Jedy-Agba at 63: The Man, the Technocrat and the Performing Minister

 

Dr. Goddy Jedy Agba, OFR, Honourable Minister of State, Power 

By Kingsley Agim

For a lot of young people, Goddy Jeddy-Agba was the man with a nice set of dentition and son of, arguably, the longest-serving monarch in Africa, who abandoned his sterling career and glorious office in 2013 at the rank of Group General Manager, Crude Oil Marketing Division of the NNPC to pursue a gubernatorial ambition, whenever his name seemed to be mentioned in public.

 However, there is more to Goddy Jeddy-Agba as a person – a lot more than meets the eye. For his sixty-third birthday, we take a brief look at his life through a few lenses that apply to him.

The Man

Goddy, the first child was born into a royal family in Obudu on 20th August, 1958 by Uti J.D. Agba, the paramount ruler of Obudu, Cross River State. After scaling through primary and secondary education, he bagged his first degree in International Studies from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State in 1983. His burning desire for scholarship led him to University of Lagos, Akoka for his master's degree in International Law and Diplomacy in 1989. 

His massive contributions to nationhood and nation building prompted the then President Goodluck Jonathan on September 2012 to honour him as an Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR). His autobiography, "Stepping Forward with Uti J.D. Agba," in November 2017, reflected on the influence of his father on his life from childhood. 

The Technocrat

Goddy Jedy-Agba’s humble beginnings started at the Federal civil service in September 1984 as an Assistant Secretary II. He was posted as a senior assistant secretary to the Federal Development Authority (FDA) in Lagos on October 1985. In the same office, he was promoted to the post of Deputy Liaison officer in 1987. He became the Personal Assistant to the Minister of Special Duties under the presidency, state house-Lagos. 

Through dint of hard work and commitment to duty, in 1989, Jedy-Agba was selected as personal assistant to the minister of Special Duties under the Presidency; he was moved to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as Personal Assistant to the Minister of State on Foreign Affairs in December 1990. He was on this position till 1993 when he became the Personal Assistant to the Secretary of the State till 1995 when he joined Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC). 

At NNPC, he rose to become the Head Market Research, Crude Oil Marketing Department and later became the Head Gas/Gas Liquids/Condensate Sales, Crude Oil Marketing Department in 2014, a position he held until he left NNPC to join politics in his state. 

The Performing Minister

Undaunted by the his unsuccessful quest for the governorship seat in 2015, being a man who lives out my life as Providence decrees, he was nominated for ministerial position by President Muhammadu Buhari in July, and later assigned the portfolio of Minister of State, Power on 21 August 2019. And not forgetting the thundering ovation that greeted his performance during the nominees’ screening in the hallowed chambers of the Nigerian senate.

Immediately after his inauguration, Jedy-Agba hit the strides with the exuberance of a youthful teenager. He got to work. And barely two years on the saddle as Minister of State for Power, through giant strides and eloquence testimonies, the Utugwuan-born politician has endeared himself to the politically-conscious Nigerians as a darling of the nation, having orchestrated the successful completion of impactful projects in all geo-political zones of Nigeria.

To buttress my above point, may I outline some of Jedy-Agba’s achievements according to geo-political zones:

NORTH CENTRAL ZONE 

Installation of 8.25MW Solar Hybrid Project at Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi, in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State; 80KWp Solar Mini grid at Upake Village, Ajaokuta Local Government Area of Kogi State;  Supply and installation of 1,135 Units of 40W Solar Hybrid Station in Mbaka-ange Village, Vandeikya Local Government Area of Benue State;  Supply and Installation of 1000 Units of 15W Solar hybrid station in Alu-Mamagi and Nuku villages in Abaji Local Government Area in FCT Abuja; and Installation of 157KW Capacity Solar Hybrid Mini-grid Power Plant in Rokoto village in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State.

NORTH WEST ZONE

 Installation of 90KWp Solar Mini grid at _Kare and Dadin Kowa Villages in Arewa Local Government Area of Kebbi State; and Installation of 30KWp Solar Hybrid at Bambami Village in Batagorawa Local Government Area of Katsina State.

NORTH EAST ZONE

Installation of 85KWp solar mini-grid at Dakito Community in Paikoro Local Government Area in Gombe State.

SOUTH-EAST ZONE

100KW Mini grid Solar Energy in Eka-Awoke Community in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

SOUTH-SOUTH ZONE

Installation of 60KVA solar hybrid Mini-grid Power Plant in Okangha-Mpkansi Village in Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State; Installation of 2x60MVA 132/33KV Transformer Substation Located at Ekori-Ugep Village in Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State; 100KWP Solar Hybrid Mini-grid at Akpabom Community in Onna Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State; Installation of Solar Street Lights from Ukpiringi-Nkerira, Ukwuta, Ngbenege Communities in Obudu LGA of Cross River State; Installation of 60KVA solar mini grid power plant in Obudu Ranch Resort Obanliku Local Government Area of Cross River State; Groundbreaking of 100KVA Solar Power Plant in Bottom Hill in Obanliku Local Government Area of Cross River State; Installation of 1000KWp Solar Hybrid Mini grid in _Adebayo Community Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State; Installation of 132KV Bay extension in _Calabar, Calabar Municipal Local Government Area of Cross River State; and Supply and Installation of 2000 units of 20W solar hybrid station in Abi Local Government Area of Cross River State. Not to mention the far-flung and hard-to-reach communities in the entire nation.

A fortnight ago during his two years anniversary celebration as Minister of State for Power, the media was awashed with glowing plaudits to Jedy-Agba from across the nation, much to my admiration and pride as a fellow Cross Riverian. And without an iota of consternation, prejudice or disquietude, Goddy Jedy-Agba would go down history as one of the best performing political appointee from Cross River State, nay Nigeria.

To a proud Cross River State son, bureaucrat, politician, farmer, author philanthropist, former Group general manager, Crude Oil Marketing Division, Nigerian National Petroleum Company and now Minister of State for Power, I wish him more eventful years full of good health, longevity, sagacity and service to humanity. Happy birthday, our dear Goddy Jedy-Agba.