Technician, Engineering Instructor
Stephen Nunoebiyu Mac-Ake, popularly known as “Fine Boy,” was a notable technical auto mechanic from Ogbia Kingdom, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Standing at 6.1 feet tall with a radiant complexion, his charm complemented his skills in training numerous youths in mechanical engineering during the 1980s. He significantly contributed to the agricultural sector, particularly through the School to Land Project in old Rivers State.
Birth and Early Life
Born on May 2, 1942, in Amorokeni, Bayelsa State, Stephen was the eldest of four siblings. He grew up assisting his parents in farming and trading, which instilled a strong work ethic and respect from his community.
Education
Stephen attended Local Authority Schools in Amorokeni and Emeyal, obtaining his First School Leaving Certificate. His studies continued at Martha Deil High School, where he developed a passion for mechanics. Despite interruptions due to the Nigerian Civil War, he earned his West African Examination Certificate in 1970 and pursued higher education at the Government Technical Center, then Federal Government Polytechnic Auchi, where he obtained an OND in Mechanical Engineering. He later earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Auto Mechanic Engineering from the College Polytechnic University of Benin and completed his NYSC at the Nigerian Army formation in Obinze.
Career Life
After receiving his OND in 1973, Stephen briefly worked for the Nigerian Police Force in 1974 but left to pursue his passion for engineering. In 1976, he joined the Government Vocational Technical Center (GVTC) in Port Harcourt as a technical instructor. Following this, he served as a technical teacher at the Government Comprehensive Secondary School Borokiri, Port Harcourt, before moving to the School to Land Project.
His career saw significant milestones, especially in the School to Land Project from 1985 to 1987, where he served as a tractor mechanic engineer, contributing to employment generation and food security in the old Rivers State. In 1992, under Governor Rufus Ada George, Stephen worked at the Rivers State Employment Center, helping secure employment for youths in multinational companies. After General Sani Abacha created Bayelsa State on October 1, 1996, Stephen transferred his services to the new state and worked at the Bayelsa State Employment Center. However, due to limited opportunities in the new state, he was eventually transferred to the Bayelsa State School to Land Agency under the Ministry of Agriculture, where he served as the Head of the Mechanical Engineering Department.
Stephen later left the Bayelsa State School to Land Agency as it became moribund due to a lack of attention to agricultural activities in the country, especially in the Niger Delta. He then moved to the Ministry of Works, where he served as the Head of the Mechanical/Electrical Engineering Department until his retirement in May 2009.
Community and Social Life
An active community member, Stephen was involved in several Ogbia sociocultural organizations, including the Amorokeni Development Union and Ogbia Brotherhood Worldwide. He served as the Regent of Amorokeni Town and was known for his vibrant personality and love for music, particularly reggae and highlife, during the 1960s and 1970s.
Faith and Family
A devoted member of the Gospel Deliverance Mission (GDM) in Yenagoa, Stephen remained committed to his faith throughout his life. He was married to Mac-Ake Chimelam Naomi (née Koru), with whom he had nine children, and they resided in Okutukutu, Yenagoa.
Death
Stephen passed away on March 12, 2024, at the age of 82, following a stroke at the Niger Delta University Hospital in Okolobiri.