CROS RIVER STATE GUBER ASPIRANTS, 2015 (3)

Profile OF Patrick Abunimye Ugbe

Patrick Ugbe is a seasoned broad- caster with over 20 years cognate experience in various dimensions of electronic journalism.

During this period, he initiated, produced and presented several programmes that have been critical to the socio-economic development of Nigeria. Lately, he has been piloting the affairs of the Ministry of Youth & Sports, where he is driving the vision of sports development and youth empowerment of the administration. It is to his credit that Cross River State is increasingly becoming a destination for sporting events in the country.
Before this time, he was driving the media relations and corporate communication of the Governor, His Excellency, Senator Liyel Imoke, and the government of Cross River State using multi-media platforms. Urbane, articulate, disciplined and driven by hard work and excellence, Mr. Ugbe was born on April 21, 1966.

He had his primary education at Holy Child Convent School, Ogoja, and Primary School, Akim Qua Town, Calabar. Aft er his secondary education at Hope Waddle Training Insti- tution, and St. Patrick’s College, Calabar, he proceeded to the University of Calabar where he acquired a Bachelors of Arts, (Hons) Degree in Th eatre Arts in 1987.

After his graduation, Ugbe quickly cut his teeth in core elements of television programming and presentation while on National Service (NYSC) at the Nigeria Television Authority, NTA 2, Channel 5, Lagos in 1988.

Twenty years later, through dint of hard work and creativity, he had become a professional to be reckoned with in the broadcast industry and the media in general. In carving a niche in the media, he has drawn deeply from professional training he had at NTA’s Television College, Jos, Communications Group Inc. Richmond Virginia, USA, and the Lagos Business School.

 Mr. Ugbe was appointed the Chief Press Secretary, and Special Assistant, Media, to the Governor of Cross River State in 2007. Putting the interest of the State first, he resigned as the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of DBS Media (a T.V. Production/Service Company he co-founded) to offer his services and experience to the government and people of Cross River State. During this period, he helped consolidate the branding of the State as a Destination, positioning the government of the State strategically in terms of responsible governance and benchmark service delivery.  

Due to his hard work and performance, he was elevated to the position of Com- missioner for Information and Orientation in December, 2010, a position he held creditably, breathing new life into the affairs of the Ministry.

In March 2012, he was re-appointed and assigned to the Ministry of Youth & Sports Development after the re-election of Governor Imoke. He has virtually transformed that sector, making Cross River State not just a force to be reckoned with in sports, but a destination for sporting excellence. A man of integrity and purpose, Mr. Ugbe has won many awards in broad- casting.

He is married with three lovely daughters.
Widely travelled, his hobbies include; reading, sports, travelling and meeting people