An ex-staff of ExxonMobil Companies in Nigeria and Founder/Proprietor/Chairman, Board of Trustees of Sure Foundation Polytechnic, Ikot Akai, Ukanafun LGA of Akwa Ibom state, Elder (Dr.) Idongesit Demas Udom has narrated how the former Vice Chairman of ExxonMobil Companies in Nigeria assisted him and others to secure promotion in the company while he was in service.

Elder Udom who pointed out that he has struggled to remain inactive whenever people talk about Udom Inoyo, says he can no longer sustain the silence because his spirit does not allow him any longer, disagrees with anyone who says Mr. Inoyo did not work for the benefit of Akwa Ibom people while at the employ of the oil giant, ExxonMobil.

He constructed further that as someone who has served the company in various capacities such as Terminal Maintenance and Operations Supervisor, Bonny River Terminal (1997 - 2002); Senior Operations Supervisor, Idaho (2002 - 2003); Operations Superintendent, Oso/NGL/ Gas Operations (2003 - 2009); Export Transportation Systems Operations Superintendent in charge of Chad - Cameroon Oil in Douala, Cameroon (COTCO) (2009 - 2011); and Greenfield Projects Start-up Superintendent (2011 - 2014), he is in a better position to speak about Mr. Inoyo.

Rationalizing Inoyo’s love for Akwa Ibom state, Elder Udom recounted that Mr. Inoyo was very committed to the development of Akwa Ibom State and Akwa Ibom indigenes in Mobil Producing Nigeria, Eket, and Lagos using his managerial/HR professional prowess, a fact majority of Akwa Ibom Managers and Superintendents can attest.

He confessed: “Udom Inoyo was instrumental to my promotion for an example to the position of Export Transportation Systems Operations Superintendent in COTCO, Douala, Cameroon in 2009. He had also mentored and helped many other Akwa Ibom indigenes to be promoted to various exalted positions without making noise.”

He explained further that after he retired from the company, Inoyo was unperturbed that he was out of the company, rather, he was still interested In his advancement and that of the state by attending and delivering the polytechnics’ inaugural Lecture at the First Matriculation ceremony of Sure Foundation Polytechnic, Ikot Akai in 2017.

“In 2017 when I was kidnapped and my right hand chopped off by the Kidnappers, Udom Inoyo who was on annual vacation with his family in Houston, Texas but had to fly into Uyo to see me in the hospital and planned a way forward for my medical treatment and restoration. A feat that was only second to that of the governor of Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency, Deacon Udom Emmanuel.

“As an HR director before becoming In-country Vice Chairman for ExxonMobil Nigeria Udom had played a leading role in the hiring of senior staff and the promotions of Supervisors, Superintendents, and Managers of Akwa Ibom State indigenes.”

Dismissing insinuations in some quarters that Udom Inoyo was in the position to employ Akwa Ibom people to clerical positions in the company, and did not, Elder Udom differed candidly that “nobody in his position (Inoyo) would have come down from Lagos to Eket to employ technicians and Craftsmen into Mobil Producing Nigeria - a task that is wholly delegated to Superintendents and managers like himself and other Akwa Ibom indigenes who have utilized the opportunity to assist Akwa Ibom people obtained many of such offers in the company.

He expressed unflinching confidence in Mr. Inoyo as “a de-tribalized, focused, exposed, experienced, and well-trained leader” noting that “If he is allowed to govern Akwa Ibom State, he would move the State to an enviable level of development.”