- Ekperikpe Ekpo acknowledges the invaluable contributions of the departed widow of Nigeria’s most celebrated Central Bank governor
Her Excellency, Nne Clementine Isong, the departed widow of the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the old Cross River State, Dr. Clement Isong, has been described as a big part of Nigeria’s history and development.
This view was expressed by Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, Nigeria’s pioneer Minister of State for Petroleum in charge of Gas Resources, while speaking to a cross section of journalists after he joined leading members of the political class, which included the President of the Nigerian Senate, Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio, GCON, to honour and bid farewell to the matriarch of the Clement Isong family at Ikot Udo Esang in Onna local government area.
“Beyond being around the whole time our late leader and banking giant was the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, and later governor of the then Cross River State, Nne Isong lived long enough to share profound knowledge and experience with us the younger generation. She had lived to become a big part of our national history and development,” Ekpo stated.
In a letter of commiseration, a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Arc. (Obong) Victor B. Attah extolled the virtues of the former First Lady of the old Cross River State as, “…an exemplary pillar of society.” And went on to say that Mrs. Isong had been a moral compass to many in her lifetime.
Nne Clementine Isong, MON, was born on June 26, 1938. She was married to late Dr. Clement Isong, Nigeria’s most celebrated Central Bank governor, who shares the pride of place with Aliyu Mai- Bornu on the 1000 naira bill in recognition of his feats while at the nation’s apex bank.
The former Nigeria’s representative to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is celebrated in many quarters and considered a genius for keeping Nigeria financially afloat throughout the debilitating 3 years of the Nigerian civil war without borrowing a dime or leaving the national coffers in red. This remains a rare feat the world over considering the political history of nations at war.
