Biography & Public Service Career
Trained hydrobiologist, veteran classroom educator, grassroots council executive, federal parliamentarian, and Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas): over three decades of verified public service.
About Ekperikpe Ekpo
Trained hydrobiologist, veteran classroom educator, grassroots council executive, federal legislator, and cabinet minister: a career shaped by discipline, community mediation, and institutional stewardship.
Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo addressing energy and community stakeholders.
- Date of Birth
- 26 December 1962
- Hometown
- Ikot Udo Eboro, Ika LGA, Akwa Ibom State
- Alma Mater
- University of Calabar (B.Sc. Hons Biology; M.Sc. Hydrobiology & Fisheries)
- Honours
- Grand Patron, NANS · Peace Corps Patron · Paul Harris Fellow
Early Life & Scientific Training
Born on 26 December 1962 in Ikot Udo Eboro, Ika Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Ekperikpe Ekpo completed his foundational schooling at St. Patrick Primary School, Ikot Udo Eboro (First School Leaving Certificate, 1975) and Regina Coeli College, Essene, Ikot Abasi (West African Senior School Certificate, 1980).
Proceeding to the University of Calabar, he earned a Bachelor of Science (Hons) degree in Biology in 1986, completed his mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in 1987, and subsequently returned to the University of Calabar to obtain a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Hydrobiology and Fisheries in 1997—giving him a rigorous empirical grounding in aquatic ecosystems and environmental stewardship across the Niger Delta basin.
Science Education & Local Governance
Between 1989 and 2002, Ekpo dedicated thirteen years to secondary education in Akwa Ibom State, teaching Biology and Integrated Science and rising to become Principal of Mercyland Comprehensive Secondary School. His reputation for administrative fairness and youth mentorship led to his appointment as Caretaker Committee Chairman of Ika Local Government Area (2002–2003) and subsequent election as Executive Chairman of Ika LGA (2003–2005), where he championed inter-communal reconciliation and rural infrastructure.
Legislative & Ministerial Stewardship
Elected to the 6th House of Representatives (2007–2011) for the Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Ekpo contributed to national legislation on power sector reform, environmental protection, and Niger Delta development. In August 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed him Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), entrusting him with unlocking Nigeria’s 209+ Tcf natural gas endowment for domestic industrialisation, clean cooking, and global energy diplomacy.
Leadership Values & Recognitions
- Scientific Pragmatism
- Applying hydrobiological and environmental rigour to gas-flare reduction and host-community remediation.
- Grassroots Consensus
- Resolving complex right-of-way and industrial host-community disputes through direct dialogue.
- Institutional Honours
- Grand Patron of NANS; Patron of the Peace Corps of Nigeria (Akwa Ibom); Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow.
Public Service & Assignments
Over three decades of verified public service progressing from classroom science education and grassroots local-government administration to federal legislative stewardship and cabinet-level energy leadership.
Concurrent Federal Assignments
Official record · Active Mandates- Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas)
- Cabinet responsibility for policy formulation, midstream/downstream gas supervision, domestic gas pricing and supply, and global gas diplomacy.
- Co-Chairman, NCDMB Governing Council
- Appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to co-chair the statutory council driving indigenous capacity across Nigeria's gas and petroleum value chain.
- Chairman, Decade of Gas Sponsors Group
- Executive convener aligning IOCs, indigenous producers, NNPC Ltd, and regulators around Nigeria's 2030 gas sufficiency and export targets.
- Chairman, WAGP Committee of Ministers
- Presiding over inter-ministerial governance between Nigeria, Benin, Togo, and Ghana for cross-border natural gas transmission stability.
May 2024 – Present
Co-Chairman, NCDMB Council
Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board · Federal Appointment
Official record
Co-Chairman, NCDMB Council
Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board · Federal AppointmentAppointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in May 2024 as Co-Chairman of the NCDMB Governing Council, strengthening policy coordination between gas sector expansion and Nigerian engineering, fabrication, and human-capital development.
August 2023 – Present
Minister of State (Gas)
Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources · Abuja, Nigeria
Official record
Minister of State (Gas)
Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources · Abuja, NigeriaNominated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, screened and confirmed by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and sworn in on 21 August 2023 as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources with dedicated cabinet responsibility for the natural gas sub-sector.
June 2007 – June 2011
Member, House of Representatives
Abak / Etim Ekpo / Ika Federal Constituency · 6th National Assembly
Official record
Member, House of Representatives
Abak / Etim Ekpo / Ika Federal Constituency · 6th National AssemblyElected to represent the Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency in the 6th National Assembly. Served actively on key standing committees including Power, National Security & Intelligence, Rules & Business, Environment, and Niger Delta, championing rural electrification and constituency infrastructure.
2003 – 2005
Executive Chairman, Ika LGA
Ika Local Government Council · Akwa Ibom State
Official record
Executive Chairman, Ika LGA
Ika Local Government Council · Akwa Ibom StateFollowing service as Caretaker Committee Chairman (2002–2003), elected Executive Chairman of Ika Local Government Area. Focused on inter-communal peacebuilding, primary healthcare centres, rural feeder roads, and educational bursaries.
2002 – 2003
Caretaker Chairman, Ika LGA
Ika Local Government Council · Akwa Ibom State
Official record
Caretaker Chairman, Ika LGA
Ika Local Government Council · Akwa Ibom StateAppointed to lead transitional grassroots governance in Ika LGA, restoring civic stability and administrative order ahead of full local council elections.
1989 – 2002
Science Educator & Principal
Akwa Ibom State Post-Primary Education System (incl. Mercyland Secondary School)
Official record
Science Educator & Principal
Akwa Ibom State Post-Primary Education System (incl. Mercyland Secondary School)Following National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) completion in 1986–1987, served for thirteen years as a biology and integrated science teacher, rising through classroom instruction to Head of Department and School Principal.