Dr. (Mrs.) Idara Akpan-Iquot
Ikot Ofon Ikono
This wonderful diamond was born on the 28th day of January in the year of the Lord 1953, into the Royal Family of Udofia Ekpene Etuk Akpabio Udonsek of Nung Asang, Ikono Ibom in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
This great daughter on completion of her early childhood education, where she obtained her First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC), proceeded to St. Theresa's Secondary School, Edem Ekpat in Etinan LGA where she obtained her West African School Certificate.
She has a Bachelor's Degree in Family Relations and Child Development in the United States of America and Two (2) Master's Degrees in Education and Public Health.
Recently, she obtained a doctorate degree (PhD) in Public Health Administration, still in the United States of America.
This wonderful daughter of Ikono Ibom Clan in Uyo LGA started work on the 18th of December 1980 in the Ministry of Women Affairs in then Cross River State and grew through the ranks to the position of Director of Social Welfare Services in the Ministry of Women Affairs in Akwa Ibom State, working directly under The First Lady…Dr. (Mrs.) Tokunbo Adewusi.
She voluntarily retired on the 21st of December 1998 to join her family in the United States of America.
This amazing daughter of Ikono Ibom Clan also worked at The Office of the Military President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under Ibrahim Babangida administration as a Senior Social Mobilization Officer (MAMSER) in-charge of Uyo, Uruan, Ibesikpo/Asutan and Ekpe Atai.
During her tenure, she opened Adult Education Centers in the eighteen (18) Villages of Ikono Ibom Clan. She employed twelve (12) indigenes of Ikono Ibom Clan (North and South, both men and women) in Uyo local Government Council. She appointed Mma Arit Ebong of Ikot Ekpeyak and Mma Arit Udonkang of Mbiaobong Ikono Ibom Clan as Women Leaders to direct the Affairs of Ikono Ibom Women.
This outstanding daughter also succeeded in opening two (2) Health Centers; one in Ikot Ebo Ikono Ibom Clan and one in Ikot Iko, Ibesikpo Asutan as the contract was awarded and successfully executed by the Late Engineer Udo Mboso.
During her stay in (MAMSER)…Mass Mobilization For Social Justice, Self- Reliance and Economic Recovery, she brought the First Lady at the time (Mrs. Patience Abbe) to Ikot Ebo and Nung Asang Ikono Ibom Clan to site and Commission the first ever Oil Palm Mill for the women. She also used her office to obtain an Ultra- Modern Borehole / Generator to the indigenes of Nung Asang Ikono Ibom Clan.
Dr. (Mrs.) Idara Effiong Akpan-Iquot was not sleeping in office, neither did she loose focus. She was active, involved and influencial, both in terms of employment and drawing home laudable projects.
In 1999, she was appointed by Obong Okon Mkpong the then Chairman Uyo Local Government Area to serve in the Council as a Supervisory Councillor for Health and Social Welfare. She became the first person to establish a Sanitation exercise every last Thursday of the month before the last Saturday for all and sundry in the State.
She made it mandatory for the Chairman and all staff of the Council to participate in the exercise to keep Uyo the State capital clean. She made trucks to be on standby to haul the debris away from the city before the official Saturday Sanitation. She worked hand-in-hand with the then Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State… Engineer Etim Okpoyo to ensure that the Sanitation Exercise was carried out accordingly. She was always out on the streets of Uyo for the exercise until it was over.
She awarded contracts of all kinds to the indigenes of the five (5) Clans in Uyo as it was called then.
While in her official capacity as the Senior Social Mobilization Officer, she was appointed by the then late First Lady of Nigeria Mrs. Maryam Babangida as a member of the State Steering Committee… Better Life for Rural Women (Nka Uforo Ibaan Akwa Ibom). She made sure the women of Uyo were empowered economically for self- sufficiency.
In the United States of America, she was the Pioneer President, Akwa Ibom Women Initiative, Atlanta Georgia (2004 to 2008). Under this Initiative, more than 10 women from Ikono Ibom Clan have been empowered financially in different areas to better their lives.
She is a member of the Akwa Ibom State Association of Nigeria in Atlanta, Georgia and currently serving as the Secretary, Board of Trustees (BOT).
Dr. (Mrs.) Idara Akpan-Iquot from childhood days has been very homely, respectful, resourceful and hardworking.
Those days, even when her siblings were out in the fields to play, "Unwa-unwa" as she was fondly called then, would be home handling the chores without any jealousy, envy nor complain.
She is a great cook and a kitchen expert. She loves her family and gives her resources and time to it without prejudice.
Even in the USA, she is more connected to her family and community than those around. Surprising, most times, she breaks the latest home news from the USA to those here at home.
She loves Ikono Ibom Clan and she's very involved in all the activities of Ikono Ibom. She is an epitome of peace, unity and love.
This precious daughter is a staunch member of the Church of Christ. Married to the Late Prof. Effiong David Akpan-Iquot of Ikot Ofon Ikono Ibom in Uyo LGA and the marriage was blessed with two (2) children and five (5) grandchildren.