Idem Unyime Josiah

Unyime Josiah Idem (born 14 January 1975) is a Nigerian businessman, politician, philanthropist, and honourable member representing Oruk Anam/Ukanafun federal constituency in the House of Representatives. First elected to the House in the 9th Assembly, he currently serves as Chairman House Committee on Public Procurement in the 10th Assembly.

As of September 2024, Idem has sponsored 22 establishment and amendment bills and 28 motions of 'urgent national importance'. He is the founder of Idems Ultimate Limited—a telecommunications service provider—and Stanford Microfinance Bank Limited with stakes in several companies in the agricultural sector, real estate, and construction, employing over five hundred employees.

Unyime Josiah Idem was born in Usung Atiat in Ukanafun Local Government in Akwa Ibom State. He had his primary education at QIC Group School Ikot Akpa Idem, Ukanafun before proceeding to Western Annang Secondary Commercial School—Wasco, Ikot Akpa Nkuk, finishing with Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE).

An alumnus of the University of Uyo, he holds a bachelor's degree in business management and a master's degree in business administration. He presently awaits a PhD in Leadership at Monarch Business School, Monarch University, Switzerland.

Idem holds several professional certificates in telecommunication and management, including Telecoms Customer Service Training in Accra, Ghana; Resource Management Course in Johannesburg, South Africa; Telecoms Customer Service Training in New Delhi, India; Marketing Management Course in Beijing, China; Executive Management Course in Westminster, London; Financial Management Course in Boroughs, London; Public Administration Course in New York, USA; Financial and Strategic Management Courses at Lagos Business School, Nigeria; and a World Telecoms Conference in Abuja, Nigeria.

He is a fellow of several professional bodies, including the Chartered Institute of Management and Public Diplomacy of Nigeria, Chartered Institute of Leadership, and Chartered Institute of Economists of Nigeria.

His political career began in 2000 when he was first elected a PDP official in his ward 8 as assistant secretary and appointed Special Adviser Projects to Ukanafun Local Council Chairman. In 2011, he joined the Godswill Akpabio governorship campaign organization on the PDP platform.

Following his business success and growing influence, constituents urged him to run for the House of Representatives in 2018. He won the PDP primary election, defeating three others, and was elected on 23 February 2019, defeating APC’s Emmanuel Ukoette. The election was affirmed by the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal.

In May 2022, Idem was nominated for a second term as PDP candidate for the Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency race. He holds positions such as Chairman House Committee on Public Procurement (10th Assembly), Deputy Chairman House Committee on Communications (9th Assembly), and Chairman of multiple ad-hoc committees including Public Procurement, ICT, NDDC, and more.

In July 2019, Idem moved a motion calling for the rehabilitation of the Nigeria Institute for Palm Oil Research (NIFOR) in Akwa Ibom, arguing it would boost food security, create jobs, and generate foreign exchange. The House approved the rehabilitation.

During his election campaign, Idem promised to focus constituency projects on youth skill development. In August 2019, he launched a skill-acquisition program training about five thousand youths to reduce youth restiveness and improve economic independence.

In 2021, during his first term, Idem empowered 7,000 constituents with grants and business equipment, including cars, motorcycles, and sewing machines, to support small-scale businesses.

He has received accolades such as Orderpaper Nigeria’s Most Valuable Parliamentarian, Igbere TV’s Best House of Representatives Member of the Year (2022), NUJ’s Best Federal Lawmaker on Constituency Development (2022), and others for his contributions to constituency development and legislative work.