Tuesday 15 July 2014

Robert Umoette: Ready and able to serve BY PAULINUS NTA

Robert Umoette: Ready and able to serve BY PAULINUS NTA
When  William   Shakespeare   asserted that some men are born great, some achieve  greatness while others have greatness bestowed on them, he thought  that the three approaches to greatness are mutually exclusive of each  other.  It must not have crossed his mind that one man can arrive at greatness through the three approaches.

Robert Umoette was born into a great family, achieved greatness through hardwork and have greatness bestowed upon him by God.
Born into the royal family of Umoette in 1970 in Lagos. He had his primary education in St.Thomas Aquinas primary school and Secondary education at Atunrase Boy High School, all in Surulere area of Lagos and passed   out in distinctions.

Armed with one of the best WAEC results in 1987, he was immediately admitted, to study Political Science and Administration in the then University of Cross River State (UNICROSS), now University of Uyo (UNIUYO). Umoette graduated honorably in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science and Administration.

After his graduation, he worked briefly with family Real Estate Consultancy Services outfit, Ek-Best International and later Bitutrade Holdings, United Kingdom in 1994 as an In-Country Liaison Officer for Nigeria working directly under Franklin Everett.

 In 1995, he established his personal business at 25. Hence, he incorporated Duran intermediaries Limited, a company who designed the Ekeki Housing Estate in Yenogoa, Beyelsa State. Umoette, in the present has been working with the Nigerian Police Force on the planned estates for the force across the country. In 2000, he ventured into hospitality services with primary location at Lekki, Lagos, but because “charity begins at home”, he located an international standard hotel in Uyo (with four floors including the ground) with 15 rooms and suites. The hotel   project was incorporated in the year 2000 as Atlantic Hotels Limited with facilities opened in June 2001. This project and development provided jobs to the teeming Akwa Ibom youths, in addition to real hospitality services and opened the floodgate to other hotel  developments in Uyo and led to his  recognition and award in his role in hospitality  renaissance  Nigeria Merit Award (DINMA) in 2011 at Abuja. In the spirit of rebranding, he overhauled the facilities in the hotel in 2010 at which time he changed the name to DURAN Hotels Limited.

His entrepreneurial and hospitality acumen also took him to haulage, to petroleum projects and trading in petroleum projects. These, gave birth to two companies in the same year: DURAN TRANPORT LIMITED and DURAN OIL AND GAS LIMITED in 2000.

 Robert Umoette is married to former Louisa Rene Frempong, of a Ghanaian and British Nationality. He is focused with inate ability to motivate others into positive actions. He is set to achieve targets, driven by hard work and an incredible will power. In his world, nothing is impossible. Self control and self restrain are his main asserts.

 “Roberto”, as he is fondly called by friends, has a passion for helping people. Infact, to say the least, he has uncommon craving to help and serve. He has a long record of helping anybody who come his way. He gives unconditional educational scholarship and assistance to the needy.

He is media shy and does not like to publicize many of his humanitarian and philanthropic gestures to Akwa Ibom people. He is by all standards a successful businessman. He has what it takes to manage state resources and therefore will do even better if given the chance.  

Again, Umoette, is by profession a trained leader: political scientist and administrator. An advocate of peace, growth and development of Akwa Ibom State. He has come to realize that since he cannot reach out to all, he should give himself to serve the people of Akwa Ibom State as the Executive   Governor in 2015.

He has what it takes to bring about harmonious  living  among the people of  Akwa Ibom  State which  will engender  peace and security and ultimately create the environment for sustainable  industrial and economic  development  of the state.

An international business magnet, pregnant with ideas that can take the state to the expected Eldorado. He is humble, unassuming, kind, accommodating and generous. He keeps his door open for suggestions and opinions.  He has no political faction or bloc, but believes everybody should be treated as a brother.
 He appreciates the ongoing socio-political transformation, especially in the area of good road network. Umoette describes the present state government as a responsible and sensitive one and therefore pledges to consolidate on the projects so far.   

He hates ethnicity, tribalism and dreams of Akwa Ibom State where nobody will be favoured or victimized by geography. He has entered into a social contract with Akwa Ibom people. To serve them well and to leave office, better than he will meet it.

He appreciates all past and present leadership of the state since creation. He promised to involve everybody in his government. He has support and formidable structure across the state. And calls for more support to enable him bring his dreams to fruition.

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