As part of our “Who is….” series, ViewPointNigeria is profiling key gubernatorial aspirants in a bid to fully introduce them to the Plateau electorate.

In this edition, the profile of Dr. Ponyah Ibrahim is presented.

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Engr Ponyah Ibrahim was born on the 14^th day of June 1968 at Shendam LGA, to the humble family of Baba Ibrahim Binchak of Lohmah village in Bwarat District of present day Langtang North LGA of Plateau State. He grew up like most children of his day in a typical country side setting and engaged at an early age in farming, hunting and shepherding flock. These and other early experiences are what have moulded and shaped his outlook to life to be that of modesty, courage, resilience and absolute commitment and devotion to God, family and duty.

Engr Ponyah Ibrahim’s formal education began at LEA Primary School Kumkwam right up to Nakam Memorial Secondary School, Panyam in Mangu LGA and then Government Technical College in Bukuru where he completed his secondary education in 1985. He had a year’s stint at the School of Basic and Remedial Studies, Benin City and thereafter gained admission into the University of Benin in the then Bendel State (Present day Edo State) and graduated in 1992 with a Second Class Upper Division Bachelor of Engineering Degree (B.Eng.) in Civil Engineering.

Not done with education at that level, he further enrolled at the Post Graduate School of the University of Jos where he earned a Master of Science Degree (Msc) in Construction Management in 2008. Being one who never gets weary of acquiring useful knowledge, he enrolled almost immediately after that at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi where he bagged a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in 2010. In 2011, Engr Ponyah Ibrahim’s quest for increasing and deepening his knowledge in the revered turf of Construction Management prompted him to enroll into the Post Graduate School of the University of Jos where he was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in Construction Management in 2016. He was also privileged in 2016 to attend the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, where he earned a Policy, Strategy and Leadership Course Certificate.

With an insightful and intuitive craving for knowledge, he is currently pursuing another Masters in International Business Law, with a focus on the dynamics of the law, processes and nature of international business transactions as they relate to the Solid Minerals Mining sector, Legal implications of International Investments and Conflict of laws at the University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom. He has a number of scholarly publications to his credit.

Engr Ponyah Ibrahim’s life has been that of a providential, exemplary and quintessential career in Infrastructure Development which spans and spawns through diverse and assorted programs, schemes, ventures and projects at the hub of the expansion and growth of especially Abuja.

He began his voyage of career progression and development over two decades ago with Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited during his National Youth Service (NYSC) Program in the then Bendel State (Now Delta State) in 1992. Engr Ponyah Ibrahim’s character of hard work, commitment and dedication to duty saw him emerging as an outstanding Serving Youth Corp Member in EPTW Department of Shell at the end of the service year in 1993; which accordingly earned him an immediate employment with Shell Petroleum Development Company.

He diligently worked for Shell as an Engineer at the Forcados offshore Terminal between 1993 to 1994. An admixture of providence and his mother’s divine conviction that he leaves the job with Shell Petroleum Development Company despite the bouquet of benefits the job offered, saw him listening to his mother and resigning the job in 1994. As a man of faith who believes wholly in God as the guiding light of his life, an employment embargo was fully in place within the Federal Civil Service, when Gen. J. T. Useni, the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), granted exceptional waivers for him and other outstanding youths to be employed into the service of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA). He has been in the service of the FCDA as an Engineer for over two decades where he served diligently and brought his knowledge and engineering skills to bare in the development and enhancement of the infrastructure of the country’s capital city. In the course of his work at the FCDA, he served at various times as Chairman, Secretary, Team Leader and member of various committees and sub-committees. He, with others, executed technical works and jobs that cover execution, supervision, monitoring, negotiation and estimation of jobs of diverse portfolios.

He has to his credit the enviable experience of the building and construction of critical national infrastructure that include but not limited to telecommunication infrastructure, staff quarters, mass housing projects, expressways and highways, parks and gardens, bridges, etc. He has brokered deals, structured agreements, negotiated partnerships, secured leases, monitored compliance and investigated breaches at the highest professional levels. He has, in the course of the execution of these jobs, displayed an unparalleled aptitude for creating opportunities for development from seemingly difficult odds. He has undergone training and courses, within and outside the country, that cover sundry and assorted areas as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Roads and Underground Infrastructure Design Courses, Rapid Rail Development programs, Light Rail Introductory Program (Technical Operations), Road Asset Management courses, etc.

As a trained and skilled professional, he is a registered and active member of the Nigeria Society of Engineers, American Society of Civil Engineers, Council of Registered Engineers of Nigeria, Nigeria Institute of Management and Environmental Division of Nigeria Society of Engineers.

Engr Ponyah Ibrahim is happily married to Mrs. Mary Ibrahim and are blessed with two children, Ponfa Ibrahim (17 years old) and Timbyen Ibrahim (15 years old). His spiritual and social life are characterized by charity, volunteerism, and evangelism. He has been at the background for numerous years providing support and succour to leaders and communities at all levels for the betterment and development of Plateau State. He is a member of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) as well as other ministries, charities and missions.

The under-listed respected Nigerians are the referees of Engr Ponyah Ibrahim.

1. Gen. Joshua Nimyel Dogonyaro.

No. 22, Lt. Gen. Dogonyaro Close,

Rayfield, Jos

Plateau State.

2. Fidelis Tapgun,

No. 3, Apollo Crescent Secretariat Junction,

Jos – Plateau State.

3. Engr S. H. Ahmad,

FNSE Director of Engineering,

Department of Engineering Services,

Federal Capital Development Authority,

Area 11 Secretariat – Abuja.

CONTACT: Engr Ponyah Ibrahim, Ph.D

Department of Engineering Service

Federal Capital Development Authority,

Area 11 Secretariat

Abuja.

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Who is Dr Ponyah Ibrahim? Profile of the 2019 Governorship aspirant