Biography

Biography of Samuel Ortom, Governor

Samuel Ortom

Chief Dr. Samuel Ioraer Ortom, Governor of Benue State was born on April 23, 1961. He is from Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria. He 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, Markurdi, in 1974, where he completed primary education in 1976. Chief Dr. Ortom proceeded to Idah Secondary Commercial College, Idah, Kogi State in 1976. His secondary Education was however brought to an abrupt stop in 1979 following his father?s retirement and his subsequent inability to pay his school fees.

Samuel Ortom thereafter left school and got into Gboko motor park in other to support his family. He was therafter helped by one good Samaritan who taught him how to drive and thereafter obtained a driver?s licence for him. He later became driver to Pa Samu Ihugh, a prominent Gboko based Christian leader and Politician.

It was in the course of working that he found an advert for a correspondence course in the National School of Salesmanship, Manchester. This however launched him into acquiring knowledge through correspondence courses. Through this means, he had his General Certificate of Education(GCE) and a Diploma in salesmanship.

Highly motivated to further his Education, 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 went to 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.

He worked with Gyado Foods Co. Limited and rose from saleman to sales manager. He thereafter became the Executive Chairman of Guma Local Government Area from 1991 to 1993 under the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

He then became 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)

Chief Dr. Ortom was the 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. 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).

He was appointed chairman of the governing council of the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON).He also established the 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. 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.

Samuel Ortom is a recipient of several awards, including Best Performing Local Government chairman, 1992, 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.

As Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment, he contributed immensely to the attraction of huge investments into Nigeria.

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. 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.

Chief Dr. Samuel Ortom is a widely travelled man who has visited several countries in Africa and Europe. He is married and blessed with 10 children and four grandchildren. His hobbies include badminton, reading, philanthropy, farming, aerobics and evangelism.

- Biography Of Maria Idenyi Mark
Maria Idenyi MarkMrs. Maria Idenyi Mark the amiable Director of Education, Ministry of Defence was born on March 12, 1960 at Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State. She had her primary education at St. Francis Primary School otukpo Benue State...

- Biography Of Abdullahi Adamu, Ex-governor, Senator
Abdullahi AdamuAbdullahi Adamu, former Governor and senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was born at Keffi, Nasarawa State, on July 23, 1946. He is an indigene of Nasarawa State. He attended Senior Primary Shool Keffi, then proceeded to Government...

- Biography Of Athan Nneji Achonu, Senator
Athan Nneji AchonuChief Athan Nneji Achonu, Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Was born on May 31, 1959. He is an indigene of Imo State in Nigeria. He had his early education at Madonna High School Etiti in Imo State, Government College Umuahia...

- Audu Ogbeh, Biography And Profile
Audu Innocent OgbehAudu Innocent Ogbeh was born on July 28, 1947, in Otukpo, Benue State, of Idoma Origin. He was the Chairman of the People?s Democratic Party(PDP) from 2001 to 2005.He attended King's College, Lagos...

- Biography Of Dave Umahi; Governor; Politician; Ebonyi State Celebrity.
Engr. David Nweze Umahi is the son of Elder Chief Joseph Umahi Nweze of Umunaga village, Uburu autonomouscommunity in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. He was born on January 1, 1964. Dave Umahi attended Umunaga Primary School, Uburu between...

Biography