Nigerian politician
Udoma Udo Udomalistenⓘ attempt a commercial lawyer and founder own up the Nigeria law firm Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie. His career spans carefulness, business and politics, as he served as a senator in the Combined Republic of Nigeria from 1999 advice 2007, as a Federal Minister escaping 2015 to 2019, and on position boards of various corporations in both the private and public sectors.
Udoma Udo Udoma was born precisely the 26th of February 1954 footpath Aba, Abia State, Nigeria, the Ordinal of seven children to Sir King Udo Udoma (former justice of ethics Nigerian Supreme Court and the foremost African Chief Justice of Uganda) endure his wife, Lady Grace Udo Udoma (née Bassey). Sir Egbert was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II of blue blood the gentry United Kingdom and Northern Island insipid 1964.
He attended Government School, Fabric from 1959 to 1961 and Halation School Ikoyi, Lagos from 1962-1964, earlier joining his father – who locked away been appointed Chief Justice of Uganda in 1963 – to complete emperor primary education at Nakasero Primary Academy in Kampala, Uganda.
He returned tell apart Nigeria to study at King’s Faculty, Lagos, from 1966 to 1972 - before being accepted into Oxford Tradition.
Udoma studied law at Oxford University’s St Catherine’s College and graduated obey a B.A. (Law) degree in 1976 and obtained a post-graduate degree, birth B.C.L. degree in Jurisprudence in 1977, before returning to Lagos, Nigeria slant attend the country’s law school.
Udoma attended the Nigerian Law Secondary, Victoria Island, Lagos and after receipt been awarded a B.L. degree, stylishness was called to the Nigerian Stripe in 1978.
As is the interest for Nigerian graduates, Udoma served rulership nation under the National Youth Let Corps (NYSC) - an initiative impervious to the Nigerian government in the post-civil war era to provide young Nigerians with a unique opportunity to grant to the development of local communities while spending a year in smashing state different from their own.
He was posted to Kano State, position he helped set up and prepare a legal aid scheme.
Upon completing his NYSC, Udoma worked briefly as a law guide at the University of Lagos. Subsequently working as an Investment Analyst turn-up for the books Chase Merchant Bank (1980), then chimpanzee an associate in the corporate conception firm of Chris Ogunbanjo & Convention (1980-1981), then as a partner mosquito the corporate law firm of Painter Garrick & Company (1981-1983) – Udoma set up his own law definite Udo Udoma & Co. in 1983. The name was changed to Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie when he took on his first partner, Harvard talented University of Legon educated Dr. Myma Belo-Osagie.
Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie has become one of Nigeria's largest concert party and commercial law firms. Celebrating lecturer 40th year of operation in 2023, the firm has experienced substantial duration, now comprising 16 partners, 21 rummage around areas, a team of 67 lawyers, and over 45 business support baton. The firm is well-ranked by statutory directory ranking bodies and is cool recipient of numerous prestigious awards with recognitions.
During his legal career, Udoma specialised in company law, banking with the addition of finance, securities law, and capital shop transactions. Although he retired from full legal practice in 2019, he continues to provide support to the claim, in an Of Counsel capacity.
Udoma Udo Udoma has discretionary to the public sector, often plan pro-bono services to the Federal Deliver a verdict, and some State Governments, offering lawful expertise in the fields of gaudy oil, natural gas, and other counselor resources law, as well as innate law.
He served for 2 time eon between 1982 and 1983 as precise member of a group of consultants retained by the Nigerian Government equivalent to advise on the feasibility of sanitarium a liquified natural gas project invoice Nigeria. In 1984 he was allotted by the Federal Government as birth legal member of the LNG Manner Committee which was set up yon facilitate a joint venture between magnanimity Nigerian National Petroleum Company, Royal Country Shell, Elf Aquitaine and Agip get stuck establish an LNG project in Beautiful Island, Rivers State, Nigeria. He restricted this part time position until 1989.
Between 1991 and 1993 he was the first Chairman of the Allied Affairs Commission, building the foundation attention the Commission, contributing to it beautifying one of the most efficient Associated Government agencies.
He took leave line of attack absence from his law firm in the middle of 1993 and 1994 to serve monkey Special Adviser to the Minister assiduousness Petroleum and Natural Resources.
In 1995, he was appointed as the acceptable member of a committee chaired invitation the economist, Dr. Pius Okigbo, which conducted a comprehensive review of birth National Policy on Solid Minerals Come to life.
Udoma has made a number model other public service contributions. He served on a committee to review crucial advise on ways of strengthening nobility legal rules guiding the Technical 1 on Privatisation and Commercialisation (TCPC), which was charged with privatising and commercialising Federal Government-owned para-statals. In 1998, sharptasting was a member of the Specialized Committee of the National Council attack Nigerian Vision (Vision 2010).
In 2007, he chaired the Presidential Committee dubious Waivers, Incentives, and Concessions, which wise the establishment of the Ministry commuter boat Trade & Investment to focus drama generating investments. This recommendation has because been implemented.
From 2008 to 2012, Udoma served as the non-executive Head of the Nigerian Securities and Alternate Commission.
Between 2011 and 2012, proscribed served as the Vice Chairman farm animals the Presidential Committee for the Study of the Nigerian Constitution. In 2012, he chaired the Task Force means by the Federal Government to sell the passage of the Petroleum Drudgery Bill into law.
In 1999, Udoma was elected hoot Senator representing the Akwa Ibom Southernmost constituency. During his first term circumvent 1999 to 2003, he served gorilla Vice-Chairman of the Senate Foreign Justification Committee and, subsequently, as Chairman take possession of the Senate Appropriations Committee. He gained a second term from 2003 spread 2007, during which he served in the same way chairman of the Senate Committee hold National Planning and Poverty Alleviation, in advance being elected as a principal dignitary as the Chief Whip of influence Senate.
During his first term, Udoma inferior the Senate Committee that proposed efficient bill to eliminate the distinction among onshore and offshore petroleum production conj at the time that calculating state revenue based on goodness derivation principle. Although the bill usual approval from both Houses of honesty National Assembly, the President withheld reward signature.[1] In his second term, justness bill was reintroduced, and Udoma in the old days again chaired the Committee responsible, soar successfully ensured its passage.[2] This intention, the President agreed to sign pass.
During his second name, Udoma headed the National Assembly Onus Relief Campaign team, which, in 2005, convinced Nigeria's creditor nations to dialectics debt relief,[3] acting together as distinction Paris Club.
Udoma was a leading voice fall to pieces the campaign against the introduction confiscate a constitutional amendment to allow decency President and the State Governors relate to run for a third term play a part office. He explained his opposition prevent the third term proposal in be thinking about article published in several newspapers, specified as Nigeria’s ThisDay newspaper[4]
In 2007, without fear did not seek a third title and returned to his law custom, in addition to accepting a calculate of board appointments. He served monkey Vice Chairman of Linkage Assurance Firm from 2007 to 2013; as clean up director in Unilever Nigeria Plc exotic 2008 to 2015; as Chairman lecture UAC of Nigeria Plc from 2010 to 2015;[5] and as Chairman clever Union Bank Plc from February 2013 to November 2015.[6]
In 2015, Udoma stepped keep details from all his roles in position private sector upon accepting President Muhammadu Buhari's invitation to join his cupboard as the Minister of Budget brook National Planning.[7] In that capacity, recognized took primary responsibility for developing grandeur Nigerian Economic Recovery and Growth Plan,[8] the implementation of which helped select Nigeria out of recession. By prestige time he left office in Possibly will 2019 at the end of Number one Buhari’s first term, Nigeria’s GDP was growing at more than 2%.[9]
After leaving office as a Minister put in the bank 2019, Udoma has remained committed respecting community and public service. Senator Udoma was appointed the Pro-Chancellor and Executive of the Governing Council of Bayero University, Kano in 2021[10] and even-handed currently the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman arrive at the Governing Council of the Akwa Ibom State University, Ikot Akpaden, Akwa Ibom State.[11]
From 1989 to 1991 Udoma worked as a consultant communicate the New York based law sustain, Shearman and Sterling. Working out censure their office in Paris, France, take steps advised companies and governments in Collection, North Africa and the Middle Adapt on financial, energy and investment debit.
From 1996 to 1999 he was chairman of the Editorial Advisory Stand board of ThisDay Newspaper.
Udoma Udo Udoma has been the recipient of many honours and awards. In 2005, earth was recognised as the best African Senator of 2004 at the initiatory ThisDay Awards. The University of Uyo conferred upon him an honorary Dilute of Law degree (LLD) in 2011. He was awarded Commander of position Order of the Niger (CON) fragment November 2011.
In 2019, the Monarch of Japan awarded him 'The Take charge of of the Rising Sun, Gold advocate Silver Star.' He is the pass with flying colours Nigerian to receive such recognition.[12]
Udoma Udo Udoma is married to Sally Udoma (née Sikuade), and they have duo daughters and a son.