Dr. Tom Mbeke-Ekanem is a Regulatory Engineer with California Regional Water Quality Control Board, a division of California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal-EPA). He is licensed with the State of California as a Registered Environmental Assessor (REA). He holds Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Petroleum Engineering and Master of Science (M.S) degree in Industrial Engineering, both from the University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma in 1984 and 1991, respectively. In May 2009, he earned Doctorate degree in Public Administration from the University of La Verne in Greater Los Angeles area, California.
In 1986, Dr. Mbeke-Ekanem returned to Nigeria and in May 1987 he enlisted in NYSC and was deployed with Elf Oil Company in Port Harcourt. During this time, he was exposed to, perhaps, the most polluted environment in the world and yet the indigenes never benefitted from the oil revenue.
Dr. Mbeke-Ekanem is a man of few words but many letters. On his return to United States in 1989, Dr. Mbeke-Ekanem became the first person to launch fight for resource control. He began to write about his horrible experience in his widely acclaimed book titled "Beyond the Execution – Understanding the Ethnic and Military Politics in Nigeria". Many in oil producing area of Niger Delta fondly call the book "Resource Control" book.
In his presentation titled "Economic Justice or Self Determination for the People of Akwa Ibom State" at the AKISAN National Convention at Philadelphia in August 1994, Dr. Mbeke-Ekanem made a passionate plea to AKISAN and its leadership, local and national, to take on the leading role of advocating for our people. When that plea failed, Dr. Mbeke-Ekanem in July 1995 established what would eventually become Ibom Peoples Congress (IPC).
Essentially, IPC was formed to serve as a responsible advocate for the advancement of equity, social justice and fair-play for the people of Akwa lbom State. It was to raise awareness on the deplorable environmental and stagnant economic situation in the oil rich Niger Delta of Nigeria, specifically, Akwa Ibom State. IPC was also committed to promoting credible democracy through education, and economic empowerment. Dr. Mbeke-Ekanem's collaborative skills and contributions to the growth of IPC organization and hence, the peo-ple of the oil producing region of Nigeria over the years, are invaluable and highly commendable.
When in early 2000, the Yorubas headed by Atty. Rotimi Williams (SAN) re-introduced the obnoxious on-shore-offshore oil dichotomy, IPC kicked against it by sending a strong worded letter with nearly 1000 signa-tories to Pres. Obasanjo and the National Assembly. During the deliberation of the case in the Supreme Court, these signatories were tendered to the Court by our legal team led by Barr. Assam E. Assam (SAN) to buttress the objection to the onshore-offshore dichotomy by Akwa Ibomites around the world.
Dr. Mbeke-Ekanem brazed the trail when in 2002 he set up Ibom forum to give Akwa Ibomites world-wide a platform to communicate, learn and exchange ideas. Thanks goodness, today there are more than enough of these forums that allow everyone to pick and choose which one can best serve their needs and desire.
In recognition of his contributions, Dr. Mbeke-Ekanem was among the maiden group to be given AKISAN BOT Award under the chairmanship of late Dr. Nsidibe Ikpe. Other awardees in that group were Prof. Akpan Ekpo, Chief Ufot Ekaete, Prof. Hilary Inyang, and a couple of others.
In May 2004, IPC organized its 1st International Summit at Houston, Texas. The summit attracted many gov-ernment officials and dignitaries around the world. Following the success of that Summit, Gov. Attah invited IPC for a formal presentation of the Summit Communique. Dr. Mbeke-Ekanem and two other officials of IPC, Prof. Godwin Umoette of Tyler, Texas and Ms. Nsikak Umoh of Albany, New York had the honor of pre-senting the Communique to an overflowed Executive Council at Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on July 19, 2004.
To further expand his sphere of audience, Dr. Mbeke-Ekanem in July 2005, participated in the United Nation sponsored workshop under the theme "International Conference on Energy, Environment, and Disasters (INCEED 2005)" at Charlotte, North Carolina. Also presenting a paper on the plight of Niger Delta States at the workshop was the late governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha. The following year 2006, Dr. Mbeke-Ekanem was invited to participate in another United Nation organized workshop under the theme "International Conference on Infra Structure Development and the Environment" at Abuja, Nigeria in Sep-tember 2006.
Right before the UN Conference at Abuja, IPC under Dr. Mbeke-Ekanem's leadership organized a 3-day 2nd International Summit at Uyo that witnessed the first ever nationally televised gubernatorial debate in Nige-ria. In recognition of this effort, IPC was commended by Nigeria Federal House of Assembly, Abuja. Not only did the IPC summit bring Turkey's industrialists for the purpose of establishment industries in Akwa Ibom State, it was at this summit that the concept of "Town Hall Meeting" was introduced in Akwa Ibom.
In 2012, Dr. Mbeke-Ekanem was appointed to serve in "26th Senate District African Trade and Investment Commission" set up by Senator Curren D. Price, Jr. of California State Senate. About the same time, Dr. Mbeke-Ekanem was appointed to serve in the Committee for Constituency for Africa established by Western Union in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to offer grants to Africans in USA to establish businesses in Africa.
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For a complete list of the activities and accomplishments of IPC during Dr. Mbeke-Ekanem's leadership, visit IPC's website (PDF).