course, Beijing, China; Executive Management Course, Westminster, London; Financial Management Course, Boroughs, London; Public Administration Course, New York, USA; Financial Management and Strategic Management Course, Lagos Business School, Nigeria; Marketing Management Course, New York, USA; and World Telecoms Conference, Abuja, Nigeria.

Idem is a fellow of Chartered Institute of Commerce of Nigeria,[3] Chartered Institute Of Operations Research Of Nigeria; Chartered Institute Of Management And Public Diplomacy Of Nigeria, [4] Chartered Institute Of Leadership Of Nigeria,[5] Institute Of Chartered Economists Of Nigeria,[6] Institute Of Management Consultants,[7] Institute Of Corporate Executives Of Nigeria,[8] Institute Of Project Managers Of Nigeria,[9] and Institute Of Corporate Leadership And Mentorship.[10]

Political career

Idem's political career started in the year 2000 when he was first elected

Following his business success in telecommunication,[7]^[8] finance and agriculture and his growing popularity and influence, the constituents of Oruk Anam/Ukanafun federal constituency urged him to run for the seat in the Nigeria federal house of representatives.^[9] In 2018, he contested for the PDP ticket in the primary election of the party beating three other candidates to emerge PDP flag bearer.^[10][11] In the 23 February 2019 general election he defeated his main challenger Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Ukoette of the All Progressives Congress, APC an incumbent who was running for a return ticket to the green chamber for a third term.^[12] Emmanuel Ukoette challenged the election of Idem at the national assembly election petition tribunal alleging wide range of electoral irregularities including over voting. The tribunal dismissed the petition for lack of credible evidence and affirmed the election of Idem. In May 2022, Idem was nominated for second term as PDPD Candidate for Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency race.^{[13][14][15][16]}

Committee assignments

Idem holds the deputy chairmanship assignment on the House committee on Communications.^[17]

• Chairman Ad-hoc Committee to investigate non implementation of Pay as you go tariff by DSTV and other satellite broadcast service providers in Nigeria ^[18]
• Chairman Ad-hoc Committee investigating unclaimed Federal Government Funds in Commercial Banks and infractions by the Central Bank of Nigeria
• Member Conference Committee to harmonise Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2022 representing South-South Region
• Member Ad-hoc committee that investigated the Bauchi State House of Assembly crisis
• Member Ad-hoc committee on water resources
• Member Ad-hoc committee to investigate NDDC Interim Management Committee
• Delegate to International Telecoms Conference that took place in Hungary
• Member Committees on ICT, NDDC, Petroleum Resources (Upstream), Works, Nigeria Contents Development and Monitoring Board, Public Procurement, Banking and Currency, Civil Societies and Development Partners, SDGs, Customs and Excise

Bills and motions

In July 2019, Idem at a plenary sitting of the federal house of representatives moved a motion calling for the rehabilitation of the 72-year old Nigeria Institute for Palm Oil Research- NIFOR, Oruk Anam sub-station, Akwa Ibom state. He told the house that the research institute had been neglected for decades and the staff there were on monthly salary of 4,000 naira (US$11).

His motion argued that rehabilitation of NIFOR would guarantee food security, create jobs, generate foreign exchange and raw materials for Nigeria. NIFOR was one of the institutes where Malaysian researchers collected palm seedling for the development of their country's palm oil. The house consequently approved rehabilitation of the institute.^[19][20]

Selected motions sponsored

Bills sponsored

Constituency project

In his years in business, Idem was known for human capital development. During his election campaign he promised his constituents that if elected he would focus his constituency project on developing the young people in various skills that would help them set up businesses or find jobs. In August 2019, Idem launched his first constituency project to train about five thousand youths in various skills of their choices. The skill acquisition program would help the youths to be economically independent, take them off the street, reduces youth restiveness and restore social order in Oruk Anam/Ukanafun federal constituency.^[21][22]

So far, Unyime Idem has sponsored over 40 life touching projects including 1000-Seater Capacity State of the Art Vocational Skills Centre, Ukanafun LGA, 1000-Seater Capacity State of the Art Vocational Skills Centre, Oruk Anam LGA, 1000-Seater Capacity State of the Art Agricultural Skills Acquisition Centre, Entrepreneurial Skills Centre, Ukanafun LGA, Digital E-Learning Centre with 40 Computer Sets and solar electricity at Community High School, Usung Atiat, Ukanafun LGA; Digital E-Learning Centre with 40 computer Sets and solar electricity at Afaha High School, Ikot Udombang, Ukanafun LGA; ICT Learning Centre with 40 Computer Sets and solar electricity at Community Secondary School, Urua Ekpaenang, Ukanafun LGA; Digital E-Learning Centre with 40 computer Sets, solar panel and 20KVA generator at Community Secondary School, Mbiakot Oruk Anam LGA; Donated more than 50,000 text/note books, writing and other teaching    materials to schools in the two local governments of Ukanafun and Oruk       Anam, to boost teaching and learning and Empowered 1000 Constituents in 26 different skills. He has also constructed Lecture Hall in Akwa Ibom State University, Obio Okpa Campus, Oruk Anam LGA, Six Classroom Block Lecture Hall at Maurid Polytechnic, Mbaiso, Nsit Ibom LGA, Learning Centre with 40 Computer Sets and solar electricity at Community Secondary School, Ikot Esenam, Oruk Anam LGA, ICT Learning Centre with 50 Computer Sets in Akwa Ibom State University, Obio Okpa Campus, Oruk Anam LGA

Given his performance, Hon. Unyime Idem has been unanimously endorsed by his people and elected by the PDPD delegates to return for a second term at the House of Representatives

Honours and awards

His life is guided by the notion that “Only a life lived for service of others is a life well lived; and the ultimate test of man’s conscience is his willingness to sacrifice something today for the future generation whose words of thanks will not be heard.”.  He is a devout Christian, an ordained Pastor of the Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel) who is committed to serving God and propagating the gospel of Christ through evangelism.

References