13/11/2022
UBOTEX: Celebrating A Philanthropist and Valuable Asset in Nigeria's Business World
✍️ Aniekan Sunday
Many have turned themselves to town criers, making loudest noise in an effort to gain relevance in their different sphere of life, but there's man who dislike blowing his trumpets, despite his five star performance both in his entrepreneurial and social journey.
Elder Ubong Bassey Obot Akpan Umoh, a proud son of Nung Akpan Umoh Royal Family, Ikot Akpabin Village, Asutan Ekpe Kingdom in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria - the CEO/MD of UBOTEX Limited has paid his dues in the business world, and gained recognition both at the State, National and Internationally.
Aside his undiluted support and commitment towards the progress of young Akwa Ibomites and Nigerians in the Business Community over the years, Elder Obot sees honestly, ethics and humility as his watch words.
Today, that young 'village boy' who was brought up and acquired his primary education in his village, has a typical story of rising from rags to riches. From a 'moimoi'/waterleaf hawker, and a 'cement sales' boy' to a renowned business merchant. His success story is so appealing to the masses, and serves as an inspiration not only to young Nigerians, but to the generations unborn.
In one of his recent interactions with young people, Elder Ubong Obot recalled the days of his humble beginning. He said; "I'm from a poor background, with my mother, late Elsie Bassey Obot who was a strong businesswoman, as the backbone. She used to travel from our village (Ikot Akpabin) to sell palm oil in Lagos where her sister was based.
Sadly, we lost her in an accident during one of her business trips to Lagos. After my Mum's death, life took a difficult turn for the family. I was quite young then. I and my twin sister were the second to the last born amongst the seven children given birth to by my Mum."
At a very tender age, the young Ubong began his business carrier by selling kerosene at a local market in his community - Urua Ikot Akpabin. He later moved to stay with his Maternal Uncle - a businessman who then based in Zaria, Kaduna State. That was where he saw himself hawking 'Moimoi' and waterleafs on streets. It was still part of his journey to greatness.
On returning back from Zaria after about a year, he was enrolled to acquire his secondary education at Ndikpo Grammar School, Ikot Obio Nko, but he left after the third year to stay with his senior Sister and her husband (a businessman) in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State Capital. There, he became a 'sales boy' to his in-law who then owned a Building Materials' shop along Ikot Ekpene Road. He served him faithfully. Several years after, he was settled to start his own business with about two hundred bags of cements and a shop.
To cut the lengthy story short, the 'small shop' with two-hundred (200) bags of cement had long metamorphosed into an expanded 'Corporate firm' and many branches across the nooks and crannies of Akwa Ibom State and beyond. A clear example of 'grass to grace'
Sincerity, humility, commitment and determination were the simple tools Elder Obot single handedly used to fight and defeated the poor background and challenges faced during his tender age. Today, Ubotex is a brand and a household name to Nigerians and people in other countries.
Even without occupying any political office, Elder Obot has been investing his wealth of experience and hard-earned resources gathered from his private business to impact and transform lives positively, especially at the grassroots level. His numerous contributions, financially and intellectually to the success of many other Nigerians and Akwa Ibomites in the business field has given the people the needed comfort and relief especially in the present economic situation witnessed in the country.
As a patriotic son of the state, he has always been there to backup the present administration in ways that makes people at the 'lower class' and the downtrodden feel the positive impact of Mr Udom Emmanuel’s administration.
A clear testimony of his passion for human development are; the financial assistance/scholarship grants given to many Students studying in respective institutions of their choice; bills paid to patients in different hospitals both in Nigeria and outside the country; his regular visits and donations to orphanage homes; business startup fund given to young entrepreneurs, widow and the less privileges. Even the numerous job opportunities created for the youths of the State through his consistent expanded firm - 'Ubotex Limited'.
Recently, he handed over a well constructed and equipped hospital with about fourty (40) beds capacity located at Ikot Akpabin village to The Apostolic Church, and equally undertook the payment of salary to workers for the period of five (5) years.
No wonder the 'Police Officers' Wives Association' (POWA) recently accorded him with an 'Award of Excellence'. While presenting the award on behalf of POWA, the wife of immediate past Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State - Mrs. Joyce Amiegheme stated thus:
"when I inherited POWA's Secretariat Building project and realized how massive it was, I was perplexed because I never at that moment knew how and where to start from, but I got a whisper that there's a man whose heart had been tailor-made by God Almighty to support and encourage lofty project' of that nature. Without hesitation, we contacted him and he did more than what we expected. Elder Ubong Obot assisted us to pull the project off the ground. He open-heartedly received us and financially supported us. That's why we are here to tell him 'thank you'.
"We considered to thank you through this Award because you have made tremendous impacts in POWA. We have also seen and heard the developmental strides, philanthropist gesture and impacts you've created in the lives of the people. We're urging you not to relent on your good works.
Elder Ubong Obot's sterling leadership qualities and contributions to the well being of Akwa Ibom people and Nigerians as a whole have left so many with no option than to believed that 'good people still exist'.
His commitment and passion for human capacity building over the years have developed beyond reasoning to an extent that when his name is being mentioned in any vicinity within the Locals and State, he is celebrated in some amazing fashion. A true reflection of this "is the recent internal roads he facilitated for construction in his community - Ikot Akpabin. He danced to the tune of Sir Thomas Browne, who opined that "Charity begins at home".
Through his human capital development and grassroot mobilization initiative, UBOTEX has empowered thousands of Akwa Ibom sons and daughters with small and medium scale businesses and linking entrepreneurs to the global market using his network and contacts.
Over years now, it has been a routine elaborate Christmas celebration with his people in home town, Ikot Akpabin in Ibesikpo Asutan LGA that always come with empowerment. The routine Christmas celebration and empowerment is growing every year. This year's edition of the Christmas celebration coming soon is tipped to be exceptional. Who knows how many people he intend and budgeted to empower again during the yuletide celebration.
These and many more does not only qualify Ubotex as a philanthropist, but have also proven him as a man with a good heart and conscience, who is not interested in where one comes from.
Elder Obot is a detribalized and humble individual loved and accepted by the grassroots people, majority which constitutes people from different political affiliations and electorates.
He is a leader who perfectly understand the problems of the common man in the street. At all times, he places the welfare of others as top priority ahead of private and family issues.
However, the philosophical thought of John Maxwell who once said "A man of integrity does not climb to the mountain to shout with trumpet to gain votes, but his pedigree and virtue will honor him with the needed mandate to lead," really describes the kindly nature, sterling leadership qualities, humane and humble disposition of Ubotex, which endears him to the people of the state as one of the most credible leaders with integrity.
As a leader with exceptional strength, ability and vision, he lived his life with honesty and integrity and has never been afraid to roll up his sleeves and get dirty in order satisfy his people needs.
In all, Akwa Ibomites and Nigerians indeed have reasons to celebrate this resourceful, energetic, focused and committed leader, a good father, a champion of empowerment of the people, father of the orphans, friend of the needy, supporter of men, women and the youths, the amiable, dynamic, enterprising, creative, kind and selfless leader. He is a product of fate and hard-work. His fame has spread far and wide, Nationally and Internationally through his dint of hard-work, vision and resilience.
As the saying goes A diligent man is not only an asset to himself but to his community, Elder Ubong Obot commitment to the development and wellbeing of the people of the State portray him as a man of value and accomplishment.
His unequaled achievements definitely speak volume of this highly experienced and astute leader. Obot's style of mobilizing the people confirms him as a strategic leader who take time to carefully plan and remain focused in implementation process.
Once Again, Happy Birthday Elder Ubong Bassey Obot Akpan Umoh, a proud son of Nung Akpan Umoh Royal Family, Ikot Akpabin Village, Asutan Ekpe Kingdom in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.
