Samuel Ortom

Chief Dr. Samuel Ioraer Ortom (born 23 April 1961, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria) is a Nigerian industrialist, farmer, businessman, politician, philanthropist, administrator and employer. He was enrolled into the St. John's Primary School, Gboko, in 1970 but moved to St. Catherine's Primary School, Makurdi, in 1974, where he completed primary education in 1976. Chief Dr. Ortom was admitted into Idah Secondary Commercial College, Idah, in Kogi State in 1976. He did two years in the school before his father's retirement in 1979 brought an abrupt end to his dream of completing formal secondary school education on account of inability to pay school fees. Shortly before this happened, he had given his life to Jesus Christ. However, instead of idling away at home to mourn his fate he girded his loins and got into the Gboko motor park as a tout.^[1][2]

It was in the park that a Good Samaritan taught him how to drive because of his honesty and dedication to duty. Another helped him to obtain a driver's license, and soon after he became employed as a professional driver. On recommendation he became the driver and confidant of a prominent Gboko-based Christian leader and politician, Pa Samu Ihugh.

Education

One day after close of work he hung around voluntarily in the house of his boss waiting, in his usual manner, to see whether his services might still be required. That wait opened a chapter in his life that has contributed greatly in raising him up to his present status. While he was sitting on a bench outside the house, the wind blew a piece of paper which was an advert for enrolment into the National School of Salesmanship, Manchester, towards him. He picked it, read, and decided to enroll for it by correspondence, thus launching himself into the world of acquiring knowledge and certificates by correspondence. In this manner he obtained the General Certificate of Education (GCE) as well as a diploma in salesmanship.

Chief Dr. Ortom enrolled at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and obtained both the Interim Joint Matriculation Board Certificate in 1995 and a diploma in journalism in 1998. He also attended the Benue State University, where he obtained the Advanced Diploma in Personnel Management in 2001 as well as a Master of Public Administration in 2004. Dr. Ortom crowned his educational pursuit with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), from the Commonwealth University, Belize, through distance learning.

His working experience spans the private, public, and political spheres. He rose from salesman to sales manager with Gyado Foods Co. Limited, before his election as Executive Chairman of Guma Local Government Area from 1991 to 1993 on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).^[3][4]

Political life

In the political sphere he has been State Publicity Secretary of the National Centre Party of Nigeria (NCPN); State Treasurer of the All People's Party (APP); and State Secretary as well as Deputy Chairman of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), all in Benue State. Dr. Ortom was also 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 was PDP National Auditor before his appointment as Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in July 2011.

In April 2015, he contested for Governor of Benue State and won under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC)^[5][6][7]

Work experience

Chief Dr. Ortom was proprietor and chairman of Oracle Business Limited, the firm that owns Goshen Water which produces bottled and sachet water; Oracle Oil Mills, Oracle Printing Press, as well as Oracle Farms Limited which handles mechanised farming and animal husbandry. Oracle Business Limited acquired the moribund Benue State Government's Plastics company and is sinking N1 billion into turning it around. The company is into polythene extraction as well as making of sanitary, sachet water, packaging and polythene bags.^[8][9] He was also chairman of Capital Prints Limited which handles commercial printing, publishing and documentation, as well as chairman of Achieve Engineering Limited which is into civil and mechanical construction. These companies have offered employment to hundreds. Chief Dr. Ortom was 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.^[10][11][12] Perhaps the greatest manifestation of his humaneness lies in the establishment of Oracle Business Limited Foundation which handles redemptive, restorative and empowerment services. Through the foundation Chief Dr. Ortom has 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.^[13][14] Through the foundation, Chief Dr. Ortom has reached out to prison inmates, preaching Christ as well as offering love and care while paying the fines of many who could not. Another outreach of his has been the Oracle Driving School, which turns out qualified drivers on a regular basis.^[15]

Awards

Ortom is a recipient of several awards, including Best Performing Local Government chairman, 1992;^[16] those of the Nigeria Union of Teachers and Nigeria Labour Congress in Benue State, as well as the Selfless Service Award by the National Union of Benue State Students, University of Calabar. He was also given special recognition by the Nigeria Union of Road Transport Workers at the national level.^[17]

Conclusion

As Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment, he contributed immensely to the attraction of huge investments into Nigeria and facilitated the employment of hundreds.^[18][19][20] His additional responsibility of Supervising Aviation Minister has witnessed increased supervision of projects in the aviation sector.^[21]

Chief Dr. Ortom is a politician with a humane and sensitive spirit. When the people of Benue State came under sustained attacks by Fulani herdsmen, he suspended the pursuit of his governorship ambition for one month. He stated that it did not make sense to continue with political activities in pursuit of the ambition when the people he wished to govern were under continuous siege with hundreds of them killed. He said he would devote the one-month period to collaborate with the state and federal governments as well as other relevant authorities to find a permanent solution to the crises.^[22] Chief Dr. Ortom indeed went about donating relief materials to the displaced and collaborating with others in seeking to end the crisis. It is noteworthy that his collaborative efforts have yielded results as the attacks have subsided while concerted peace-building efforts are being put in place.^[23]

A dedicated Christian, Chief Dr. Ortom is a widely travelled man who has visited several countries in Africa, the Middle East, the Americas, Europe and Asia. He is married with 10 children and four grandchildren. His hobbies include badminton, reading, philanthropy, farming, aerobics and evangelism.

His story which he told before the Nigerian Senate on Wednesday, 6 July 2011 was so moving that Chief Dr. Ortom was asked to take a bow and go. Senators were stirred by an account of his background as a school drop-out, a motor park tout and one who struggled to attain education through very difficult means. After running through his curriculum vitae, Senator Ehigie Uzamere moved a motion, asking the Senate to allow him to take a bow without further questions because of his sincerity in uncovering his background. Senators described him as a veritable bridge between the poor and the rich.^[24]

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