James Ndarake Edet, a creative, multi-talented professional, accomplished communication strategist and broadcaster, a piece of astute information and human resource manager, is a native of Ikot Ayan Itam, Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

He was appointed Permanent Secretary in the Civil Service of Akwa Ibom State in February 2022 and subsequently posted to the Ministry of Information and Strategy. Before being appointed Permanent Secretary, he had served as the State Director of Information, among other important positions in government.

His professional training and career were groomed in the prestigious University of Calabar, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Arts, with stress in Media studies.
Other professional trainings that has shaped the career of Akparawa Edet include In-plant Basic Articulatory Competence, Communication and Presentation Training Workshop, 2006; Professional Television Production/Communication Workshop by Christian Broadcasting Network International Virginia, USA 2006; Africa Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) for Communication Management, by the New Partnership for Africa Development (NEPAD) in collaboration with the Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria (BON); public relations and leadership courses at the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations; and several Script Writing Workshops/Seminars for communication, social and behavioural change sponsored by United Nations Children Funds (UNICEF).

His enterprising career, which commenced in Edo Broadcasting Corporation in 1991, while he was on National Youth Service in Edo State, progressed and blossomed with the Akwa Ibom State Broadcasting Corporation, AKBC, where he rose through the ranks to the position of Deputy Director of Programmes/Head, Films and Documentaries Unit/Chairman, Innovations and Creativity Department. In 2020, he was redeployed to the Ministry of Information and Strategy Headquarters, following his appointment as the State Director of Information

As a dependable ally in public service, he was appointed Information Team Lead/Spokesperson to the Akwa Ibom State COVID-19 Incident Management Committee in 2020, and Member, Akwa Ibom State Gender-Based Violence Management Committee, from September 2021 till date, among many others positions.

His competence and ability to multi-task contributed to his being seconded as scriptwriter, producer and director at different times to major communication projects of key International bodies like UNICEF, Ford Foundation, Child Rights Act and the Federal Ministry of Information.

He has scripted and directed Command Performances for distinguished audiences as former President Olusegun Obasanjo, General Abdusalam Abubakar as Head of State, and late President Jerry Rawlings of Ghana, among others.

With a number of major films, TV features and documentaries, national and international award-winning series; 52 radio drama scripts, which have been broadcast on many states, national and international stations, Akparawa Edet has proved his mettle in broadcasting in particular and has distinguished himself in the media world and the creative industry.

In recognition of his meritorious accomplishments, he was conferred with a National Productivity Orders of Merit (NPOM) by late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua for outstanding career and professional contributions to nation-building in 2008. He was also conferred with the Public Service Award by Akwa Ibom State Government in the same year. He won Africa’s Best Radio Script Writer Prize, by Africa Broadcast Union in 2006, with his ‘Better Days are Here’, which also won Africa’s Best Radio Programme at the same event. His other laurels include the Certificate of Excellence by NBC/AFRICAST, 2004; the Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME); Special Recognition on BBC in 1997, among others.

At the community level, Akparawa James Edet is the International Vice President 1 of Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio, the foremost socio-cultural organization of the Ibibio ethnic nationality. He had earlier served as the International Secretary-General and International Vice President 2 of the formidable pressure group at different times.

Akparawa James Edet is happily married to his heartthrob, Grace, and their union is blessed with children.
His popular maxim and workplace philosophy is ‘TOGETHER WE CAN’.