BREAKING: Nigerian Senator Dies in UK

A Senator represents Cross River North Senatorial District; Rose Okoji Oko, has passed on Monday night after battling illness.

She died on Monday night in the United Kingdom at the age of 63 after battling illness.

Patrick Ikorgor Okoroji, a close family member, said, “Heartbroken to hear of the passing of my dear cousin, Senator Rose Okoji Oko after a long fought battle with physical affliction.

“You gave your best to your world now that it has pleased the Almighty God to call you home, may your soul find eternal rest in Heaven.”

Oko was until her demise the Chairman, Senate Committee on Trade and Investment.

She becomes the third senator to have died since June, 2019.

Rose Okoji Oko was born 27 September 1956 to Agbo Ojeka from Opkoma; Yala LGA, Cross River State.

She was a Member of the Federal House of Representatives from the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP), representing Yala/Ogoja Federal Constituency in Nigeria’s 7th class of the National Assembly.

She was elected into office as the first female representative from her constituency in June 2011 and sat as Deputy Chairman House Committee on Education.

She was elected into office as the first female representative from her Senatorial District in June 2015, which is remarkable.

She collected her first School Leaving Certificate in 1977 from WTC Primary School Enugu after which in 1975 attended Federal school of Arts & Science Ogoja in Cross River State to acquire her Higher School Certificate (Nigeria).

In 1981 she graduated with a 2nd Class Upper in B.A.(Hons) Linguistics from the University of Calabar, Cross River state. A Graduate Course in Linguistics shortly followed at The University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA. A career Educationalist, Okoji Oko returned to University of Calabar and graduated with M.A. Linguistics in 1984.

By 1990 she graduated from The University of Port Harcourt in Rivers State where she acquired her Doctorate in Linguistics.

Several years later in 2007, she enrolled in and graduated from The Management Institute of Canada where she acquired an M.B.A.

Okoji Oko started her career in the Nigerian Youth Service Corps as a tutor in Edgerly Memorial Girls Secondary School, Calabar in 1981.

Between 1982 and 1983 she taught at St. Patricks College, Calabar and in the same year moved to become a lecturer at the Cross River School of Basic Studies Akampka.

She held this position till 1984 when she moved to the University of Calabar to become an Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Language and Linguistics until 1986 when she was promoted to become Lecturer in the same department.

In 1989 at the age of 33 she was recognized for her years of service and started her career as a public servant when she was appointed as Commissioner of Education, Cross River State; a position she held till 1991. In that same period, she served as for Chairperson Better Life Programme, Cross River Chapter from 1990–1991.

In 1993 she was appointed Director General, National Defence & Security Council, Cabinet Secretariat under the military presidency. She held this position simultaneously with the National Commissioner, National Electoral Commission (NEC) now known as Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Between 1993 and 1994 she was appointed Director General, Provisional Ruling Council again under the then Military Presidency.

In 1995 she was appointed (NCFR) now known as National Commission For Refugees Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons. In 2002 she retired.

Newsflash Nigeria is an online newspaper that is developed and written exclusively for Nigerians. It’s packed with up-to-the-minute Local and National Economy News, Share & Capital Market, Health, Sports, Education, Technology, Business and Opinions.

To make further advert enquiries or place an order, please contact us at [email protected] and +2348053316946 and WhatsApp number 08033546732