Dr. Samuel Loraer Ortom
Website: www.benuestate.gov.ng
Office Date: May 2015
Address: Government House, Makurdi
Birth Date: April 1961
Birth State: Benue State
Political Party: All Progressive Congress (APC)
State: Benue State
Dr. Samuel Loraer Ortom was born on 23rd April 1961 in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.
He attended St. John’s Primary School, Gboko in 1970 and later moved to St. Catherline’s Primary School, Makurdi in 1974 where he completed his primary education in 1976. He proceeded to Idah Secondary Commercial College, Idah in Kogi State for high School. However his higher education was cut short abruptly due to certain financial issues at the time. Soon after he enrolled by correspondence for a General Certificate of Education (GCE) as well as a Diploma in Salesmanship at the National Institute of Salesmanship, Manchester. He proceeded to the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where he obtained both the Interim Joint Matriculation Board Certificate in 1995 and a Diploma in Journalism in 1998. He later attended Benue State University where he obtained an Advanced Diploma in Personnel Management in 2001 and a Master of Public Administration in 2004. He concluded his academic pursuit obtaining a doctorate degree from the Commonwealth University, Belize, through distant learning.
He began his professional career working as a sales man with Gyado Foods Company and rose to the position of Sales Manger. He also served in the capacity of proprietor and chairman in the following businesses: Oracle Business Limited; Oracle Oil Mills; Oracle Printing Press; Oracle Farms Limited; Capital Prints Limited and Achieve Engineering Limited.
Dr. Samuel Ortom was also at a time the National President, Independent Print-Media Publishers Association of Nigeria, IPPAN, and at the moment a patron of the association. He was appointed Chairman of the governing council of the Standards Organization of Nigeria, SON. He went on to establish the Oracle Business Limited Foundation, which handles redemptive, restorative and empowerment services.
Dr. Samuel Ortom began his political career in 1991 when he ran for Chairmanship in Guma Local Government Area under the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and won; serving till 1993. Subsequently he served in the following capacities and political positions: State Publicity Secretary of the National Centre Party of Nigeria (NCPN); State Treasurer of the All Peoples Party (APP); State Secretary and Deputy Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); PDP National Auditor; Director of Operations of the PDP gubernatorial campaign in Benue State (2007) and Director of Administration and Logistics of the Goodluck/Sambo Presidential Campaign Organization (2011). He was later appointed Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in July 2011 and served till October 2014 when he resigned to contest for Governor of Benue State under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party. He emerged winner in the 2015 gubernatorial elections, becoming the Governor of Benue State.