By Frank Ulom
UGEP (CONVERSEER) – Once a towering figure in Nigeria’s foreign policy landscape, the memory of Dr Okoi Arikpo — the country’s longest serving Minister for External Affairs — now sits in quiet neglect along the Ugep/Abaomege federal road in Cross River State. His once-elegant residence, which stood as a symbol of prestige and influence during his lifetime, now lies abandoned, a stark reminder of how swiftly national icons can fade from public memory.
Dr Arikpo, who served as Minister for External Affairs from 1967 to 1975, played a pivotal role in shaping Nigeria’s diplomatic posture during a turbulent period marked by the civil war and the early post-independence years. Before his ministerial appointment, he made history as the first Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), contributing significantly to the development of tertiary education in Nigeria.
However, decades after his death, the site of his family home in Ugep tells a different story — one of decay and neglect.
Broadcast journalist Iwara Iwara, reflecting on the state of the property, shared his concerns publicly.
“Okoi Arikpo was the first Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission and became Nigeria’s longest serving Minister for External Affairs (1967 – 1975), he is late now.
I am not too sure Nigeria remembers him again because this is what remains of his once elegant home, sitting (no more majestically) on the Ugep/Abaomege federal road, directly opposite the police station in Ugep, Cross River State.
Two cars, a brand new Volvo and a Mercedes Benz, customised, containerised and delivered to him, used to be parked in the premises. The place was imposing and awed passersby… that was then.
Today, the place has been under lock and key for as long as I can’t remember, there is not a single piece of furniture in the house and bats and owls are the only noticeable occupants of the place. Even the bust of the man, expressed in art, is weather-beaten.
Whatever happened to this man and his family?”
The property, located directly opposite the Ugep Police Station, once stood as a local landmark. Residents recall its imposing presence and the air of reverence it commanded. Now, its locked gates, empty rooms, and overrun compound evoke a sense of abandonment. The bust of Dr Arikpo, meant to immortalise his legacy, has been left to deteriorate under harsh weather.
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Dr Arikpo’s tenure in government spanned critical years when Nigeria was defining its role on the global stage. He represented the country in international forums, defended its territorial integrity during the civil war, and contributed to establishing Nigeria as a key player in African diplomacy.
Yet, the current state of his residence raises broader questions about how Nigeria honours its statesmen and preserves their legacies. The neglect of such historical sites often mirrors a wider national pattern of eroding institutional memory, where prominent figures are celebrated briefly and forgotten soon after.
For many in Cross River State and beyond, the image of Dr Okoi Arikpo’s abandoned home is more than a physical ruin — it is a silent testimony to fading remembrance.
