Background
His Royal Majesty (HRM), Dr. Patrick Inok Oquagbor V, was a descendant of Nkonib of the Ejagham stock in Calabar Municipality of Cross River State, Nigeria. Born into the family of Esi-Njo Benedict Inok Ansa Oquagbor, he was the only male and fourth child of his mother’s seven children.
Ndidem Patrick was Married to Mrs. Patience-Lilian Oquagbor and their union was blessed with six children and five grandchildren.
Young Patrick completed his primary education at St. Mary’s Primary School, Efut Abua, and attended the Government Teachers’ Training College (TTC) Ikot Ansa, where he studied and obtained the Teachers Grade 2 Certificate. While at TTC, he showed exceptional skill as a footballer, which earned him the sobriquet “bomber”. The Teachers’ Grade 2 Certificate licensed him to pursue a short teaching career.
Patrick attended the Polytechnic Calabar, where he obtained an Ordinary National Diploma (OND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) in Accounting in 1991. He attended the Nigeria College of Accountancy, Jos, Plateau State in 1996, where he completed a course leading to his qualification as a Chartered Accountant.
In 1999, he bagged a Bachelor of Law Degree (LLB) before proceeding to the Nigerian Law School, Abuja in 2003 to obtain his Barrister-at-Law(BL) degree and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2004.
The Ndidem also held a Master of Science (MSc.) degree in Industrial Sociology and Personnel Management from the IMO State University, Owerri.
In 2010, he enrolled for a Doctorate Degree programme in Criminal Justice and Criminology, a Social Science course under the Department of Sociology and was awarded a Ph.D. In 2004, the Ndidem was conferred with a Ph.D. degree in Business Administration (Honoris Causal) by The Pacific Western University in Denver State of Colorado, United States of America(USA), in collaboration with the Joint University Standard Evaluation and Assessors (WAAEA).
The Ndidem was awarded the fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Consult (CIMC) Vancouver, Canada, in good governance and leadership.
The United Nations -POLAC, awarded him a Grand Justice of Peace. The Ndidem was also a Fellow, Certified National Accountant of Nigeria, Fellow, Companies and Commercial Accountant, Fellow of Certified Institute of Public Administration, Ghana and Fellow of the Professional Institute of Management Consultants.
Work History & Entrepreneurship
In addition to his full-time job as a Paramount Ruler of Calabar Municipality and Ndidem of the Quas, Ndidem Patrick was a lecturer in the sociology department of the University of Calabar (UNICAL); a visiting lecturer with the Cross River State University of Technology where he lectured in the Management Department. He was also a facilitator with the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).
As an entrepreneur, HRM was the head of the Oqua Patrick Edet & Co. – an accounting and auditing firm; Oqua Idem & Associates – a legal outfit; and K’Oqua Estate Managers – an estate management firm.
Ascension of the Throne
The journey to this illustrious position of the Ndidem had a humble beginning. HRM was the premiere clan Council Secretary of Efut Atuambom clan under Muri Effiom Edem, and in 1998, stepped on the first rung on the ladder to the position of Ndidem of the Quas when the Efut-Atuambom clan of Calabar South Local Government Area, conferred the chieftaincy title of Ndabu on young Patrick. This title conferred on Patrick the powers to rule over Asuquo Edem Villages, which is one of the villages of the Efut-Atuambom clan.
In 2001, the Mbang Offiong Eyamba House of Eyamba clan in Calabar South Local Government Area, from where the Ndidem’s mother, Clara Affiong Offiong Ekpeyong Eyamba, conferred on him the chieftaincy title of Ada-Idagha ke Ufok Mbang Offiong Eyamba. This title is usually conferred on someone who has shown some exemplary characteristics, outstanding charisma, selflessness, philanthropy, sound leadership and intelligence in the community.
Ndidem was installed as the Esi-Mfam (or Echi-Mfam) of the Oyo family in Okoroba village in 2003 and later installed as the Esi Njo (or Echi Njo) of Okoroba village in Nkonib clan. In 2007, he became the Ntoe of Nkonib clan, thus making him the youngest Ntoe ever installed in Nkonib clan.
The Throne
Although historical submissions show that the Quas have been where they are today since 900AD, the throne of the Ndidem of the Qua dates back to the 15th century when treaty-hunting Europeans were combing the African continent for native kingdoms or states with which to reach new trade accord.
The Qua clans, seeing the need for unity as a means of strength in the negotiations and agreements, came together and elected one Ntoe as the head of Atoe whom they called Echi-Ntoe or Ntoe-Atue and was given the authority to negotiate or sign agreements on behalf of the entire Qua communities whom their individual Atoe represented.
The status and position of Echi-Ntoe or Ntoe-Atue as the head of the Qua community existed until 1928, when the Quas decided to give a unique name to their head. The title of Ndidem of the Quas was, adopted as the official title for the head of the Quas community in Calabar. In 1971, the title of the Ndidem of the Quas documented into the Qua clan constituted Assembly’s constitution, and it was endorsed in 1973 by the military government Brigadier U. J. Esuene.
Ntoe Patrick was crowned the Ndidem of the Quas on 19th December 2014, succeeding his predecessor, the late Ndidem Thomas Ika Ika Oqua.
His appointment as the Ndidem of the Quas was confirmed by the former Governor of Cross River State, His Excellency Senator Liyel Imoke.
This was followed with the presentation of Staff of Office and investiture as the Ndidem of the Quas and Paramount Ruler of Calabar Municipality by the Deputy Governor of Cross River State, His Excellency Barr. Efiok Cobham, on the 21st of May, 2015.
The Investiture/staff of office was formally blessed in a Thanksgiving mass held at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Ikot Ansa, on the 28th of November 2015.