IBOM 100: EFFIONG BOB

SEN. EFFIONG BOB – FORMER PRO-CHANCELLOR & CHAIRMAN OF COUNCIL, UNIVERSITY OF BENIN

Effiong Dickson Bob was born on 1^st October 1959, he is from Ikot Ekwere, Nsit Ubium local government area in Akwa Ibom State, and also the Pro Chancellor of the University of Benin. He was elected Senator for the Akwa Ibom North East Senatorial District of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. He took office on 29 May 2003, and was reelected in 2007 and served till 2011. He is a member of the People's Democratic Party (PDP).

Sen. Effiong Bob - Lawyer and Politician

Effiong Bob attended Government Primary School, Ikot Ekwere Ubium where he obtained a First Leaving School Certificate in 1971. From there, he proceeded to Salvation Army Secondary School, Akai Ubium where he schooled from 1973-1977 after which he obtained the Ordinary Level, West African School Certificate. He then attended the School of Arts and Science, Uyo from 1977-1979 and finished with the GCE A Level. He obtained a Bachelor's Degree (LLB) in Law from the University of Lagos. He thereafter attended the Nigerian Law School in Victoria Island, Lagos where he obtained the BL degree and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1984.

Effiong Bob worked with the Land Allocation Advisory Committee, Ikot Ekpene as its pioneer secretary from 1979 to 1980 before proceeding to the University to study Law. On graduation, Effiong Bob took part in the Nigerian Youth Service Corps (NYSC), and served for one year with Chief A. A. Oguntuwashe's Chambers in Ado Ekiti. After service, he went on to work with G. A. Ikott & Co. Legal Practitioners, Eket from 1985-1987.

Effiong Bob had always had an interest in law from the perspective of benefiting those who could not speak for themselves. This passion drove him into the political space where he began as a Councilor. He was Councilor for Works and Transport in the Nsit Ubium Local Government Area in 1990, and then was elected to the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly (1992-1993) and was appointed Deputy Speaker. While in the State House of Assembly, he served at different times in the House Committees on Public Accounts, Industries and Human Rights and Public Petitions.

Effiong Bob was Chairman of the Nsit Ubium LGA from 1996-1997. He was appointed Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Akwa Ibom State (1999–2002). On Nigeria's return to democracy, Effiong Bob was appointed by the Victor Attah led government of Akwa Ibom State as Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice and served a term of four years. During his time as Attorney General, he also served as Member, Akwa Ibom State Judicial Commission; Director, Anchor Insurance Company Limited; and Director, Akwa Ibom Savings and Loans Limited.

Bob was elected Senator for the Akwa Ibom North East Senatorial District in April 2003 on the PDP platform, and was reelected in April 2007. After taking his seat in the Senate in June 2007, Bob was appointed at various times over his double tenure, as Chairman to committees on Senate Services, Finance, Culture and Tourism, Power and Steel, and Local and Foreign Debts. He also served as Chairman, Adhoc Committee on investigating illegal withdrawals from the Excess Crude Fund without authorization from the National Assembly. He was also a member of the delegation that witnessed the signing of the final exit of the Paris Club Debt in Paris, France. Other committees he served on as member included: Committees on Appropriations, Air Force, Communications, Education, Privatization, Establishment and Public Services, Foreign Affairs, Christians Pilgrims Committee, and Committee on Information. 

During his tenure as Senator, he also served as Member representing Nigeria in the ECOWAS Parliament. He was the Chairman of the National Assembly Caucus, Akwa Ibom State comprising all the Senators and House of Representative Members from the State and also a member of the South South Caucus in the Senate and a Member of the South Senators Forum.

Senator Bob was very visible and active in the Senate and in a mid-term evaluation of Senators in May 2009, the national daily paper, ThisDay, noted that he had sponsored bills on amendment to the Energy Commission Act, Public Officers (Review of Cases) Panel, Fire Service (Inspection on Building), an Act to Prohibit Trading in Federal Highways in Nigeria and an Act to Prohibit Touting in Public Places. In 2011 he published a book, titled Independence of the Legislature in Nigeria: Matters Arising. 

Effiong Bob was appointed by the President Goodluck Jonathan led government as the pro-chancellor and Chairman Governing Council of the University of Benin, Benin City. The governing board which was constituted by the Federal Government on January 15, 2013, also had as member, Jamila Salik, J K Gazama, SAN and Shettima Muhammed Saleh. 

Effiong Bob became a member of the Nigerian Bar Association in 1984. He served in law chambers as a Youth Corper, on completion of his national youth service and later on established a law firm - Effiong Bob and Associates. During his time as Attorney General in Akwa Ibom State from 1999-2002, he served as a member of the Council of Legal Education (Nigerian Law School); Member, Committee on Recruitment and Discipline (Nigerian Law School); Member Body of Attorneys General in the Federation; Member, Body of Benchers; and Member, Akwa Ibom State Judicial Commission. He is a Member of the National Executive Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association.

He is married to Mrs Comfort Bob and they have three children. He serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Leenford Group of Companies Limited, a Nigerian company involved in businesses ranging from mining to hospitality. Comfort Bob serves as the CEO.