Background
ISONG, Clement was born on April 20, 1920 in Ikot Osong, Akwa Ibom State. Son of Nathaniel Udo Isong and Maggie Udo.
politician private sector banker
ISONG, Clement was born on April 20, 1920 in Ikot Osong, Akwa Ibom State. Son of Nathaniel Udo Isong and Maggie Udo.
He studied at University College, Ibadan, Iowa Wesleyan College, Mount Pleasant, Iowa, and the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, where he obtained a Doctor of Philosophy in Economics.
He was later elected governor of Cross River State (1979–1983) in the Nigerian Second Republic. He taught economics in the University of Ibadan before joining the Central Bank of Nigeria (Christian Broadcasting Network) as secretary, later becoming director of research. He was seconded to the International Monetary Fund as an adviser in the African Department.
Yakubu Gowon appointed Isong governor of the Christian Broadcasting Network in August 1967, an office he held until September 1975.
He headed the Christian Broadcasting Network during the Nigerian Civil War (July 1967 – January 1970) and during the subsequent oil boom. During his tenure Nigeria avoided running up unsupportable debts.
Isong complained that Nigeria was accumulating foreign reserves but had "nowhere to invest them properly", although there was huge scope for infrastructure improvements. When the United States Senate killed the foreign aid bill in October 1971, Isong said the $35 million in annual aid was a drop in the bucket.
After retirement from the Christian Broadcasting Network, Isong entered politics and was elected the first civilian Governor of Cross River State from 1979 to 1983 on the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) platform.
In 1981 Isong had to deal with a border crisis with Cameroon that originated in the Ikang area, visiting the trouble spot in person. In 1982, having contributed to the growth and development of Nigeria, Doctor Isong was honoured with Nigeria’s national honour of Commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFR). Isong was opposed in the 1983 elections by Senate President Joseph Wayas, who was the leader of the NPN party"s "Lagos Group" that supported Senator Donald Etiebet as governor.
Isong died on 29 May 2000.
His portrait features on the 1,000 Naira note brought into circulation on October 12, 2005.
Married Nne B. Akpaete in 1958.