Funeral Plans Of Late Nigerian Icon, General Edet Akpan, Underway
… As Family Commences Preparation, Opens Condolence Register
By Edidiong Albert
Preparation has commenced for the funeral of Nigeria’s departed elder statesman, late Major-General Edet Akpan (rtd.), a one-time director-general of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
As a prelude to the forthcoming obsequies to bid farewell to the departed colossus, the family has opened a condolence register at his residence, 53 Itiam Street, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
A central planning committee (CPC) chaired by an educationist and entrepreneur, High Chief Gabriel Umoden, a close associate of the late Nigerian leader, has been constituted by the family.
Among members of the CPC are General Anthony Etukudo (rtd.), Obong Rita Akpan, a former minister of women afairs, Obong (Engr.) Efiok Akpan, Obong Bassey Inuaeyen, Prince Austin Utuk, Dcns Ime Eseme Essien, Hon. Lawrence Udosen, Dr. Nseabsi Udoeyo, Dr Uduak Okon, Chief Friday Okono, Mr. Udom Inoyo, Dr Ime Essien, Mr. Victor Akpan, Elder Patrick Albert, Mrs Regina Udobong, Otuekong Uduak Eshiet, chairman, Nsit Atai LGA, and Mr. Sylvester Edem, who serves as secretary.
A statement by Elder Patrick Albert and Mr. Sylvester Edem, the chairman and the secretary, Media/Publicity Sub-committee, requests members of the public, particularly government, military, associates, public and private organisations, chieftains of political and religious bodies, wishing to send tributes/condolence messages to the family to submit at the family compound, or send through the e-mail address:genakpan2020@gmail.com.
Born December 20, 1940, Akpan, from Nsit Atai Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, attended Etinan Institute, Etinan, University of Ibadan, and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he had his WASC, B.Sc. (Hons) in Chemistry and Post-graduate Diploma in Education respectively.
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He was commissioned lieutenant in the Nigerian Army in 1967 and held several positions in the Army which included chief instructor, Nigerian Military School, Zaria – 1968; deputy commandant, Nigeria Army School of Education, Ilorin; and assistant director, Army Education, I Mechanized Division, Kaduna.
He also held the position of Colonel General Staff, Army Headquarters Education; commandant, Institute of Army Education, Ojo, Lagos; director general, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), 1984; and on completion of tenure was deployed as director/commandant, Nigerian Army Education Corps and School -1987:
Akpan was promoted Brigadier General in 1990 and in 1994 rose to the enviable rank of Major General before retiring in 1995. He was a member of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Plateau State (mni), had numerous military medals of honour which included Forces Services Star (Fss); Meritorious Service Star (Mss), Distinguished Service Star (Dss) as well as Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR).
Upon retirement, General Akpan became a successful entrepreneur and was chairman of a business conglomerate, Stallion Systems Ltd., from 1995 till his demise.
The late two-star general was an elder of the Qua Iboe Church and was equally honoured with chieftaincy titles among which were Otuekong of Nsit Atai, Unwana Iwok, Eduek of Uyo and member of Traditional Rulers Council of the Igwe of Mbaukwu kingdom in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
