Ibok-Ete Ibas: 8 interesting facts about the new Rivers State administrator

March 19, 2025 Chii Nonso More News 0

After declaring statement of emergency in Rivers State this evening, President Bola Tinubu appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Rtd) to man the affairs of the state.

But who is Ibok-Ete Ibas? Below are 7 interesting facts about the military officer.

  1. Ibas was born on September 27, 1960, in Nko, Cross Rivers State. This means he would be turning 65 this year.
  2. He started his primary school at Nko Primary School but finished at another school, Big Qua Primary School, in 1971. Ibas proceeded to Hope Waddell Training Institute from1972 to 1976, and then to School of Basic Studies in Ogoja where he schooled between 1977 and 1978.
  3. In 1979, Ibok-Ete Ibas enrolled in Nigerian Defence Academy and was commissioned in January 1981.
  4. After that he did other number of professional military courses in Nigeria and abroad. He studied at Marine Corps University in Quantico, Virginia; the National Defence College in Islamabad, Pakistan. Also he did courses in INS Venduruthy in India, Jaji and at the 301 Primary Flying Training School in Kaduna.
  5. His career spanned over forty years. Early in his career, he served on vessels such as NNS Ruwan Yaro, NNS Obuma, and NNS Aradu. He later became the executive officer of NNS Siri, NNS Ekun, and NNS Ambe between 1993 and 1996.
  6. He served as the 22nd Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) of the Nigerian Navy between July 13, 2015, and January 29, 2021. Having joined the military in his twenties, Ibas career spanned over forty years.
  7. His leadership roles were almost countless. They included commanding officer of the Nigerian Navy Underwater Warfare School, commanding officer of the Forward Operating Base Ibaka, Naval provost marshal, principal staff officer to the CNS, command operations officer at Western Naval Command, commander of the Naval Air Base in Ojo. He once served as Nigeria’s Ambassador to Ghana.
  8. He won numerous awards, including Silver Jubilee Medal, ECOMOG Medal, Forces Service Star, Meritorious Service Star, Distinguished Service Star, and the General Service Star. In October 2022, former President Muhammadu Buhari conferred on Ibok-Ete Ibas Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR).