Samuel Ortom is a Nigerian politician, businessman, philanthropist and the current serving Executive Governor of Benue State. He was sworn in as governor after winning the 2015 gubernatorial elections under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and re-elected in 2019. Prior to his becoming the governor, Ortom served as the Minister of State Trade and Investments in Nigeria during the presidency of Goodluck Jonathan.
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Samuel Ortom Profile
Before we continue, here's a quick rundown on Samuel Ortom's profile and a few things you'd love to know about him:
Full name: Chief Dr. Samuel Ioraer Ortom
Date of birth: 23rd April 1961
Age: 59 years
Nationality: Nigerian
Spouse(s): Dr. Eunice Ortom
Children: Destiny Wueseter Ortom (and others)
Education: Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
Religion: Christianity
Religion: Christianity
Occupation: Politician, businessman
Political party: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
Net worth:
Samuel Ortom Biography, Date Of Birth, Early Life, Family And Education
Samuel Ortom was born on the 23rd of April, 1961 in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria. He began his primary education at St. John's Primary School, Gboko in 1970, in 1974, he switched to St. Catherine's Primary School, Makurdi where he graduated from in 1976.He further enrolled at the Idah Secondary Commercial College, Idah in Kogi State for his secondary education. He studied at the school for two years before his father's retirement forced him to end his dream of completing secondary school education for financial reasons.
Instead of whiling away time, Samuel girded his loins and got into the Gboko motor park as a tout. It was in the park that a Good Samaritan taught him how to drive because of his honesty and dedication to duty. In no distant time, he became employed as a professional driver. On recommendation he became the driver and confidant of a prominent Gboko-based Christian leader and politician, Late Pa Samu Ihugh.
Samuel Ortom's story changed the day wind blew a piece of paper which was an advert for enrolment into the National School of Salesmanship, Manchester, towards him. According to the story, after closing for the day, he voluntarily hung around in the house of his boss in his usual manner, whether his services might still be required.
He picked up and read the paper and decided to enrol for it by correspondence, thus launching himself into the world of acquiring knowledge and certificates by correspondence.
He later in this manner, obtained the General Certificate of Education as well as the Diploma in Salesmanship. He further enrolled at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, obtaining both the Interim Joint Matriculation Board Certificate, in 1995 and Diploma in Journalism in 1998. He proceeded to the Benue State University for an Advanced Diploma in Personnel Management in 2001 as well as Master of Public Administration in 2004.
Samuel Ortom also obtained a Doctor of Philosophy, Ph.D, from the Commonwealth University, Belize, through distant learning.
Career and Politics
Samuel Ortom's working experience spans private, public as well as political spheres. He worked with the Gyado Foods Co. Limited, where he rose from the position of Salesman to Sales Manager.
He was proprietor and chairman, Oracle Business Limited the firm that owns Goshen Water which produces bottled and sachet water; Oracle Printing Press, Oracle Oil Mills as well as Oracle Farms Limited. He was also the chairman of Capital Prints Limited and Achive Engineering Limited.
Chief Dr. Ortom has served as the National President of the Independent Print-Media Publishers Association of Nigeria, IPPAN, and at the moment is the patron of the association.
He was appointed chairman of the governing council of the Standards Organization of Nigeria, SON, where he served with commitment and dedication.
Politics
Chief Dr. Samuel Ortom served as the Executive Chairman of Guma Local Government Area from 1991 to 1993 on the platform of the Social Democratic Party, SDP.
He has also handled several top political positions, both in Benue State and beyond. Some of them include; State Publicity Secretary of the National Centre Party of Nigeria(NCPN); State Treasurer of the All Peoples Party (APP); State Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Deputy Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as well as PDP National Auditor.
He also served as the Director of Operations of the PDP gubernatorial campaign in Benue State in 2007 and Director of Administration and Logistics of the Goodluck/Sambo Presidential Campaign Organization in 2011.
He got appointed as Minister of State Trade and Investments in July 2011, during Goodluck Jonathan tenure as president.
He contested and won the seat the Governor of Benue State in April 2015 under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In July 2018, Ortom announced his departure from All Progressives Congress as a result of an internal party crisis.
He was reelected as governor in the 2019 elections, having polled 434,473 votes while the runner up Emmanuel Jime of the All Progressive Congress polled 345,155 votes. Jime legally challenged Ortom's victory and filed a petition on the grounds of substantial noncompliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2010 as amended. The Supreme Court of 21st January 2020, affirmed Samuel Ortom's election as the governor of Benue State.
About Dr. Eunice Ortom
Chief Dr. Samuel Ortom is happily married to Dr. Eunice Erdoo Ortom. Dr. (Mrs) Ortom is also a philanthropist and the founder/initiator of Eunice Spring of Life Foundation (ESLF) an NGO with focus in three thematic areas of Health, Education and Agriculture.
She was born on the 27th of August, 1972 in Aondona in Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State. She had her secondary education at the Queen of the Rosary Secondary School, Gboko where she obtained the General Certificate of Education in 1988.
She then gained admission to study International Studies at the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. She proceeded to the Benue State University for her Masters degree in international Relations and Strategic Studies (2004) and PhD in Political Science (2016).
Dr. Samuel Ortom and Dr. (Mrs) Eunice Ortom's marriage is blessed with six children and four grandchildren. They are dedicated Christains and members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
Philantropy
Dr. Samuel Ortom is a philanthropist who believes in giving back to the society. He, through the establishment of Oracle Business Limited Foundation, set aside funds in St. Theresa's Hospital, Makurdi and Rahama Hospital, Gboko Road, Makurdi, for treatment of hernia and snakebites free of charge to the patients.
Oracle Business Limited Foundation also focuses on alleviating hardship for prison inmates, while also offering them various forms of skills acquisition for better reintegration into the society.
Awards and Recognition
Samuel Ortom's good governance and philantropic activities have earned him numerous awards recognitions, including:
• Selfless Service Award from the National Union of Benue State Students (UniCal Chapter) (2014)
• Best Performing Local Government Chairman (1992)
• Merit Award by Tiv Youths Organization
• Merit Award by Boy Scouts of Nigeria, Benue State Chapter
• Merit Award by International Affairs Leadership Parliament of Five American Christian Universities in the United States of America and Trinity College of Ministerial Arts, Aba
• Merit award by St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, High Level, Makurdi
• He has also received a special recognition from the Nigeria Union of Road Transport Workers at the national level.
• Merit Award by Nigeria Union of Teachers, Benue State Wing
• Merit Award by Genesis Youth Club, Makurdi.
• Merit Award by Leo Club of Makurdi (2002)
• Merit Award by Rotaract Club of Nigeria University of Agriculture, Makurdi
• Promoter of Nigeria’s Nascent Democracy, by Benue State Government (2006)
• Merit Award by School of Remedial Students Union, Makurdi (1996)
• Best Sales Manager Award by Pepsi-Cola International, African Region (1987)
• Merit Award by Benue State Joint Public Service Negotiating Council, 1, 11 and 111
• Patron Merit Award by Association of Journalism Students, Ahmadu Bello University (1997)
• National Fellowship/Merit Award by National Union of Road Transport Workers’ Union of Nigeria Nyamikyume in Nzorov
• Traditional Honorific Chieftaincy Title conferred by both the Nzorov District and Guma Local Government Area Traditional Councils Vande u Nongov
Social Media Handles
You can connect with Samuel Ortom on:
Twitter @OrtomSamuel
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