By Dele Ogbodo
As part of ramping up efforts toward fulfilling President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, has created Special Project Delivery Monitoring and Evaluation.
To drive the newly created team, the Minister has therefore appointed Dr. Patricks Oghuma, as Special Assistant (Technical Administration).
EXTRAORDINAIRE.COM, checks showed that Oghuma’s role will be to support the Minister’s efforts in the effective design and implementation of projects and programmes in the Ministry, in line with the presidential priority areas and to ensure that the administrative processes of the Minister’s office are efficient and effective.
Oghuma, holds a doctorate in Information Science and Telecommunications Technology. After completing two previous degrees in Information Science and Telecommunications Technology from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) in South Korea. He also holds a Bachelor’s in Electrical-Electronic Engineering from Edo State University Ekpoma.
In addition to his academic degrees, he holds certificates from several organizations, including the Commonwealth Telecommunication Organization (CTO) UK, Global System Mobile Communication Association (GSMA), United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), ZTE University China, Huawei Technologies China, Swedish Programme for ICT Development in Emerging Regions (SPIDER) / Stockholm University Sweden, and the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Nigeria, among others. He has also attended various management programmes in renowned universities around the world including the Strategic Thinking, Science Park and Management programme at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), South Korea.
Oghuma, joined the Civil Service in 1999 and steadily progressed to the position of Assistant Director in 2020 and in recognition of his unwavering commitment and dedication to the Service, he received the Presidential EPIC Merit Award of Excellence in 2019. He is hardworking, brilliant, diligent, forward-looking and deeply patriotic.
From July 2018 to September 2023, Oghuma served as a Senior Technical Assistant to several Federal Permanent Secretaries in various Ministries including Federal Ministry of Communication Technology, Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, Federal Ministry of Defence, Federal Civil Service Commission, Federal Ministry of Science, Innovation and Technology, and Federal Ministry of Women Affairs.
These experiences have been significant milestones in his career, further reinforcing his reputation as an experienced civil servant. His appointment as a Technical Assistant among esteemed Permanent Secretaries is a testament to his expertise and skills.
The newly appointed SA has received commendations from the Minister of Communications in 2016, 2017, and 2019, as well as in 2023 from the former Minister of State for Science, Technology and Innovation, for his exceptional work ethics, stakeholder management, technical and analytical writing skills, resourcefulness, excellence, and dedication to duties during the Recruitment and Selection process for key appointments in various government bodies in the Federal Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation in 2023.
Currently, he is an e-Government Instructor at e-Government Training Centre , Abuja and a Part-Time Facilitator at Baze University Abuja, teaching e-Governance and ICT4D (2023- Present). He is a member of the Nigeria Internet Governance Forum and the Local Multi-stakeholder’s Advisory Group (LMAG).
Oghuma, is affiliated with several professional bodies including the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), Computer Professionals of Nigeria (CPN), Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Institute of Electrical Electronic Engineers
(IEEE), Korea Society of Management Information System (KMIS), and International Telecommunications Society (ITS). He is also a member of the ICT for National Development Committee under the Nigeria Computer Society and a Fellow of the Information Marketing & Management Institute (FIMMI).
He is a Secretariat member of the Presidential Evaluation and Monitoring Council on the mapping of dysfunctional industries in Nigeria and he was Member, Local Organizing Committee to organize the Technology and Innovation EXPO 2024, Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology 11-14 March, 2024.
He was a discussant at the just concluded 8th Innovation and Technology Expo 2024, at the Technical Session at Investor/ Researchers Forum with the topic, Research & Development/ Industry Linkages, where he advised Researchers and academia to ensure that outcomes of research on STI are used to enrich policies that impact the real sector and should be market driven. He also noted that Government acts as a public entrepreneur and venture capitalist in addition to its traditional regulatory roles in setting the rules of the games.
Oghuma, who is a seasoned ICT/Telecoms/(e-Government) expert, is expected to bring to bear his decade-long experience serving as aide to several Permanent Secretaries in different MDAs in supporting the Minister’s Office, the Ministry and Agencies under the Ministry, in meeting the deliverables of the Performance Bond the Minister signed with President Tinubu.
The other appointees included: Dr. Christpeace Ezebuiro, Special Assistant/Head, PDM&E Unit, Special Assistant – Technical Administration, John John Uket, TAA, Nnenna Nwankwo, EST, Fatima Olarewaju, TAA, Iquo Offiong, Collins Agwu, STP, Joan John Okon, BRT, Sakinat Bello Atoyebi, HBS.