Hon. (Evang) Hope O. Ikiriko, FCNA., FNES,. DSSRS., Ph.D is the current Chairman, Board of Governing Council, Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Rumuola. Prior to that, he was the Executive Chairman of Ahoada West Local Government Area in Rivers State.
He is a Politician and a Chartered Accountant who was born on the 19th of September, 1967 to the family of late Rev. and Mrs. Howard M. Ikiriko of Ogbologbolo Community in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Hon. (Evang.) Hope Ikiriko is married to Dr. (Mrs.) Patricia Ikiriko and they are both blessed with two lovely children, their son Doxa and Chanan-Christie their daughter.
Hon. (Evang.) Hope Ikiriko started his educational career at the Rivers State Government Primary School in his Community Ogbologbolo shortly after the Nigerian Civil War, but was later transferred to Government Primary School Ahoada in 1976 and later changed again to Universal Primary Education (UPE) Model Primary School Ahoada where he completed his Primary School in 1982 with the First School Leaving Certificate (FLSC).
Thereafter he got enrolled into Western Ahoada County High School Ahoada between 1982 and 1987, where he completed his Secondary Education with flying colours and obtained his West African School Certificate, WASC (O’ Level).
This diligent young man after his Secondary Education proceeded to Owerri Imo State where he worked briefly for the Universal Press Limited (UPL) and Afribank PLC.
In 1989 he gained admission into the University of Port Harcourt Choba and graduated with a B.Sc in Botany, after which he proceeded to Imo State to do his National Youths Service.
He completed his National Youth Service with a merit Award of Excellence (NYSC Merit Award 1993/94 Batch).
In addition to his B.Sc degree he has the following degrees and certificates:
– Post Graduate Diploma in Petroleum Technology -PGDPT
– Post Graduate Diploma in Business Studies
– MBA in Accounting
– M.SC in Accounting
– Ph.D (Accounting) in view
His political career began effectively in 1998 and in 1999 he was elected into the Rivers State House of Assembly to represent the Ahoada West State Constituency. He served meritoriously for three tenure of 12 years (1999-2011). And all through these period he served as the Chief Whip of the House for two tenures and also deputy leader of the house in his third tenure.
During his tenure in the house of Assembly he sponsored over 15 bills and several motions of high impact. He also chaired several Adhoc committees that were very sensitive in nature including the Committee for the resolution of the Choba Crisis, the Committee for the resolution of the Ogu / Bolo Crisis, Kidnap Bill Committee, committee for the Domestic Violence Bill and many others.
In his twelve years as a member of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Ikiriko served in several standing committees such as the house committees on works, Transport, Local Government, Power, Employment, Energy, Environment, Sustainable Development to mention but a few.
Beyond politics, Hon (Evang.) Hope Odhuluma Ikiriko owns the following companies:
- Hope Ikiriko and Co. (Accounting Tax and Auditing Firm) based in Abuja.
- PH Investment Ltd. amongst others.
In 2013, Hon. (Evang.) Hope Odhuluma Ikiriko was appointed by the then President of the country Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as the Federal Commissioner Representing Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers State in the Federal Civil Service Commission Abuja for a period of 5 years (2013-2018).
A position that was made possible by a strong recommendation from the Governor of Rivers State Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike who was then the Minister of State for Education.
As a Federal Commissioner, Hon. Ikiriko gave employment to over 5,000 youths across the Niger Delta particularly in the three States that he represented and a few other states in the country. He also assisted in ensuring that justice was done to so many Federal Civil Servants in the country particularly from the Niger Delta on the issues relating to promotion and discipline.
As a Federal Commissioner he served in the following capacities, and in all of them he discharged his duties with exceptional credibility and uncommon candour.
- Commissioner Supervising the Federal Ministry of Works, Housing & Power.
- Commissioner Supervising the Federal Ministry of Labour.
- Commissioner Supervising the Federal Ministry of Police Affairs.
- Commissioner supervising the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel.
- Commissioner supervising the Federal Ministry of Water Resources amongst others.
Other positions he held in the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) includes the following
- Liaison Commissioner for the National Assembly.
- Member, FCSC Committee on Discipline.
- Member, FCSC Committee on promotion.
- Chairman, FCSC Committee on Budget.
Hon. (Evang.) Hope Odhuluma Ikiriko is an ordained Evangelist of the Faith Life Ministries International. A motivational speaker who believes and preaches the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. A man who declined from many offers of chieftaincy titles because of his spiritual belief yet bagged several meritorious awards of Excellence as follows:
- Honorary member of the Louisiana State House of Assembly Baton Rouge United State of America.
- California state Assembly Certificate of Recognition U.S.A.
- Justice of the Peace of Rivers State Judiciary.
- 2006/2007 Distinguished Service Award from the Rotary Club of Port Harcourt Central – Rotary International District 91402.
- Best COVID-19 Performing LGA Chairman’s Award by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) – 2020
He has the following professional affiliations.
- Member Certified National Accountants of Nigeria (CNA).
- Member, Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN).
- Member, Nigeria Environmental Society (NES).
- Member, Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM) Chattered.
- Fellow, Institute of Strategic Management Nigeria (FISMN).
- Fellow, Chartered Association of Business Administrators (CABA), Canada
- Fellow, Institute of Financial Consultants (IFC), U.S.A.
- Fellow, Institute of Corporate Administration (FCAI).
- Fellow, Institute of Management Consultants (IMC-Nigeria).
- International Council of Management Consulting Institute accredited Member
At the expiration of the successful 5 years tenure in the Federal Civil Service Commission in 2018, he returned home and was compelled by his people from Ahoada West to contest as the Executive Chairman of the Local Government. In June 2018 he contested for the position and won with an overwhelming majority vote.
A position he is holding up till date. And since his inception in office, the Local Government Area has experienced a tremendous development especially in the area of Rural Electrification and an impressive touch of professionalism in the Administration of the Council.
This is evident in the numerous meaningful projects he is executing that are of high impact in nature. Chief amongst them is the RURAL ELECTRIFICATION PROJECT (REP), which when completed will bring about a total turn around in the development of the area.
Hon. (Evang.) Hope Odhuluma Ikiriko has also distinguished himself in the area of crisis and natural disaster management as it was shown in his approach towards the management of security challenges in the area. Another case was his approach towards the management of the flood disaster of 2018, 2019 and 2020. And finally his effort in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic in the area.
It might interest you to know that in this just concluded Local Government Election of Rivers State held on the 17th of April 2021, Hon. (Evang) Hope O. Ikiriko has been re-elected again for the second term in office.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen as you gather today to honour this humble, diligent and quintessential politician, you are not just honoring an icon and an astute Administrator, but you are honoring excellence and meritocracy, a man who has brought hope to our people and has enthroned Godliness in governance.