Obong Victor Attah, the second democratically elected governor of Akwa Ibom State, turns 80 on Tuesday.
On Attah’s birthday anniversary, President Muhammadu Buhari has eulogised him on his 80th birthday.
President Buhari, in a statement by Femi Adesina, his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Monday, said the former governor shaped the Infrastructural development in his state.
The statement reads: “President Buhari joins family members, friends, professional colleagues and political associates of the former governor in celebrating the many years of service to God and humanity and obvious impact of his leadership style.
“The President commends the strategic thinking and planning of Obong Attah and his cabinet in shaping the infrastructure development of Akwa Ibom, which still remains one of the most hospitable and attractive states for tourists in the country.’’
President Buhari affirmed that Obong Attah’s contribution to architectural development has been remarkable, and historical, especially his stewardship as the President of the Nigerian Institute of Architects.
According to Wikipedia, Attah was born on November 20, 1938 in Okop Ndua Erong in Ibesikpo Asutan local government area of Akwa Ibom State.
He completed post-primary education in 1956. He gained a degree from Leeds College of Art and a post graduate diploma in Building Science from Liverpool University in 1965.
Victor won the scholarship to study at Columbia University in New York, where he obtained an MA in Advanced Architectural Design and Planning. He also attended the Kennedy Graduate School of Governance at Harvard University.
After completing his education, he practised as an architect in the Caribbean, New York, and Nigeria.
He is a one-time National President of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA).
In 1997, Victor Attah was a member of G-36, the body that birthed Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
He was served as Akwa Ibom governor from 1999 to 2007.
Attah was elected Chairman of the Forum of the 36 Governors of Nigeria in 2003. During this period too, he championed for the entrenchment of resource control.
He was a member of the Board of Trustees of PDP, but later defected to All Progressives Congress, APC.
Obong Attah ran for the 2007 presidential nomination of the PDP in 2007, but later withdrew.
In March 2008, Victor Attah joined ExecutiveAction, a consultancy that helps firms manage problems in difficult business environments.
