Your Role in Bringing Solution to Onshore/Offshore Dichotomy Shall Remain Evergreen - Beneficiaries of Inoyo Toro Foundation to Inoyo

By Kabnim Akpabio

Beneficiaries of Inoyo Toro Foundation and Associates Forum (ITFBAF) has felicitated with the immediate past vice chairman of ExxonMobil Companies in Nigeria, Mr. Udom Inoyo on his retirement after over 30 years in office and subsequent appointment into the post covid-19 implementation Committee by the Akwa Ibom state government.

In a paid advertorial in the Wave Newspaper of Wednesday, July 8, 2020, signed by the founder of the forum, Mr. Joseph Udo Ndono, the state co- ordinator, Mr. Michael J. Akpan, the Secretary, Apostle Samuel Noah (JP) and eight others, the forum congratulated Mr. Inoyo noting that his deserved appointment into the post covid-19 implementation committee is because, “as a golden fish with no hiding place, he cannot shy away from serving humanity, hence his recognition by the state government”.

The beneficiaries of Mr. Inoyo’s benevolence also expressed their heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Inoyo for his life touching programmes through the Inoyo Toro Foundation which has impacted on the standard and lives of many public schools, teachers and students in Akwa Ibom state, stating that the role which Mr. Inoyo played during the legal fireworks for the abrogation of onshore/offshore dichotomy will remain evergreen in the history of the state and her economy. The message of felicitation reads in full: “With gratitude to Almighty God, we write to felicitate with our great principal Mr. Udom Inoyo on his meritorious and dignified retirement from the service of Exxon Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited after 30 good years of stewardship to humanity.

“Your role in bringing about the practice solution to the onshore/offshore dichotomy shall remain evergreen in the history of all sector of our economy. Your humble disposition, caring attitude and simplicity will ever speak for you. The beneficiaries of your benevolence shall continue to thank God for your good works and life touching programs, such as the Inoyo Toro Foundation Award which is targeted at school Administration, Teacher’s and students. As a golden-fish you cannot hide nor cease from serving humanity. We congratulate you for your appointment into the 20-Man Post Covid-19 Economic Reconstruction Committee by the state Governor Mr. Udom Emmanuel to work out modalities for reviving the state’s economy after this deadly flu pandemic, and your meritorious selection into the implementation committee”.

Mr. Udom Inoyo - former Executive Director/Vice Chairman ExxonMobil Nigeria

By Dr. Wisdom Patrick Enang

Sir, congratulations on this new phase of life. You have inspired me to always stay passionate. A superior like you is irreplaceable. You have taught me that my dreams should not be stifled because of doubtful and negative people around me, to learn to lead myself before leading others, to GROW through life instead of Going through life.

The oil and gas sectors are one of the largest industries in the world in terms of dollar value, and it is unimaginably brilliant that you have thrived therein and for 30+ years! Knowing you has made me understand that leadership is not a competition but about helping others to reach their potentials. Through you, many lives were touched, particularly those of the people of our dear state, Akwa Ibom State. Retiring after 30+ years and as an Executive Director / Vice Chairman of ExxonMobil Nigeria is not a walk in the park, but you’ve handled it in precepts, with enormous intelligence and graciously.

In our short time together, I learnt so much from you, most of all being your objective views, value adding orientation, charisma, and humility. Despite the enormous authority you command, you made yourself very approachable to everyone, and ran an open-door policy for which I totally enjoyed.

At times, it felt very unimaginable for me to be privileged to spend my break times in a very highly engaging intellectual discussion with an Executive Director / Vice Chairman of such a big multi-national company. Such humility is second to none. I remember walking into your office to invite you for my speech at the Nigerian International Petroleum Summit in Abuja in February 2020. Despite the short notice, you honoured my invitation and even went an extra mile to promote me among your high-level friends and colleagues, who I would otherwise never dream of meeting or engaging with at such a friendly level.

Your passionate drive to promote young people (particularly those of Akwa Ibom State origin), mentor them and create new opportunities for them is not exclusive to me alone, and many have benefited from same, personally through you, and also through your foundation: “INOYO TORO FOUNDATION”.

I cannot remember any discussion we ever had without talking about how to support people from Akwa Ibom State to learn to love themselves, jettison a life of entitlement and embrace more competitive and sustainable economic pursuits. In view of your passion for Akwa Ibom State, your appointment by the Akwa Ibom State Governor as a key and strategic member of the State’s Post COVID-19 Economic Reconstruction Committee is apt and timely, please accept my warmest congratulations.

As they say, “a golden fish has no hiding place”, and I thank you so much for your willingness and devotion to serving the people of Akwa Ibom State, in what I see as one in many public service opportunities to comes. You embody hard work and optimism. Thank you for bringing such joy to the industry. We will miss you! I look forward to seeing you remain at the top in this next phase of life.

How Inoyo Helped Me & Hundreds of Akwa-Cross People Employed in ExxonMobil - Hon. Dan Akpan

By Idara Ntuen

More revealing information is unearthing daily on how the retired executive vice chairman of ExxonMobil companies in Nigeria, Mr. Udom Inoyo helped many of his kinsmen and women acquire employment in ExxonMobil. The latest of such revelation is coming from an ex staff of ExxonMobil and former member of the House of Representative for Etinan Federal Constituency, Hon. Dan Akpan.

In an emotion filled congratulatory message on his retirement titled: “congratulations, congratulations, congratulations” posted online by Ibom Express TV, the former staff of Mobil Producing Unlimited poured encomiums on Mr. Inoyo, noting that apart from the fact that Mr. Inoyo helped him get employed in the company in 1999, he also discovered that Mr. Inoyo had helped hundreds of Akwa Ibomites and Cross Rivarians secure permanent jobs in the company. He averred that: “In 1999 you invited me from the United Kingdom and gave me opportunity to attend Mobil Producing Unlimited interview in which I did not disappoint you. Later, I discovered that you have helped hundreds of Akwa Ibomites and cross Riverian and other Nigerians to secure permanent jobs in the same company.”

While stating that the retirement of Mr. Inoyo is worth celebrating because it is not easy to attain such position and retire with all the scorpions and tigers around”, he pointed out that he stands tall among his peers to congratulate Inoyo for a job well done because according to Hon. Akpan, it “is a record that no Akwa Ibomites in ExxonMobil both past and present has achieved.”

Going biblical and quoting from the scripture, Isaiah 41 vs 10, Hon. Akpan told Inoyo to pray often; continue to be disciplined, serve and speak little as “it is good to seek advise from others.” Hon. Akpan who said he looked forward to celebrate Inoyo soon, concluded that, what the retirement of Mr. Inoyo meant was that he was “not only leaving ExxonMobil successfully but also leaving successors behind” as his prayer for Inoyo is to continue to be a successful man in life.

A Salute to a Diligent Patriot

By Hon. Engr. Eduok Eduok

I am delighted to felicitate with you my brother and friend Mr.Udom Inoyo on your success having risen through the ranks to the zenith of your illustrious career as the Executive Vice Chairman of ExxonMobil which culminated in your celebrated retirement after putting in a solid 30 years to service in the oil and gas sector. You have been as constant as the Northern star in all your endeavors.

Your tenacity of purpose, remarkable commitment, excellent performance and a highlevel professionalism exhibited has brought about a paradigm shift in the multinational oil company.

Your name was a recurring decimal from the other end during the battle of the onshore-offshore dichotomy abrogation as all our hands were on deck supporting the then Governor Arc. Obong Attah in bringing the obnoxious regimen to a halt.

You still have so much to offer Akwa Ibom State and I know that the wealth of experience you have amassed over the years will help tremendously in repositioning Akwa Ibom State economically. I am proud to be identified with you. As it pleases the Most High God to graciously preserve your life and see you through all the successes, may he be with you all the way.Amen.

Congratulations.

A Tribute to Mr. Udom Inoyo on His Retirement from Mobil Producing Nigeria

By Samuel J. Asamudo

It is no longer news that our friend and brother, Mr Udom Inoyo, Executive Vice Chairman of ExxonMobil Affiliates in Nigeria which include Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPN) and Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Ltd (EEPNL), has retired from the company he worked for in the last 30 years plus. As one of those who interacted with him from the first day I got to MPN offices until I left the company, I would like to use the occasion of his retirement to say a few words about my relationship and interaction with him during my career in the company.

First, I must congratulate Udom on his successful career in the company. It is not easy to build a career at such a high level in a complex and competitive company such as MPN while navigating through the company’s rules, procedures, policies, standards of business conduct and its politics.

Those who retire without blemish must give gratitude to the Almighty for it is not through their hard work, interpersonal skills and connections alone but also the grace of the Almighty that saw them through the challenges of ExxonMobil career. One could work very hard and observe all company policies and procedures, only to have a very junior operator (regular or contract) at a remote location under one’s area of responsibility make a serious mistake or commit an infringement of key company rules and regulations for which one could be held accountable.

Rather sadly, it is only people who do not even know Udom or those who claim Udom didn’t help them that always come out to publicize their opinion. On the other hand, many persons whom Udom assisted in one way or the other don’t feel the need to speak out. As a result, negativity takes centre stage. Also, the policy of the company makes company personnel incredibly careful about speaking out for fear of running foul of company’s guidelines on the protection of sensitive information.

Perhaps, now that Udom has retired, people will be more willing to share their stories on how Udom positively impacted their careers. This is where I come in because, at certain critical moments, Udom positively impacted my work in the company.

I met Udom for the first time when I arrived at the company’s offices in Bookshop House, Lagos, for an employment interview. At that time, the only person I knew in Bookshop House was a friend who was an NYSC member serving in the company’s Public Affairs department. As soon as I arrived in Bookshop House my friend took me to see Udom who the Senior Human Resources Coordinator in charge of Recruiting was. Udom received me very warmly and gave me some reading materials to occupy myself with while I was waiting for the interview to start. In view of the general impression that not many Akwa Ibom indigenes had been employed at MPN headquarters at that time, I was impressed and over-joyed that one of us had made it in the company. But how did I get to be invited for MPN employment interview in the first place?

After graduation, a friend who worked in QIT gave me the company’s employment form to complete. He later took me to see one of the Mobil “big men” in his official residence in the company’s Management Housing Estate (MHE) in Eket who was very impressed with my resume and promised to forward my application form to his boss in Lagos. He was optimistic that I would be invited for an interview when a vacancy became available. I have no doubt that he forwarded my application to Lagos but I never heard from the company. My resume must have fallen into the crack. However, as my friend was serving in Bookshop House, I took the additional precaution of giving him a copy of my credentials to hold, just in case anything came up.

Seemingly by chance, my friend met an alumnus of my university as he was completing an MPN employment application form in Bookshop House. My friend confirmed from the gentleman that an interview for recruitment of accounting personnel was coming up the following week. My friend who was aware that I had already submitted my application through an MPN senior employee in QIT was surprised that I had not been invited to the interview as promised. He immediately set to work to have my name shortlisted for the interview. Unfortunately, he found out that shortlisting of candidates by the Controller’s department had been finalised but as the saying goes: “When there is a will, there is always a way”. My friend received help and I was invited to the interview.

Although Udom had never met me before, he was very welcoming and encouraging. However, he could only “help” within company guidelines and procedures. This is the point that many people miss. As I got to know during my career with the company, MPN personnel work in an environment of tight internal controls involving policies, procedures and standards of business conduct. Running foul of any of these control measures could result in disciplinary action, up to termination of employment.

Unfortunately, friends and relations who approach company personnel (regular employees or contract staff) for “help” rarely know of these constraints, and even if they do, they expect the employees to find ways to sidestep these controls. If the company official is not ready to comply with their wishes, such company official is labeled “not helpful”. In this way, MPN employees from Akwa Ibom State lose the goodwill of a lot of their friends and family members because they could not “help”. Udom is one of the MPN personnel who have had to contend with this accusation, especially because of his top management position.

In any case, within company procedures, Udom ensured that I participated in the interview. After my success in the first interview, he also ensured that I was invited for the second interview. Another friend of mine came for his own employment interview a few days after me and he told me afterwards that during his interview, one of the panelists praised the HR Coordinator for presenting good candidates from his state for the interviews. My friend and I were employed – my friend in QIT Maintenance and I in Controllers Department, Lagos. That was in 1991.

If one were to take the statistics of indigenes of Akwa Ibom State who were employed by MPN around that time, one will notice a spike in the period between 1991 and 1993 when Udom was the HR Coordinator in charge of recruiting and one will agree with me that someone somewhere was quietly doing an excellent job of helping! But beyond this period, a network was put in place which enabled some of us to scout for qualified candidates from Akwa Ibom State, and this network included the Forum of Akwa Ibom Professionals, universities, colleges, social organizations, churches, local governments, etc. Nineteen years on, I was posted to QIT to assume a managerial position.

Within three months of assumption, I was faced with a serious community crisis arising from a reorganization which led to the separation of a few contract personnel in my unit. The list of those to be released had already been approved months before I resumed in the unit. Although I was not made aware of this list, I was going to take the backlash for it. That was why when the separation took place, I was completely taken by surprise. The pressure came from my immediate community as well as from the wider community. Udom knew how destabilizing this could be for someone who had just assumed headship of the unit. He travelled down to Eket and took me to meet a community leader who assisted me to resolve the problem. Udom didn’t do this in his official capacity since it wasn’t his direct responsibility, but as a friend and brother who wanted me to succeed on my job.

Three years later, when former staff of some service contractors in QIT, in spite of the intervention of the police and other security agencies, held MPN to ransom to press for redundancy payments, Udom again stepped in to help resolve the dispute. At this time, he was the In-country HR Manager/Executive Director and, contrary to some reports on social media, he had no direct responsibility for resolving this particular problem. As a senior management staff from Akwa Ibom state he did not want the community disturbance to disrupt MPN operations as this would not only have affected the company but would also have impacted on the state negatively.

Therefore, he used his government contacts to get the government involved in mediation efforts which yielded ex gratia benefits for the former service contractors’ personnel. While it is true that senior company officials are required to use their external contacts to help the company address problems with its external stakeholders, Udom was not obligated to offer his services on this matter as no one had requested for his assistance. He intervened out of his own volition and ensured that our people got some ex gratia benefits.

There were some issues Udom couldn’t help me with just as there must have been issues he couldn’t help a few others with because, just every other human being, no one has all the answers and solutions to everybody’s problems and it would therefore be unreasonable for anyone to expect that one person will be able to address all our problems.

However, that fact should not over-shadow or undo all the other good things the person must have done in the past. I am a fervent believer in the Efik adage: “Okuk ikpuikpu, ofong ikpuikpu, owo edi inyene”, i.e - “Money and other properties are nothing in comparison to having people who can give support.” Thus, there were many instances when our people were able to navigate their way out of problems because we had people in the right places at the right time.

For the benefit of those who might not know, Udom was one of those who worked to get our people together under the banner of Ufok which literarily means “the house”. He wasn’t the most senior in rank nor the oldest company employee from our Akwa Ibom State at that time but he had the vision that, as a minority group, we should come together for our common good. “Ufok” is still functional and is doing a lot of good for our people.

In conclusion, I would like to advise that our people should avoid bitterness and petty jealousies and learn to celebrate our people. When other people celebrate their heroes and heroines it is not because those people were able to solve all their problems, but because they made some contributions to the lives of their people.

Most of the time, these contributions are not recognized in the heat of the moment until long after the champions have left the sage. In the 1970’s to 1980’s only few could have foreseen the emergence of an Executive Vice-Chairman of Mobil from Akwa Ibom/Cross River states. If we do not appreciate and celebrate our people how do we expect others to appreciate and celebrate them? Must we continue to propagate the saying: “Nnyin imaha idem nnyin” (we do not love ourselves).

I pray that our state will continue to be blessed with people who can achieve success on the national or international stage. My worry, however, is that in recent years, we have not done as much as I would have liked to see in terms of getting our people recruited into the company work force because, not only has the employment market become more competitive, Nigerians with foreign qualifications now have a great advantage over locally trained ones. This is the result of the falling standard of education in the country. In the good old days, Udom went beyond the call of duty to search for and identify the best from our state to compete for positions in MPN and this contributed significantly to the spike in our numbers that I referred to earlier.

Thank you, Udom, for all your support, assistance and guidance during my time in the company. May the Almighty continue to bless you and reward you abundantly.

To borrow the words of William Shakespeare, you came, you saw and you conquered, and I join other friends, family and well-wishers to wish you and your beautiful family happy retirement and to pray for your good health and success in your future endeavours.

Samuel Asamudo is an indigene of Ikot Udoma, Eket, ex management staff of MPN & currently based in Canada

How Udom Inoyo Single Handedly Brought Me Back to Mobil

By Barr. Emmanuel Etti

“Mr. Inoyo was in Mobil Producing Nigeria Unltd (MPN) while I was in Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc (MON). Not too long after l left MON to join a bank in Victoria Island in the early 90’s, Mr. Inoyo singularly brought me back to MPN just as he created several opportunities for many Akwa Ibom/Cross River indigenes and indeed other Nigerians.
I practically learnt all the intricacies of strategy, negotiation, diplomacy, speech writing and delivery, and was exposed to all aspects of good governance during Mr. Inoyo’s stint as General Manager, External Affairs (now Public & Government Affairs) that saw unprecedented renaissance and development in the communities in all facets (infrastructure, health, roads, education, electricity, civic, empowerment) etc.

When I became a victim of treachery and my own naivety, he disciplined, defended, and pleaded for me, and taught me how to deal with issues and move on. That is part of the measure of the man – large in stature, gigantic in intellect, the epitome of humility, simplicity and gentleness.” Chief Barr. Emmanuel Etti is a retired ExxonMobil Staff, a Philanthropist and a business mogul and hails from Esit Urua Village in Eket Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State

Tribute to a Friend and Brother!

By Aniekan Wilie

Dear Mr. Inoyo,

I join many friends and admirers to rejoice with you on your well-deserved retirement from the service of ExxonMobil after a very distinguished career spanning over 30 unbroken years.

A lot has been said and written about you by friends and foes alike but beyond it all, please know that there are many, young and not so young professionals and individuals in and outside ExxonMobil, who hold you in awe and in very high esteem because of the indelible impact you have had in their lives and careers. Your personality simply inspires!

I remember not too long ago after I had exited ExxonMobil and taken up appointment with another Oil & Gas company, a colleague came up to me in my first week at work to ask if I knew you. Why did he ask? He just needed to be introduced to you because he desired to be mentored by someone like you. It so happened that this individual (not from Akwa Ibom state) had encountered you at one of the public fora as a member of OPTS Public Affairs sub-sector and was blown away by the force of your character, presentation style and bold articulation of issues. That is the kind of impact you have on people that it is sometimes difficult to frame it in words.

My meeting with you for the first time was unplanned but I remember bumping into you in Mobil House and introduced myself to you (I had just been transferred from Mobil Oil Apapa Terminal to the headquarters building as a Security Assistant) and the warmth with which you received me and made me adjust quickly to my new environment endeared me to you till this day.

I know many more who have experienced a similar welcoming disposition from you and scores of others you have gone out of your way to encourage and help to enhance their careers. For these and many other enabling contributions you have made in people’s careers and lives with love and consideration, I say thank you.

I know, out of conviction, that we all reap only that which we sow and since you have sown mostly goodness, goodness shall also follow you here and the hereafter.

I wish you and your dear wife, Ntekpe, continued good health in this new phase of your lives and best wishes in all future endeavours!

Congratulations and Welcome Back Home

Sen. Effiong Bob

Let me formally congratulate you on your retirement from the services of ExxonMobil where you served from 1989 till May 2020 in many capacities. My family and I and in fact the entire Ubium people joyfully welcome you back home.

Within the period of your service, your tour of duty took you to other places outside Nigeria, including Mobil Exploration and Production, USA (MEPUS), where you served as a Human Resources Advisor, supporting the Gulf of Mexico business in New Orleans, in Louisiana State; ExxonMobil Inter-America Incorporated, Coral Cables, Florida; and ExxonMobil Office in Houston, Texas. You were also in Brussels as Compensation Advisor in the Europe, Africa and Middle East Center of Expertise, where you had responsibilities for the national programmes of 10 African and four European countries.

As the Executive Vice Chairman of ExxonMobil, it is on record that before your retirement on May 1, 2020, you were not only the highest ranking staff of the multi-national oil conglomerate from Akwa Ibom State; but the first person from the State to occupy that position. I am personally proud that you as an Ubium man created that record and sustained it.

Having watched your rise from the time you joined the company until your retirement a few days ago, there is no doubt that your journey to the top depended on God’s grace, personal commitment, dedication, honesty, hard work and persistence of purpose. These are virtues that are typical of Ubium people.

Those who have a sense of history will confirm that your meteoric rise through the ranks in ExxonMobil partially satisfied a deep-seated communal and generational desire to see an Akwa Ibom person attain a commanding height in the multinational Oil and Gas Company. In addition, competing at such a high level of responsibility in a multinational firm despite being a Nigerian from a minority ethnic group will remain a great encouragement to others.

We thank God for preserving your life. We are glad to have you back in good health.

Congratulations.

A Tribute to Udom Uko Inoyo

Alice Ivy Esin, DSA FICAN

Udom Inoyo, a Barrister at Law,
Rose from a humble beginning in the Cross River State,
Worked as a Civil Servant, Admin Officer precise,
Rose through the ranks just like any other chap,
When destiny is at work, pray who can stop.

Udom Inoyo, a perfect gentleman,
You left for greener pastures at ExxonMobil,
A goldfish has no hiding, that is who you are.
Integrity and humility virtues lit your path,
When a star is born, there is always a sign

So the path of the just began to shine
From one posting to another you shone and shone
Employee Relations Co-ordinator, that was you
Compensation and Benefits Advisor off our shores
Manager, Human Resources, those were your posts

Udom Inoyo, we have also seen,
That outside your jurisdiction you also excelled
Lagos Business School and Arizona Thunderbird reckon with you
President Chartered Institute of Personnel Management isn’t a joke
When the grace of God is at work, who can disannul?

So with appointment as Vice-Chairman, ExxonMobil Nigeria who could doubt,
You had served meritoriously and diligently
As you retired unblemished from Mobil you have left a
Only to be filled with men of distinction
For when God’s grace is at work who can annul

One thing will make you ever stand out
That you remembered teachers here in Akwa Ibom State
That Inoyo toro Foundation has stood the test of time
That teachers get rewarded, with Principals too”
No wonder the Teachers have said “He’s a Teacher’s son too”

When you can read, thank a Teacher,
All professionals were taught by the teacher,
Udom Inoyo’s Teachers have all been rewarded,
His benevolence speaks of him, who can dispute
Those whom God has blessed no man can curse.

So in your next phase of endeavours continue likewise
“The soul of the diligent” God shall make fat,
The righteous will flourish and bear fruit even at old age
The sum of your achievements we’re proud in this state
That God in His infinite wisdom will bless you beyond all.