"Prof" Pat Utomi is often refered to as an "Economist". I have searched his resume online for any proof of this claim and all I found was a mention of his taking a course in "POLICY ECONOMICS", which qualifies him as a "Political Economist".

Can anybody confirm PAT UTOMI's background please before we have another scandal on our hands? People who know him say he's a journalist and not an Economist - "Pat Utomi studied journalism/mass communications and not Economics as he is claiming" according to a source.

Does taking a course in "POLICY ECONOMICS" (whatever that means) qualifies one to be an ECONOMIST? WHO IS AN ECONOMIST? Is this a dubious claim? Can Pat Utomi please publish his CV with dates and qualifications for public scrutiny?

live Pat utomi alone. Pick on someone else.

@ Kuzina
Looks like Pat's claims should be left unverified while we "pick" on someone else to explain their background huh? We should not leave anyone "unrebranded" in my view. Do you have Pat's CV please? Is he (PAT) an economist ma?

What did Pat do to you. There are many others to pick from. FYI, you don't have to hold a degree in economics to be an economist.

I am not sure I get you well. Are you saying Pat Utomi did not have a degree in economics? Please clarify. I don't want you to make me an issue here. I want to know what qualifies one to be an economist if he has no degree in economics. Take things easy, but dont let us trivialize the issue. I might just be an ignorant guy seeking an answer to a claim. And who do you suggest we pick on madam, the new guy at our borders is already defending himself somewhere. Who else? Let's rebrand completely.

Do you have Utomi's CV? Is he an ECONOMIST? You have not answered the question. Is his claim bogus?

@Porka
You've been decieved for too long that knowledge is in paper! A certificate is just a piece of paper.
Pat Utomi is a Prof. Whether he has a certificate in Economics I don't know, but I sure do k now that he has all the knowledge of a seasoned economist and that alone qualifies him as an Economist.
Do you need a degree in Political Science to be a Politician? Or a degree in Business Administration to be successful at business?

I wouldn't have nothered to reply cos your motive smirks of pure typican Nigerian Pull Him Down syndrome. But just so you don't confuse others, I did a search and in 5 mins (if only you had spent more than 30secs on your own search), I came up with the quote below:

Utomi had his first degree in mass communications at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN. He also holds MA, MPA, and Ph.D in political economy.

He was director of research and corporate affairs, News Training Consultancy, Lagos; chairman/chief executive officer, Patike Communications Limited. In 1982, he was appointed special assistant to President Shehu Shagari. Following the demise of the Second Republic, he became chairman/chief executive officer, Utomapp Holdings Limited, 1984-86, and assistant general manager, corporate affairs, Volkswagen of Nigeria Limited, Lagos, 1983-93.

http://utomifornigeria.com/about

Note that he became special assistant to the president at age 26 and AGM, corporate affairs of Volkswagen Nigeria at 27! Shouldn't you be thinking of more important things to do now?

PapaBrowne:

@Porka
You've been decieved for too long that knowledge is in paper! A certificate is just a piece of paper.
Pat Utomi is a Prof. Whether he has a certificate in Economics I don't know, but I sure do k now that he has all the knowledge of a seasoned economist and that alone qualifies him as an Economist.
Do you need a degree in Political Science to be a Politician? Or a degree in Business Administration to be successful at business?

Tell am jare!
Bill Gates is a drop out law student. How many computer science grads can argue with him about algorithms or low level computing?

Beaf:

Tell am jare!
Bill Gates is a drop out law student. How many computer science grads can argue with him about algorithms or low level computing?

Thank you jare! Too many Nigerians have been brainwashed with this certificate mentality!

@ PapaBrowne

I appreciate your post. Nice reasoning there.

But, you need a degree in Political Science to be a Political Scientist not a politician. You also need a degree in Economics to qualify as an Economist, not an ECONOMIC ANALYST.

No, you dont need a degree in Business Administration to be a Businessman but a Business Administration Expert. You remind me of someone who calls her grandmother a nurse because she treat wounds with herbs, another one calls his father a doctor because he is an expert in concoction. These folks are simply herbalists.

BTW, you said you dont know whether Utomi has a degree in Economics but he has all the knowledge of a seasoned economist, how sir? Where did he derive such knowledge?

@proudly9ja

Looks like you are confirming what I am saying, exactly how can a degree in mass communication qualify Utomi to be an Economist? What is the relevance of a PhD in "Political Economy" and being an Economist?

What is the relevance of being a Special Assistant to President Shagari at 24 and being an Economist? Gowon ruled Nigeria at 32 remember? But he didnt claim anything.

You accused me of PULL HIM DOWN yet you cant say Utomi should stop claiming what he is not.

Thanks for your 5 minutes search.

@Beaf

Bill Gates has not claimed to be what he is not o o. I think he is satisfied as a dropout and a successful entreperneur and philantropist.

Brainwashing is relative sir. Some may have been equally brainwashed not to question what they know is wrong.\.

^
Bill Gates?
Knock yourself back to reality.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2001/05/15/could_bill_gates_write_code/
http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000862.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DONKEY.BAS

Hey Porka:

You should send him an email to ask him directly whether he is an economist. I am sure he will reply you. He usually replies those who send emails to his address. Try his website or his facebook account

Maybe if you do that, he will explain his credentials to you in detail. He is the only one that knows himself and all we can do on this site is speculate and infer

@Beaf

Exactly what's your point with Gates sir?


@Epiphany

Thank you sir. He sure has all the details which should be in public as he is no longer a private person. I found it strange that someone of Utomi's stature should not make such things public. Public people are treated in public not in private.

Thanks sir.

Epiphany:

Hey Porka:

You should send him an email to ask him directly whether he is an economist. I am sure he will reply you. He usually replies those who send emails to his address. Try his website or his facebook account

Maybe if you do that, he will explain his credentials to you in detail. He is the only one that knows himself and all we can do on this site is speculate and infer

Porka, take this advice and hit him up on Facebook. i have proof of persons who have communicated with him on the issues of the Nigerian state and he has corresponded extensively with them.
I am sure he will debunk or explain the discrepancies to you.on a related note, my only problem with Pat Utomi is that despite all the theory he spouts all over the place, he is the vice chairman of the board of Bank PHB. a bank that in my view is nothing but a cesspool of executive recklessness and typical banking cowboys in the Nigerian fashion.
a bank that deserves the full hammer of Sanusi going by the antecedents of the CEO and his positioning.
I would have expected Utomi's sermons to be practiced in that bank.

Mr Porka,
If Bill Gates, the most successful IT guru of all times doesn't have a degree in Information Technology, shouldn't that teach you a lesson already?
Another guy without an IT Degree is Micheal Dell of Dell Computers!!
Go learn something new and and leave UTOMI alone abeg!!

@Epiphany

Thanks once again. I think the case is really simple. If he is not an economist he should prevent/discourage people refering to him as one. I think he also visits Nairaland, or his fans should try and point this to him. I dont have any personal thing with him. He who comes to equity must come with clean hands. He is a public figure.

@PapaBrowne

Thanks. I think this case is not like comparing Apple and Orange. Please address issues and stop beating about the bush. Dangote and Otedola are in Cement and Oil & Gas respectively, they have mastered their trade like a Fulani herdman or a farmer, they have not claimed to be Petroleum Engineers or whatever. Adenuga has not claimed to be an IT expert. Face issues please.

Plus, Economics is not IT.

Bill Gates is a drop out law student. How many computer science grads can argue with him about algorithms or low level computing?

If Bill Gates, the most successful IT guru of all times doesn't have a degree in Information Technology, shouldn't that teach you a lesson already?
Another guy without an IT Degree is Micheal Dell of Dell Computers!!

Ignorance parade, . Bill gates never finished college, not to even reach law school. His SATs indicate genius level (like close to einstein) so no need for school, also while he was at Harvard he spent a significant amount of time with computers. Bill Gates is an unsuitable example for people who did not finish school and succeeded. Dell dropped out from Utexas at austin, though he was academically so a better example

As for Pat Utomi, I dont think he had any formal training in economics, like classical economics, Not sure what he studied though

Thanks once again. I think the case is really simple. If he is not an economist he should prevent/discourage people refering to him as one. I think he also visits Nairaland, or his fans should try and point this to him. I dont have any personal thing with him. He who comes to equity must come with clean hands. He is a public figure.

Not is fault that Nigeria has poor journalistic standards. I dont think he calls himself an economist, the media does

SEFAGO:

Ignorance parade, . Bill gates never finished college, not to even reach law school. His SATs indicate genius level (like close to einstein) so no need for school, also while he was at Harvard he spent a significant amount of time with computers. Bill Gates is an unsuitable example for people who did not finish school and succeeded. Dell dropped out from Utexas at austin, though he was academically so a better example

As for Pat Utomi, I dont think he had any formal training in economics, like classical economics, Not sure what he studied though

Really Mr Know All?

Although Gates was interested in computers, he enrolled at Harvard University with the intention of becoming a lawyer like his father. By the time he was a sophomore in 1975, however, Gates was more interested in computers and electronics than in his pre-law studies.

http://www.answers.com/topic/bill-gates

He enrolled at Harvard University in the fall, originally thinking of a career in law. But his freshman year saw him spend more of his time in the computer lab than in class.

http://www.biography.com/articles/Bill-Gates-9307520?print

When Gates was found out, he was severely punished, and he kept away from computers for his entire junior year at Lakeside. Without the lure of computers, Gates made plans for college and law school in 1970. But by 1971 he was back helping Allen write a class scheduling program for their school's computer.

http://www.notablebiographies.com/Fi-Gi/Gates-Bill.html

Hey Porker,

Patrick Utomi is a political economist, management lecturer and entrepreneur. He was the presidential candidate for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the Nigerian April 2007 elections.

Born February 6, 1956, Utomi is a fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants of Nigeria and was a Senior Faculty of the Lagos Business School (Pan African University) as Director of the Centre for Applied Economics

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Utomi

I am sure he was vetted when he ran - so lay off. 100x more qualified than our lame president yar'adua.

Is Pat an economist? No, he is not.
Does he claim to be one? from his statements, one can infer that.
But one thing is sure, he is admired by a gr8 many folks - least among whom are thoroughbred professionals in the banking and industrial sectors. His treatise on many economic issues are majorly hailed by non economic thinkers esp within the polity only. His 'entrepreneurial' and executive experiences are largely ignored when the said organisations' performances are looked into. However, Mr Pat Utomi is a widely read man and contributor to many national issues. He no doubt loves his country and his sincerity is truly Nigerian but better when compared with the many in our present polity.
Hope this helps. Cheers

Although Gates was interested in computers, he enrolled at Harvard University with the intention of becoming a lawyer like his father. By the time he was a sophomore in 1975, however, Gates was more interested in computers and electronics than in his pre-law studies.

http://www.answers.com/topic/bill-gates

Quote
He enrolled at Harvard University in the fall, originally thinking of a career in law. But his freshman year saw him spend more of his time in the computer lab than in class.

http://www.biography.com/articles/Bill-Gates-9307520?print

Quote
When Gates was found out, he was severely punished, and he kept away from computers for his entire junior year at Lakeside. Without the lure of computers, Gates made plans for college and law school in 1970. But by 1971 he was back helping Allen write a class scheduling program for their school's computer.

http://www.notablebiographies.com/Fi-Gi/Gates-Bill.html

Ignorance parade again. And again  . He isn't a law school dropout. You have to finish college, b4 u start law school in the US, Bill Gates was considering a career in law, after he finished college, considering a career in law and going to law school are two different things. A secondary school student who wants to be a lawyer, and decides not to is he a law school dropout? Check your facts, read them analytically then come back.

Bill Gates is a[i] drop out law student[/i]. How many computer science grads can argue with him about algorithms or low level computing?

This is what you said about Bill Gates, which isn't true. I am not obssessed with semantics but this is passing wrong info to people who would repeat the same thing to their friends. And Yes many computer science can argue with him about computer algorithms. He is a businessman now and his knowledge of computers is not at the level it was when he was younger. Also consider, that Bill Gates was right at the corner of the information technology explosiion- being at the right place, at the right moment.

^You are sounding like a complete idiot now. So what did he register as Havard with the intention of studying? Was it to study law or are you just blind? You are really getting stupid now.
You just couldn't say "oh there's a slight mistake in the way you've put". No, you have to be rude. Idiot.

he registered at Harvard without any degree, yet. You are not required to register at harvard with a degree- he was planning to go to law school after he finished his undergraduate . He dropped out before he had a concentration so we really don't know what he was planning to study in undergraduate. He could have taken a significant amount of classes while studying computer science.

My main concern is that you are suggesting he never knew anything about computers or studied them, that he was doing law, but he never actually registered to study law.  Harvard doesn't have a law program for undergraduates, I repeat check your facts, read them analytically, and then comeback. Yes, I sound like an idiot if that is what you think. your opinion. Just post facts, not subjective data.

Don't get angry when you get corrected, next time you wouldn't misinform people, making the world a better place

And relax mate, I am just feeling touchy today, not you, it is the cold weather in America

^Like I said you sound like an idiot not worth talking to. Fact is he was a school drop out. If you found something wrong with the way I put it, you didn't have to be a fool about it.

"I'm not stuck on semantics" bleeping blah, blah! You sound like one of those people without a life, concerned with every speck of dust but missing the big picture. Its called smug small mindedness.

Ok, I do  , your business, agreed I sound like one.  Continue with the misinformation. I don't have a life too, because i sound like one

@ Porka

If Prof Pat Itomi has a Phd in Political Economics, why do you keep on contesting the fact that he is not a '' classic economist ''.  I don't know what your level of education is but you must learn to give respect and show deference when due.

For your information, a Phd holder in Political Economics is miles ahead in terms of expert knowledge in economics than an upstart with a Bsc in Economics.

My advice to you is to let it rest and concentrate your mind on something more meaningful.

You need an undergraduate degree and an LSAT score to enter law school in the US.

Fact is he was a school drop out. If you found something wrong with the way I put it, you didn't have to be a fool about it.

for drop outs like bill gates and warren buffet that make it, there are many others that regret dropping out. Not many of us had the resources and natural intellect had as a child. Guys like bill gates are the exception.

For your information, a Phd holder in Political Economics is miles ahead in terms of expert knowledge in economics than an upstart with a Bsc in Economics.

wouldn't someone with a degree in political economics and someone with a degree in "classical" economics have different specializations? The two shouldn't be compared.

You are right, a Bsc in Economics should not be compared with a Phd in Political Economics because the Phd is far superior to the Bsc.

wouldn't someone with a degree in political economics and someone with a degree in "classical" economics have different specializations? The two shouldn't be compared.

yeah, it would be like comparing oranges and tangerines. Similar shape and color outside, different depths and substance inside. People with political economy degrees take less economic classes in general. I have to say, I have heard the guy talk a lot, and seen him on tv, but he sounded so intelligent that I never bothered with knowing what his degrees were.