Chief Dr. Edet James Amana (born December 11, 1938) is a renowned Nigerian engineer, entrepreneur, and industrialist. He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, a former President of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering, and Chairman of the Amana Group of Companies.
Early Life and Education
Edet James Amana was born in Oyubia Oron, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. He holds the national honor of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).
- Attended Methodist College, Uzuakoli
- Studied at King's College, Lagos
- Enrolled at Imperial College London (1961–1966)
- Graduated with a First-Class degree in Civil Engineering
- First overall in his graduating class
After graduation, he worked for a British firm of consulting engineers. Upon returning to Nigeria, he joined Shell-Mex & BP as a Service Engineer (1968–1972).
Career
In 1972, Amana founded Amana Consulting Engineers, a firm that led the design and implementation of projects worth around $2 billion over 15 years.
Key Ventures and Partnerships
- Represented AW Chesterton (Boston) and Hewlett-Packard (1982) in engineering services
- Formed a joint venture with Earth Technology Corporation (California) for geotechnical and geophysical mapping
- Collaborated with Israeli firms on architectural planning
- At its peak, the company employed 30 engineers, including 10 expatriates
Business Diversification
- Rubber farming and processing (began in 1980s)
- Insurance brokerage and oil industry supplies
- Investments in banking, publishing, and property
Banking Sector
- Founding director of Citibank Nigeria
- Served on the board from 1985 to 2010
Professional Leadership
- Chairman, Amana Group of Companies
- Past President, Nigerian Academy of Engineering
- Past President, Association of Consulting Engineers Nigeria
- Fellow:
- Nigerian Society of Engineers
- Nigerian Institute of Management
- International Institute of Directors
- Member:
- American Society of Civil Engineers
- Association of African Development Experts
Personal Life
- Married to Doris Edet Amana (deceased, December 11, 2004)
- Together they had six children
- Currently married to Hilda Edet Amana, with whom he shares two children
Awards and Honors
- Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) – 2005
- Knight of John Wesley – awarded by Methodist Church Nigeria, 2004
- Doctor of Science (D.Sc., Honoris Causa) – awarded by University of Uyo, 2010
References
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