Professional credibility for the marine and energy community.

Capt. Kingsley E. Akpan, MNI, is a Master Mariner and member of the Nautical Institute, London. He has spent over two decades at sea, working his way up from cadet to Master and spending nearly a decade in command. During that time he has led multinational crews, managed complex vessel operations, and made difficult calls in high-pressure environments without cutting corners on safety or discipline.

On shore, he founded World Cardinal Maritime Limited, a Nigerian maritime company. He has also put personal resources into his community, funding road rehabilitation across roughly five kilometres that had been left untarrable for over twenty years, sinking boreholes to improve water access, and setting up apprenticeship programmes for young people who needed a foot in the door.

MEPAAKS began in his parlour. On February 2, 2022, a small group gathered at his home in Ewet Housing Estate, Uyo, agreed on a name, and he created the first WhatsApp group that night. The association was then called the Akwa Ibom State Mariners Association (ASKMA). It grew fast, hit over 300 members within days, and eventually became MEPAAKS, formally registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission on June 25, 2025.

As President, he wants to move the association from its interim foundations into something with real structure, real influence, and real value for members. That means governance frameworks, job pipelines, welfare systems, and a seat at the table in industry conversations at both state and national level.

He sums up his leadership style simply: "A ship does not succeed because of the captain alone, but without a capable captain, it risks losing direction."

---

Ubong Akpabio has spent more than 17 years working across different arms of the energy sector: Security Administration, Aviation Security, Marine and Vessel Operations, and offshore security. He currently supports offshore security operations at the JV SEPLAT Field.

He is an active member of ASIS International (American Society for Industrial Security) and holds specialised knowledge as a Port Facility Security Officer (PFSO). His regulatory background covers ICAO standards for aviation, IMO and ISPS codes for marine work, and Standard Operating Procedures across IOCs.

His record of practical impact within the sector is substantial. He worked with DPA and Operations Managers to get internet routers installed on Fast Supply Vessels, giving crew access to the internet at sea. He conducted Voluntary Patrols on board FSVs to address repeated physical harassment of civilian crew. He investigated incidents involving vessel crew members, supported personnel placement on vessels, sponsored refresher training and DPR documentation for offshore workers, and helped members access credible job opportunities within IOCs and service companies.

Ubong was one of the people in the room when MEPAAKS was first conceived. As Vice President, he is pushing for an association where seniority is respected, younger members are genuinely supported, and everyone has a fair shot regardless of background. His three campaign pillars are Equity, Inclusion, and Opportunity for All.

---

Inimfon Ubokudom, MNI, did not wait for MEPAAKS to become an institution before committing to it. From the earliest days, when the association existed only as an idea and a WhatsApp group, he stepped up and started working.

He took on the job of coordinating the WhatsApp platform, bringing order to what could easily have become a chaotic group chat. He introduced a structured membership registration process through Google Forms, which shifted the association from a loose collection of contacts into a verified membership database. To build that database, he personally saved and organised over 600 phone numbers, going through each one to separate genuine members from infiltrators from neighbouring states and keep the platform credible.

That database is now the foundation for the association's voters' register. He also played a central role in coordinating the elections that produced the seven-member Board of Trustees, whose names were used to register MEPAAKS with the Corporate Affairs Commission and the Cooperative Society in Akwa Ibom State.

He continues to support both the executive team and the BOT by supplying data for the development of the association's web application.

His vision for the secretariat is practical: a well-run, technology-supported office that keeps the association moving whether he is at sea or ashore. He runs on the principle of Structure, Continuity, and Transparency, and his rallying call says it plainly: "From The Foundation... To The Future."

---

Victoria Sunday is from Ibiono Ibom L.G.A., Akwa Ibom State. She is direct about what she believes the Assistant General Secretary role is really about: not just taking minutes, but making sure the association's administrative engine actually works.

For her, that means members get information on time, documentation is properly kept and easy to retrieve, the executive team is well supported, and no important detail gets buried or forgotten. She thinks a lot of an association's credibility comes down to how well it handles the basics, and she is the kind of person who takes the basics seriously.

She pays attention to detail, follows through on responsibilities, and communicates clearly. Her goal is straightforward: an association that runs with order and efficiency, where members are not left in the dark and the secretariat is something people can actually rely on.

---

Miracle Nelson works at the intersection of people management and maritime operations. As a partner at Whale Offshore and Marine Services Ltd, she handles workforce coordination, compliance, and operational support. She is a licensed Human Resource practitioner and an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM), and she holds a Master's degree in Maritime Transport.

Her professional background has given her a structured, detail-oriented approach to administration and governance, which she sees as directly relevant to the Financial Secretary role. She is clear that the office is one of trust: it exists to safeguard the association's resources, keep accurate records, and make sure financial information flows clearly to members.

Her four key priorities are: keeping all financial activities documented and traceable with regular reporting to members; building reliable financial systems and processes that the association can depend on; encouraging responsible budgeting so the association stays financially stable over time; and making sure financial decisions serve member welfare and professional growth, not just operational costs.

Her campaign slogan is "Integrity in Stewardship, Excellence in Service," and she means it practically, not just as a tagline.

---

Dorcas Uwem Jonah is a Marine Engineer and Surveyor. In her professional career she has consistently worked in environments where precision and integrity are not optional, and she carries that same standard into her approach to financial management.

She is one of MEPAAKS' founding members, having given her consent to the association's formation during the very first meeting. She has also held financial responsibility within the MEPAAKS Think Tank from inception, managing resources carefully and ensuring proper utilisation throughout.

Her earlier experience as Treasurer of an NYSC CDS Group gave her practical grounding in fund management, record-keeping, and executing projects transparently under collective oversight.

As Treasurer, she wants every member to feel confident that the association's money is being handled properly. That means regular financial reports that are actually readable, transactions that are documented and verifiable, dues and payments handled on time, and a financial system strong enough to support real investment in member welfare and professional development.

Her four priorities are transparency in reporting, accountability in execution, value for members in every spending decision, and building the kind of financial structure that gives the association stability over time.

She lives by a straightforward philosophy: "Hard work, discipline, and consistency. Keep showing up and keep making those baby steps, it will all count one day."

---

Udiminue Mary Sunday is from Udung Uko Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. She studied Management at degree level and holds an HND in Maritime Transport and Business Management, a combination that gives her grounding in both business operations and the specifics of the maritime industry.

Her work experience is practical and varied. She has been involved in port operations, logistics, procurement, and administrative support within the maritime and energy sectors, picking up hands-on knowledge in vessel operations, berth occupancy monitoring, terminal documentation, procurement coordination, and project support along the way.

Her time with Eco Marine Terminals and Sterling Exploration & Energy gave her direct exposure to how these industries actually function day to day, including the importance of stakeholder coordination and operational efficiency.

As PRO, she is responsible for how MEPAAKS presents itself and communicates with both its members and the wider maritime community. She brings industry knowledge, professional communication skills, and a genuine interest in seeing the maritime sector grow in Akwa Ibom State.

Introduced by Inimfon Ubokudom, MNI, General Secretary, MEPAAKS (30 May 2026)

Udofia Esang Xavier knows this sector from the inside. Having worked in offshore environments, he has seen firsthand how quickly things can go wrong for a professional and how much it matters to have genuine support around you when they do.

That personal experience shapes everything about how he thinks the Welfare Officer role should work. Welfare, in his view, is not just about disbursing funds when someone is in crisis. It is about being present, being responsive, and making sure members actually feel like the association has their back.

His agenda covers a wide range of areas: a structured welfare support system for health emergencies, bereavement, and other critical situations; a Welfare Intervention Fund with a rapid response team; partnerships with healthcare providers for affordable medical access; mental health awareness particularly for offshore and high-risk workers; career mentorship and guidance; and social events that build real community among members.

He also takes financial transparency in welfare seriously. He wants clear records and regular reporting on how welfare funds are used, because trust in the system depends on members knowing where the money goes.

His promise to members: "Service Beyond Duty, Welfare Beyond Words."

---

Christopher Anietie Akpanobong hails from Ikot Ekong in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. He trained at the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, where he earned an HND in Marine Engineering. From there he kept going academically, picking up a Postgraduate Diploma in Marine Engineering, an M.Sc. in Engineering Management, and he is currently working towards a second M.Sc. in Naval Architecture.

On the job, he works as a Second Engineer, responsible for the management, maintenance, and efficient running of vessel machinery and systems. Over eight years in the oil and gas sector he has built a reputation for technical competence, operational discipline, and a serious commitment to maritime safety standards.

As Provost I of MEPAAKS, he brings that same standard of professionalism to the association. His background in both the technical and management sides of marine engineering puts him in a strong position to support the association's work and contribute to building a credible, well-run institution for maritime and energy professionals in Akwa Ibom State.

---

Introduced by Inimfon Ubokudom, MNI, General Secretary, MEPAAKS (30 May 2026)

Emem Etim Udomessien is from Abat Town in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. He started out at the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, where he got his OND in Electrical Engineering. He then went on to the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport in Egypt, graduating with a First Class Bachelor's Degree in Marine Engineering with Honours. He also obtained his Certificate of Competency from the Egyptian Maritime Authority.

While at the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, he served as a Gunnery Instructor, becoming known among students and colleagues for his discipline, dedication, and willingness to invest in the development of junior maritime professionals.

His career has taken him across different environments. He has worked as a Third Engineer with several reputable companies in Nigeria, gaining solid experience in vessel operations, machinery maintenance, and marine engineering systems. He also spent time as a Shipyard Engineer in Dubai, contributing to the maintenance and repair of marine assets in one of the most demanding and competitive maritime environments in the world.

That combination of academic distinction, varied sea-going experience, and international shipyard exposure gives him a broad perspective on what it takes to operate and maintain vessels to a high standard. As Provost II of MEPAAKS, he brings those qualities to bear in supporting the association's mission of advancing professionalism among marine and energy practitioners in Akwa Ibom State.

---