Meet Goodluck Jonathan

Born on November 20th 1957, exactly 53 years ago into the families of Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Ebele, at Otueke a rural community in ogbia local government area of Bayelsa state, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan began his educational pursuit in St. Stephen Primary School (now State School) Otueke. He later moved to St. Michael Primary School Oloibiri, where he completed his primary education in 1969. Between 1971 and 1975, he was a student at Mater Dei High School Imiringi and while there, he revealed the first signs of a certain iridescent that would mark him out in later years when he was appointed class prefect in 1973.

Even as a young boy growing up in the oil rich Niger Delta, he demonstrated an uncommon interest in academics and self-development, so much so that his paternal grandmother nick-named him “Azikiwe” in the hope that the comparison would influence the young Goodluck to emulate and possibly outdo the exploits of the iconic Zik of Africa.

In 1975 Jonathan sat for the West African School Certificate Examination and passed in flying colours and spent the next two years working with the Nigerian Customs and Exercise Service. By 1977 he was admitted as a pioneer student of Zoology at the University of Port Harcourt. He pursued his studies with zeal and dedication, graduating in 1981 with a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) Hons (Upper Division). After graduation, he did his mandatory National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) programme in the 1981/82 batch as a secondary school teacher in Oresi community in Oyo state, now in Osun state.

Thereafter he proceeded to work with the Rivers State Civil Service Commission starting as a Science Inspector of Education. This was in 1982. This stint was short-lived, because soon thereafter, he left the mainstream civil service to pick up an appointment as an academic in the department of Biological Science at the Rivers State Collage of education. Because of his disciplined nature and dedication to duty he was elected as a representative of congress in the Senior Staff Appointment and Promotion Committee.

His quest for greater academic accomplishments propelled him to pursue a post graduate programme in his chosen field and by 1985, he received a Master's of Science (M.Sc) degree in Hydrobiology and Fisheries Biology from the University of Port Harcourt, in 1995 after a long dream of academic fulfilment, Goodluck finally obtained a Doctorate Degree (Ph.D) zoology from the same university.

With the establishment of the defunct oil mineral Producing Areas Commission (OMPADEC) in October 1992, Dr. Jonathan was appointed Assistant Director Ecology in the Directorate of Environmental Protection and Pollution Control in March, 1993. Dr Jonathan performed creditably in that capacity until he voluntarily left the commission in 1998 for greater commitment and more service to humanity.

In 1998 he joined the People Democratic Party (PDP) and was elected as Deputy Governor under the party flag bearer Chief Diepreye Alamiyeseigha.
In 2003 he was again elected as Deputy Governor on the same ticket. In 2005 he was sworn in as the second civilian Governor of Bayelsa after the removal of Chief DSP Alamiyeseigha. Dr Goodluck Jonathan led Bayelsa State to remarkable progress in physical and human capital development. In May 2007 Dr. Jonathan was elected Vice President with Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar Adua as President and on the 6th of May 2010 Dr. Goodluck Jonathan was sworn-in as the President and Commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, taking over from the late Musa Yar’Adua who passed on after a protracted illness.

Dr Jonathan radiates quiet confidence, his handling of the three greatest threats to our development as a nation less than twelve month ago through prompt presidential intervention has endeared him to both Nigerians and the international community alike. He was awarded the best performing governor in the whole federation by the Institute of Public Administration of Nigeria (IPAN) in 2002. The Nigerian Union of Journalist (NUJ), Abuja council in 2004, had also conferred on him an Honorary Award for Democracy.

Dr Jonathan is happily married to Dame Patience Jonathan and they are blessed with two children.

Education

In the Education sector,  the government has allocated almost N1 trillion (N933 billion) in the proposed budget for 2011. Prior to this time, this sector had less than a third of that amount (N249.08 billion) allocated to it last year. In addition, the Government also embarked on building one Federal University in each of the six geo-political zones for which work has already begun. The six new federal universities did not exist last year.

Commerce and Industry


Real sector growth is an imperative for Government and to achieve this, several initiatives such as the establishment of the AMCON, direct interventions in specific areas of the economy such as the N150 billion fund for the manufacturing sector and the dedication of electricity supply to industrial clusters are underway. To improve the business climate, work is being done to shorten the time for goods clearance at the ports.

In the manufacturing sector, the Government has reopened three textile mills in Kaduna that had previously been closed including the United Nigeria Textile Mills Ltd which has reopened as a result of accessing funds from the N200 billion textile industry bail out funds leading to the re-engagement of 2000 workers that were laid off when the company went out of business.
The Entertainment industry also received a 30billion naira boost courtesy of Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

Transportation

In the aviation sector, Nigeria can now boast of four airlines (Arik, Continental, Delta and United), all with direct flights from the United States (US) as opposed to one last year. There are also five functional international airports the US Government has approved.

The Nigerian Railway Corporation recorded another milestone as the 488 kilometer Lagos /Jebba rail line is now ready for traffic of passengers and goods.
The second section of the rail track, the Jebba/ Kano would soon be opened to traffic after the completion of the railway bridge in Akeri along the Jebba/Kano rail route.

The Federal Government in 2009 began a comprehensive rehabilitation and re-equipping of the NRC's workshops, upgrading of the signals and telecommunication equipment, Lagos/ Kano track rehabilitation, fortification of the motive power base with 25 new general electric locomotive engines from Brazil.

Others are completion of Ajaokuta/Warri rail line, rehabilitation of over 200 coaches and wagons, building of railway stations and staff capacity building across the Corporation’s seven districts.

Energy

The Energy sector witnessed a significant change since Goodluck Ebele Jonathan assumed leadership of Nigeria. Many Nigerians admit that the issue of fuel scarcity has drastically reduced in the past nine months. The President said many Nigerians were glad that there was no fuel scarcity last festive season unlike previous years. He added that this did not happen by chance but a deliberate effort by this administration to ease the pains of Nigerians. All our refineries are working, saving us huge amounts of funds spent on importation of petroleum products.

There has been a reform in the power sector and the involvement of the private sector in power generation and distribution has significantly improved power supply. The Government recently announced the test run of three power plants in Sapele and Alaoje.The Nigerian Gas sector has gone through a major repositioning lately and is now better positioned to confront the supply problem, in view of a planned capacity growth to about 4bcf/d by 2014/15.

The entrenchment of a sustainable commercial framework is beginning to manifest in a more sustainable growth in gas supply to power plants The new process for gas access will enable a faster and more transparent access to gas for IPPs - ensuring no IPP is built without an assured gas supply. However, urgent funding is required for some key pipeline infrastructure to enable delivery to the plan.

-Introduction of the Domestic Gas Supply Obligation to address short to medium term availability of gas- particularly for power.
Review of the commercial framework for gas to stimulate investment in supply.

-Development of a streamlined process for new investors to access gas.

-Major revamp and expansion of gas infrastructure to enable flexibility of supply and better access to new power plants and other consumers.

Comment: The new DSO projects alongside existing and ongoing projects will contribute to a total domestic supply capacity of about 4bcf/d by 2014, a significant portion of which will be dedicated to the power sector. Goodluck has assured power failure will soon be a thing of the past as constant power supply forms is the core of any stable economy.

Interesting.

Who is he? the last time I checked, I know a goodluck who is clueless, hopelessly helpless in the face of corruption, confused on security matters, and dancing in the midst of anenih, obj, alams, bode george!

first incumbent to lose an election! God has ordained him to prove to the world that he rules in the affairs of PDP and Nigeria.

PDP HARAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Is this the same GEJ the son of IBB?

Is this the same man that imported dust-bins from United Kingdom?

Is this the same man that is giving out 50,000 dollars as transport fare to visitors?

Is this the same man that has been in Govt for 12 years and we cannot point to any outstanding achievement(s)?

Is this the same GEJ dat accussed Dokpesi of killing innocents and now dining with the same 'murderer'?

Is this the same President that gave out his official plane to a day-light killer to fly from Ibadan to Abuja?

Is this the same GEJ that went in the middle of the night to welcome a convicted looter at Kirikiri?

Tell him we know him too well now and no points meeting him again. He should just start packing his belongings from Aso Rock b/4 May 29 come to soon.


[size=28pt]Vote Buhari-Bakare 2011[/size] _{[sub]for the future of our children}[/sub]

@ op, good job!

@ op, good job!

The GEJ i know is a clueless, corrupt ridden, drunken stupor bloody fisherman with a Phd in z-erro-logy. Odechwuku!

@ rhino, u are exposing ur stupidity and cowardice to the world. What sort of cocaine do u take that makes u use uncooked language on others, yet aisha2 and jarus take pleasure on them. NDLEA will fetch u. Shld it be gej's fan they will sanction him/her

I thought you people have expunge 'civility' from your diction?? Now, you are trying to play the victim card, ehn??
How does it feel to be calling people names??

I got my orientation here and i have never been known to be a dull learner. I always pay back in full measure with a high intrest.

Nsiman:

@ rhino, u are exposing your stupidity and cowardice to the world. What sort of cocaine do u take that makes u use uncooked language on others, yet aisha2 and jarus take pleasure on them. NDLEA will fetch u. Shld it be gej's fan they will sanction him/her

Rhino.5dm:

The GEJ i know is a clueless, corrupt ridden, drunken stupor bloody fisherman with a Phd in z-erro-logy. Odechwuku!

^^^

You try getting a Ph.D.

While am still anonymous and faceless, what so important about having a Phd from Uniport??

Does that stop GEJ from using a teleponder or yarning thrash on a regular interval, even when delivering five minute speech?

MaziUche0:


^^^

You try getting a Ph.D.

MaziUche0:


^^^

You try getting a Ph.D.

LOL!

^^^Beaf! By next month you are out of job.

Bump

if you look at GEJ face you see nothing but feature and prosperity.

but Buhari chai i dey laugh

[img]http://3.bp..com/_u3lFqBksmrE/St9yvZ_ouuI/AAAAAAAAYRI/zVvlGUbjUbw/s400/0.jpg[/img]

^^^

Shame on you for using a racial picture against a fellow African.

gernded:

if you look at GEJ face you see nothing but feature and prosperity.

but Buhari chai  i dey laugh

Looks can very deceiving  - I rather have an ugly man who can fix the country

EzeUche_:

^^^

Shame on you for using a racial picture against a fellow African.

Lol - I dont think you know the meaning of racial discrimination


adimeru International

Whats racial about the picture?

Maybe I should have depicted him as a Chinese man then so it wont be racial