A GREAT SOLDIER JOURNEYS HOME – Samuel Edet, Ph D
Born on the 20th day of December 1940, Major-General Edet Adam Akpan (rtd) attended the Qua Iboe Church Secondary School, Etinan and passed out in 1961 with the West African School Certificate. He was at the institution again for the Higher School Certificate and graduated in 1963.
The stage was therefore set for him to pursue higher education. This he did at the famous University of Ibadan where he studied Chemistry and graduated with a B, Sc. Honours degree in 1967. Wanting to place emphasis on education, Gen Akpan enrolled at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria for a post graduate diploma in education. With a B Sc in Chemistry and a post graduate diploma in education, he was set for a career in the Nigerian Army.
Commissioned Lieutenant in 1968, he rose to the rank of Major General (Two-Star General) from where he retired in 1996.
Before his retirement, General AE Akpan held some important appointments in the Nigerian Army some of which include: Assistant Director of Army Education, Commandant, Institute of Army Education, Principal General Staff Officer, Army Headquarters (Education), Director General, National Youth Service Corps (1984 – 1987) and Corps Commandant, Army Education Corps (1990 – 1996).
As General Akpan (rtd) journeys home, he takes with him a world of experience. He was Fellow of the Institute of Training and Development (FITD), United Kingdom, Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Administration and Member University Council, University of Ibadan.
He participated and visited Youth Programmes/Conferences in Tanzania, Jamaica, UK and the United States of America, Gen Akpan represented the Army in the highest education authority in the country – the National Council on Education (NCE) where he participated in the formulation of the 6-3-3-4 system of education. He served as Pro Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Federal University of Technology, Yola.
Married with children, General AE Akpan would have still been of service to Akwa Ibom State, a state he helped to midwife but death came along, probably not in due time. Be that as it may, may the soul General AE Akpan (rtd) find eternal repose in the bosom of the Lord.
