Ambassador (Admiral) Festus Bikepre Igbeyinadun Porbeni(rtd) mni CFR

Ambassador (Admiral) Festus Bikepre Igbeyinadun Porbeni was born on the 28th of May, 1946. He hails from Aduku in Toru Aboubo Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

He had his early education at Ereko Methodist Primary School, Lagos in 1952 and obtained the First School Living Certificate in 1959. He then proceeded to Hussey College, Warri and Government College Ughelli where he obtained his WASC and HSC in 1964 and 1966 respectively.

In 1967, Rear Admiral Porbeni gained admission into the prestigious Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna where he passed as the best Cadet in service subject as a member of 3rd Regular Course. In 1970, he was commissioned Sub-Lieutenant. He took various courses in and outside Nigeria, some of which include Sub-Lieutenant Technical Course India, Seamanship Course Portsmouth United Kingdom, Navigation Specialist Course India, Command and Staff College Jaji (Air Faculty) and National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies Kuru.

As a professional Navigator, Admiral Porbeni also specialized in underwater diving. He held a number of appointments such as Commanding Officer (CO) of both ashore and afloat units, such as Commanding Officer NNS ARGUNGU, which he sailed from Bremen Germany to Lagos Nigeria; Navigating Officer NNS OBUMA; Pioneer Officer- in- Charge, Basic Seamanship Training School NNS AKASO; Commanding Officer NNS RUWAN YARO; Executive Officer, NNS AKASO; Pioneer Base Commander, Nigerian Naval College ONURA-Onne; Commanding Officer NNS EKPE, Squadron Commander, Patron IV and Commanding Officer NNS ARADU, the Nigerian Navy Flag ship.

While in office as a senior military officer, he held several leadership, strategic and operational positions. Notably, he was the Commandant of the Nigerian Navy College, ONURA and Director of Research and Analytical Studies (DARAS), National War College (NWC). In addition, the Deputy Commandant, National War College (NWC), Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command (FOC East). Others are the Deputy Commandant, RESUME AMBASSADOR (ADMIRAL) FESTUS BIKEPRE IGBENIYADUN PORBENI (rtd)mni CFR Command and Staff College, Jaji, Kaduna and the Chief of Defence Administration, at the Ministry of Defence Headquarters.

He received numerous personal and military awards during his distinguished Nigerian Navy career. Admiral Porbeni has been awarded many military honours including Member Nautical Institute, London (mni), Fellow War College (fwc), Distinguished Service Star (DSS), Meritorious Service Star (MSS), Forces Service Star (FSS) and a Fellow, Institute of Administration Management of Nigeria. He is a Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR), an award conferred on him for his unalloyed dedication and service to the Nigerian Nation.

Admiral Porbeni has served the Nigerian Government meritoriously as a pioneer Defence Adviser to Equatorial Guinea with accreditation to Gabon, Cameroon, Sao Tome and Principe. Thereafter, he became the Resident Ambassador to Equatorial Guinea from 1986-1989 and was subsequently awarded National Honour by the Equatorial Guinea Government.

Admiral Porbeni served the Nigerian Navy for 32 years before retiring in 1999. Prior to his retirement, he was the Nigeria Minister of Transport and a member of the Provisional Ruling Council. He was one of the architects that steered Nigeria from military rule to a democratically elected government in 1999. Presently, he is the Honorary Consul General, South- South, of Romania in Nigeria and has now turned his search light onto the business world.

Ambassador (Admiral) Porbeni mni CFR, is the Vice Chairman of the African Circle Pollution Management Limited. The company operates waste reception facilities for ship generated waste and cargo residues at all Nigerian seaports as well as providing waste management services to the oil and gas industry. The company is chaired by General Abdulsalam Abubakar GCFR (rtd), former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

As an achiever he is also the Chairman of several companies. He brings on the board unique operational and strategic experience in developing and managing portfolios of unrelated businesses in different industries within and outside Nigeria. The industries range from Defence, Security, Mining, Maritime, Housing, Oil and Gas to Tourism, Transport, Telecommunication as well as ICT.

With his wealth of experience and sound business acumen, he led most of the companies through a significant period of re-engineering and growth. This invariably improved their competitiveness in the market place while at the same time cutting costs and enhancing their profitability.