He is influential. He is courageous. He is a lover of equity and justice. He is not one who shy away from taking a position when critical matter of national development is under discussion, especially when it happens to do with the South-south region or the entire nation.
No doubt, he is a notable political figure in Nigeria.
Yekini Nabena has become a household name in Nigeria politics having held the position of the National Publicity Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in acting capacity for a while.
Yekini Nabena hails from Bayelsa State in the South-South region of Nigeria. He is of Ijaw ethnic origin.
After his elementary and secondary education, the vocal Yekini Nabena bagged a Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) in Project Management between year 2008 – 2013 from Strayer University, in the United State of America (USA).
He honourably acquired a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) from the same reputable institution (Strayer University, USA) between year 2013 – 2014.
Earlier, Nabena had bagged a proffessional certificate in Influence and Negotiation Strategies from Stanford University, USA in 2011.
The Bayelsa born politician has been an active member of the APC for many years. He was elected as Deputy National Publicity Secretary to deputise the then National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi in 2018.
However, the APC, according to a statement signed by the then APC National Secretary Mai Mala Buni, later promoted Nabena to the position of the National Publicity Secretary when Bolaji Abdullahi resigned and defected to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In this position, Yekini Nabena was not only active, he was seen as the face of the party as he frequently represented the party’s views and positions appropriately to the media and the general public. Nabena was outspoken in defense of APC policies and criticism of opposition parties during this period and beyond.
As a vocal APC spokesperson, Nabena was involved in various political controversies and public spats with opposition figures. He was engaged in heated rhetoric when defending the APC or attacking other parties like the PDP. Some of his statements and claims drawn criticism for being provocative or lacking substantiation, according to his critics.
But in all, Yekini Nabena’s excellent performance as the ruling party’s spokesman in the era mentioned above did not only earned him respect within the party, even the media personnel (both in Abuja and outside) were delighted to have him. He became a darling of the media even till today because of his Media Management Skill, accessibility, honest views and his cordial relationship with the fourth Estate of the Realm.
Yekini Nabena has also served as a member of the Governing Council, Nigerian Shippers Council, since March 2018 till date.
Aside politics, however, not many people know that Yekini Nabena is a businessman, a farmer, a negotiation strategist and administrator per excellent.
In Bayelsa State where he hails from, Yekini Nabena is into Garri production, Cassava farming, Maize farming, plantation and Palm oil.
In Abuja where he based, Nabena is well into Livestocks such as Chickens, Goat, Ram and Pigs rearing in large quantity.