…CITATION OF BARR. ODUM-IJOM UKAM
Proverbs 22:2… “seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.”
Barr. Odum-ijom Ukam was born into the family of His Worship, late Chief Magistrate Daniel Ukam Johnson and Deaconess Adiaha Ola Johnson Ukam both of Ijom Abayong in Biase LGA of CRS.
Barr. Odum-ijom Ukam (popularly known as Ijay) attended the Army Children School (No.2) where he sat and passed the First School Leaving Certificate Examinations at Distinction Level.
Ijay wrote several secondary school entrance examinations and passed in flying colors but his parents finally settled for the prestigious Hope Waddell Training Institution, Calabar where he spent six (6) years of his life undergoing strict training both in learning and character. It is on record that ijay made the best result in the junior WAEC examinations (JSS 3) in the entire CRS and was honored with a scholarship and a special commendation service at the Hope Waddell Chapel. Ijay also sat and passed the West African Examination Council Examination (WAEC) in flying Colors.
Ijay proceeded to the prestigious University of Calabar where he first bagged a B.Sc Degree in 2005 and later an LL.B Degree in 2016 respectively. He later proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, Yenogoa Campus and passed his final Bar Examinations at first sitting.
Ijay’s quest for academic excellence again propelled him to enroll for an LL.M Degree (Masters in Law) in the same University of Calabar. He has since completed his academic and research work while awaiting the official award of the LL.M Degree by the University of Calabar.
Ijay has always been a social magnet from childhood and this attribute earned him so many friends and acquaintances. In both his primary and secondary schools, there is hardly any teacher or student who is not friends with ijay.
In his days in the University of Calabar, ijay was so popular to a point where he was severally adopted to contest for the office of SUG President by his army of friends and admirers. But his political career as a student was truncated by his strict parents who never wanted him to be distracted by campus politics.
Ijay’s character has also earned him so many friends and accolades even outside his primary, secondary and university community. This has made his name to become a household commodity in the entire CRS, especially Southern Senatorial District and Biase LGA respectively.
As a lawyer, ijay has practiced in Benin, Edo State and Calabar, CRS. He is presently the Principal Partner, DEBONAIRE ATTORNEYS, an urbane law firm with major emphasis on commercial and property Law.
Ijay has held several political appointments in CRS in the last 10 years. He was first appointed a member of the CRS Electricity Regulatory Board by the digital and most youth-friendly Governor in the entire Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Sen.(Bar) Sir Benedict Ayade. He later was appointed into the Biase LG Security Council as a member by the same Governor Ben Ayade.
At the advent of the second term of Governor Ayade, Ijay was appointed S.A to the Governor on Justice. A position he held and performed creditably well till the end of Governor Ben Ayade’s second tenure in May 2023.
Ijay has also held the position of Chapter Youth Leader of the APC, Biase LGA. In his tenure as youth leader, he transformed the office of the youth leader to what it ought to be (i.e., a rallying point for the youths of Biase) before, during and after the General Elections that ushered in President Bola Tinubu, H.E Sweet Prince Bassey Edet Otu, Sen. Asuquo Ekpenyong Jnr., Onun (Dr) Emil Inyang and Hon. Francis Ogban respectively.
Ijay also serves as the State Youth Leader of FRIENDS OF PRINCE OTU/PRINCE IS COMING ORGANIZATION, Leader, REBRANDED B4, Legal Adviser Akamkpa/Biase Youth Movement, Biase APC Ward Chairmen Forum, Biase Cyclist Association (BCA) and Association of Table Water Producers (ATWAP), CRS Chapter.
Indeed, the life of ijay is a worthy example of the popular maxim that ‘the reward for hard-work is more work’ because Ijay has steadily moved up the academic and political ladder by sheer hard-work which has always ensured his promotion and elevation (more work), through the special grace and mercies of God.
Ijay was nominated as a commissioner by His Excellency Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu and was subsequently screened and confirmed by the Cross River State House Of Assembly as required by Law.
Ijay is amongst the youngest Commissioners sworn-in by His Excellency, Sen. Otu and is also one of the youngest Commissioners to be ever appointed from Akamkpa/Biase Federal Constituency.
Barr. Odum-Ijom Ukam is happily married with a kid.
