Engr Gideon Ikhine resigned from Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in 1997 to establish Nugi Limited, an Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) company. Within 10 years after its establishment, Nugi Limited grew to become a major player in the Nigerian construction industry employing hundreds of Nigerians. Nugi Limited as at today, has over 350 permanent staff in its employment. Through dedication and hard work, which are the attributes of Engr Gideon Ikhine, he has been able to build a Nigerian construction company that can compete with the likes of Julius Berger and Mother Cat.
Under Nugi Limited, he has undertaken very significant EPIC projects like bridges, roads, runways and heavy foundation construction works for the leading International Oil Companies in Nigeria like Shell, ExxonMobil, Total, Agip and Chevron in very challenging terrains in the Niger Delta. He has also done works for other Companies.
Engr. Ikhine’s pioneering role and contributions to society, has earned him the privilege of sitting as a Member of The Provisional Council of Foundation Faith Church and a Pioneer Member, Board of Trustees, Salem University, Lokoja, Kogi State. He led Nugi Limited to receive the prestigious International Partnership Award from the United States of America, in recognition of the significant transactions & promotion of Nigerian-American Trades. His patriotic and humanitarian services have earned him recognitions from various institutions and traditional stools.
Engr. Gideon Ikhine’s first stint in Politics was between 1987 and 1988. During the political parties formation in the third republic; he was one of the pioneer members of the Nigeria Youth Organization, which formed the Ideal People’s Party led by the team of Alh. Sani Sha’aban, Alh. Muazu Abubarkar III, Chief Joseph Ighofose, Chief Ayodele Kosoko, etc. The Ideal People’s Party later merged with the Liberal Convention.
Thereafter, he went in pursuit of his professional career as an Engineer, where he has been doing great exploits and making Nigerian Engineers proud. Nevertheless, his passion for partisian politics saw him show tremendous support for SDP in the third republic and later PDP in the fourth republic.
His political involvements and support for his party the PDP from the National through State to LGA and Ward levels, have seen him exhibit passion in the restructuring and repositioning of the party on several occasions. He has demonstrated commitment to the Party by supporting the aspirations of party members to the State House of Assembly and National Assembly on various occasions.
In recent times, he worked assiduously in his Senatorial Zone (Edo Central), in ensuring the successes of his Party (PDP) in the emergence of two members into the House of Representatives and a member into the Senate in the last two consecutive elections.
His sphere of politics spans beyond the State: The recent Presidential Election attest to his doggedness as he worked tirelessly to ensure the emergence of His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as PDP Presidential flag bearer and further ensured PDP won the elections in his Unit, Ward, LGA and Senatorial District during the last Presidential Election.
As a Politician, he has been able to demonstrate humility, loyalty, commitment, consistency, capacity and accessibility to every party member without discrimination or tribal sentiments in upright ways.
A philanthropist par excellence, his home is open to all and sundry at all times. Engr. Gideon Ikhine believes Edo State needs grassroot Political Leaders with compassionate hearts that can connect with the yearnings, pains, and cries of her citizens; especially the under-privileged, our teeming youths and women seeking hope for a better tomorrow and the total liberation of Edo People.
In part 4, we shall take a look at the qualities and attributes that stand Engr Gideon Ikhine out as the best bet for the PDP in Edo state.
