– By Essien S Essien
It is with deep sorrow and shock that we mourn the passing of Emmanuel Umoh, PhD, which was made public in an obituary announcement by his family.
Immediately the sad and shocking news hit members of Akwa Ibom Diaspora, the airwaves got busy with calls and SMS to one another.
Ever since then, they have been extending their deepest sympathy to and support for his wife, Mrs. Dorothy Umoh, their children, and family in their bereavement.
Akwa Ibom Diaspora no doubt looks forward to the opportunity to engage actively in the celebration of Dr. Umoh’s life and burial, which, according to the family, will be announced in due course.
Dr. Umoh hailed from Nsasak, Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria. He was the 13th National President of Akwa Ibom State Association of Nigeria USA, Inc. (AKISAN). He succeeded Christopher Oyobio, an indigene of Oron, as AKISAN National President, in a year AKISAN was remarkably held high as a fine example of a representative organization of Akwa Ibom Diaspora. It amounted to an organization worth emulating, where to this day, ethnic origin was not and has not been a hindrance to any son or daughter of Akwa State, aspiring to assume the helm at that umbrella socio-cultural organization of Akwa Ibom people in the Diaspora.
As National President of AKISAN, Dr. Umoh, aware of the enormous potential and impact of Akwa Ibom Diaspora, sought to, and actually did transform and reposition AKISAN to “gain public respect and appreciation as an institution contributing to society.”
He pursued that objective through its vaunted strategic planning model for “transforming business objectives to business values.”
“I first met Emmanuel Umoh when I was serving as Chair and CEO of Institute of Management Consultants USA,” says Don Matheson in his encouraging online assessment of the late icon, Dr. Umoh
“He helped build out the concept by participating in several key development roles and then took on additional responsibilities with the Foundation Sprint Team,” Dr. Matheson wrote.
“The Institute of Management Consultants USA could not have accomplished such results without the dedication and commitment of Dr. Emmanuel Umoh.”
Despite his accomplishments and positive perception in corporate America, coupled with his genuine attempt to move AKISAN beyond its isolated operating environment into a broader view and on to a global stage, Dr. Umoh was dogged for a great part of his tenure by criticism in his home Chapter of Dallas, Texas.
Following his tenure as AKISAN National President, Dr. Umoh entered the race for National President of the Nto-Annang Foundation (NAF), an unsuccessful bid which exposed his partial understanding of the political dynamics of his ethinic socio-cultural organization. Asked why Dr. Umoh’s quest to serve his people was spurned despite his remarkable tenure as AKISAN National President, an elderly and ranking member of NAF pointedly said at the time, “yem owo nye,” a popular aphorism of Ndigbo, who, in their own dialect, means, “Ima mmadu?” Translated, it means “it all depends on who you know.”
Dr. Umoh was neither haunted nor daunted by that experience. He felt no bitterness, either. Instead, the alumnus of the University of Southern California (USC), where he also earned his PhD, took up other community service responsibilities. A detribalized patriot, he refused to back down on his devotion to serving Akwa Ibom people in other capacities. As CEO of XEQ Consulting Solutions LLC, he introduced Ubium Development Association in USA (UDA) to the Lagos, Nigeria, based Thompson and Grace Pharmaceuticals Limited for financial support and donation of medical supplies in support of UDA’s Short Term Medical and Surgical Mission in 2018. The success of that year’s Medical Mission was due in large part to Dr. Umoh’s involvement and his introduction of UDA to the Dr. Isaac Thompson Amos, [now late] the Managing Director Thompson and Grace, whose support was of inestimable value.
In business and industry, where he eventually returned to before his painful exit, Dr. Umoh, coupled with his many other selfless initiatives, helped establish the Akwa Global Investment (AGI). According to its website, the Vision of AGI, which Dr. Umoh led as the pioneer Chief Executive Officer (CEO) “is to relentlessly encourage Akwa Ibom people globally to invest in Akwa Ibom State to grow the economic base.”
As an entrepreneur, Dr. Umoh promoted cooperation and opportunities for investment by Diaspora investors in the homeland. His pivotal role and partnership with the late Dr. Amos, MD,Thompson and Grace Pharmaceuticals Limited, facilitated the laying of the foundation stone in 2016 of the Medical City Project in Afaha Obong, Abak Local Government Areas, Akwa Ibom State, which former Governor Udom Emmanuel, represented by his deputy, Moses Ekpo, inaugurated with fanfare.
According to media report, “Governor Emmanuel also assured the proprietors of the proposed medical city of the state government’s support to bring the project to fruition.
“Not less than 35,000 Akwa Ibom State indigenes will access employment opportunity when the project takes off,” he reportedly said.
Dr. Umoh was a patriot, a detribalized and selfless and illustrious son of Akwa Ibom State, whose legacy and contributions as one of the foremost leaders of Akwa Ibom Diaspora will long be remembered.
Adieu, our dear friend, and may God grant your soul eternal rest in His bosom..
