Natasha Akpoti

Natasha Hadiza Akpoti (born in 1979)[2] is a Nigerian barrister, social entrepreneur and politician. She ran for the post of Kogi Central Senatorial District (SDP) seat under Social Democratic Party in the year 2019.[3][4][5][6] She contested in the Kogi State Governorship election which held on the 16th of November 2019.[7] She is the founder of Builders Hub Impact Investment Program (BHIIP).[8]

Natasha Akpoti
Born1979 [1]
NationalityNigerian
Education
OccupationBarrister, Politician
Political partySocial Democratic Party
WebsiteOfficial website

Early Life & Education

Natasha, the second of four children, and the only daughter of a Nigerian father and a Ukrainian mother. Her mother, Ludmila Kravchenk, is a Ukrainian from Rakitna in the region of Chernivtsi. Her father, Dr. Jimoh Abdul Akpoti, is from Obeiba-Ihima, Kogi State. She spent her early years in Ihima, Okene Local Government[9] She lost her father in 1998 and the family had to relocate.[10] She studied at the University of Abuja from 2000 to 2004 and graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree. She was called to the Nigerian bar in 2005 upon graduation from the Nigerian Law School in Abuja. In 2011, she proceeded to the University of Dundee and graduated with a Master of Laws degree in 2012. She holds a Master of Business Administration in Oil & Gas Management from the University of Dundee.[11]

Career

After graduation from the Nigerian Law School, she worked with Brass NLG as a legal counsel from 2007 to 2010. In 2015, she established Builders Hub Impact Investment Program (BHIIP).[12]
She came to national prominence after presenting an investigative report to the National Assembly on the 1st of March 2018 on corrupt activities regarding the Ajaokuta steel mill.[13] The report detailed the repetitive waste of government funds and embezzlement since the initial construction of the steel mill which has remained moribund despite multiple attempts to get it running. The report was opposed by the Federal ministry of mines and steel development and Akpoti was accused of deliberately misinforming the House of Representatives. An association of small scale steel dealers also alleged that Akpoti was running a sponsored campaign to discredit the government and enrich some corporate interests.[14] A High Court sitting in Abuja ordered that the publisher of Authority newspaper, Ifeanyi Uba and Williams Orji should pay the sum of ten million naira damages to Natasha Akpoti for their libelous publication against her.[15]

Political career

In 2018, she declared her intentions to run for the office of Senator representing Kogi Central in the Nigerian Senate under the umbrella of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Personal life

Natasha Akpoti hails from Okehi in Kogi State. She is from Ebiraland.[16] She is a mother of three.[17]

References
  1. Obahopo, Boluwaji. "KOGI CENTRAL 2019: Barr Natasha Akpoti, the dark horse in the race". The Vanguard. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  2. Obahopo, Boluwaji. "KOGI CENTRAL 2019: Barr Natasha Akpoti, the dark horse in the race". The Vanguard. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  3. Akubo, John (14 January 2019). "SDP Senatorial candidate delivers body of supporter killed to police headquarters in Kogi". Guardian. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  4. Ujah, Emma. "2019: Ajaokuta Steel campaigner, Natasha Akpoti, joins senate race". The Vanguard. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  5. "Yahaya Bello Wants To Kill Me, SDP Senatorial Candidate Natasha Akpoti Cries Out". Sahara Reporters. 15 February 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  6. Polycarp, Nwafor (29 December 2018). "KOGI CENTRAL 2019: Barr Natasha Akpoti, the dark horse in the race". Vanguard News Nigeria. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  7. Agbana, Ralph Omolu (10 November 2019). "Aftermath of court victory, SDP candidate, Natasha Akpoti pushes poll postponement". Guardian. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  8. Ujah, Emma (25 July 2018). "2019: Ajaokuta Steel campaigner, Natasha Akpoti, joins senate race". Vanguard. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  9. Anonymous (9 March 2019). "Natasha Akpoti: I Learnt Community Building, Service to Humanity from My Father". This Day. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  10. Ujah, Emma (25 July 2018). "2019: Ajaokuta Steel campaigner, Natasha Akpoti, joins senate race". Vanguard. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  11. Anonymous (9 March 2019). "Natasha Akpoti: I Learnt Community Building, Service to Humanity from My Father". This Day. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  12. Ujah, Emma (25 July 2018). "2019: Ajaokuta Steel campaigner, Natasha Akpoti, joins senate race". Vanguard. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  13. "SPECIAL REPORT: Ajaokuta Steel Company, Natasha Akpoti, House Of Reps And The Acquisition Plot". Sahara Reporters. 26 March 2018. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  14. Adoyi, Ali (3 February 2017). "Group clashes with Natasha Akpoti over alleged sponsored campaign on Ajaokuta Steel Company". Daily Post. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  15. https://kogireports.com/court-clears-natasha-akpoti-slams-n10m-damages-against-newspaper-over-libelous-publication/
  16. Ujah, Emma (25 July 2018). "2019: Ajaokuta Steel campaigner, Natasha Akpoti, joins senate race". Vanguard. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  17. Anonymous (9 March 2019). "Natasha Akpoti: I Learnt Community Building, Service to Humanity from My Father". This Day. Retrieved 30 December 2019.


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