Bishop Uduak Usen Effiong was born on 12 th October, 1962 to the late Rev. Effiong Usen Ekpenyong and the late Mrs. Akon Effiong, of Ikot Eyo Nnung, Ono Ito, Odukpani LGA of Cross River State, Nigeria. Both parents were members of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. Bishop U. U. Effiong, a child of the parsonage, is the last born of the family that produced ten ministers for the AME Zion Church, including their late father who retired as Presiding Elder in 1991, a cousin and two daughter in-laws.

Bishop U. U. Effiong attended State School, Elikahia, Port Harcourt (1970 – 1975); Country Grammar School, Ikwerre/Etche, Rivers State (1975 – 1980); University of Calabar, Calabar (1980 - 1984; 1989 -1991; 1995 – 2002); and Eternity Theological College, Uyo (2015). He obtained the following academic qualifications: WASC, Division 1 (1980); B.Sc.Ed. (1984), University of Calabar, Calabar; M.Ed. (1992), University of Calabar, Calabar; Ph.D. in Science Education (2002), University of Calabar, Calabar; and M.A. in Theology (2015), Eternity Theological College, Uyo (An affiliate of Teamwork Bible College, USA). Following his salvation experience on 3 rd January, 1988, Bishop U. U. Effiong maintained close relationship with Jesus Christ.

In December 1994, he was received into the traveling ministry of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church by Bishop S. Chuka Ekemam, Sr. at Anderson Memorial A. M. E. Zion Church, Calabar. He was ordained Deacon and Elder in 1995 and 1997 respectively. Bishop U. U. Effiong’s ministry in the A. M. E. Zion Church included serving as: Assistant Pastor, Anderson Memorial AMEZC, Calabar, 1994 – 1996; Pastor, Bishop Lartey Memorial AMEZC, Calabar, 1996 – 2008; Presiding Elder, Calabar- South District, Cross River Nigeria, 1998 – 2009; Presiding Elder, Calabar-North District, Cross River Nigeria, 2009 – 2012; Bishop’s Administrative Assistant, Cross River Nigeria, 2003 – 2013; Bishop’s Deputy, Eastern West Africa Episcopal District, 2012 – 2016.

Other Church appointments and major contributions included serving as: Assistant Conference Secretary, Nigeria Conference, 1996 – 1997; Conference Secretary, Cross River Nigeria, 1998 – 2002; Director of Youth, Calabar District, Nigeria Conference, 1995; Director of Youth, Nigeria Conference, 1996 – 1998; Episcopal Coordinator of Youth, EWAED, 1999 – 2012, during which period he initiated the annual Youth Camp, and developed the programme from District level (1995) to Conference level (1996) and to Episcopal Level (1999 – 2011); Chair, EWAED Ministers’ Institute Committee

(1999 – 2011); Editor, Practical Guide For Effective Ministry, 1999 (A Training Manual for Ministers in EWAED); Leader of EWAED Delegation to the 2012 General Conference at Charlotte, NC, USA; and Leader of EWAED Delegation to the 2016 General Conference at Greensboro, NC, USA. In July 20 – 26, 2016, at the 50 th Quadrennial General Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, held at the Joseph S. Koury Convention Centre/Sheraton Hotel, Greensboro, North Carolina, USA, The Rev. Professor Uduak U. Effiong was elected and consecrated the 105 th Bishop in the line of succession in the A. M. E. Zion Church and assigned to Eastern West Africa Episcopal District as the Presiding Prelate. He serves as the Chair of Appeals Committee and 2 nd Vice Chair of Church Growth and Development Board of the A. M. E. Zion Church.

Bishop U. U. Effiong is a certified professional teacher. He taught in Community Secondary School, Abajah, Imo State (1984 – 1985: NYSC); Government Secondary School, Ibi, Taraba State (1985 – 1988); College of Education, Jalingo, Taraba State (1988 – 1994); Cross River State College of Education, Akamkpa (1994 – 2002). He is a full Professor of Science (Physics) Education, with over forty publications, at the Cross River University of Technology, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.

The Rt. Rev. Prof. U. U. Effiong held several positions of responsibility in the different places he worked. In the Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH), he served as Sub-Dean, Student Affairs (2003 – 2007), Dean of Student Affairs (2007 – 2014), Member of Governing Council (2004 – 2014), Chairman of Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee (2004 – 2008), Member of Appointments & Promotions Committee, CRUTECH (2004 – 2014), Member of Finance & General Purposes Committee, CRUTECH (2004 – 2008), Member of Council Disciplinary Committee, CRUTECH (2004 – 2014), Member of Ceremonials Committee, CRUTECH (2007 – 2014), Chairman of Christian Solemn Assembly Committee (2009 – 2014), Head of Department of Curriculum and Instructional Technology (2016), Chairman of the Certificate Verification Committee (2014 – 2017), and a member of the Senate of CRUTECH (2003 – 2017), among several other positions. As part of community service, The Rt. Rev. Prof. U. U. Effiong served as Vice-Chairman, PTA of Angelic International School, Bateba Street, Calabar (2005 – 2009); Member PTA Exco of University of Calabar International Demonstration Secondary School (2005 – 2009); Vice-Chairman, PTA of University of Calabar International Demonstration Secondary School (2009 – 2013); Vice-Chairman, Ono Ito Development Union, Calabar (2003 – 2009); Chairman, Ono Ito Development Union, Calabar (2009 – 2015); Chairman, Ito Leadership Forum, Calabar (2013 – 2015). He also served as Chairman, Science Teachers Association of Nigeria (STAN) (2004 – 2009), during which period Cross River State hosted the 47 th Annual Conference of STAN in CRUTECH, Calabar in 2006. The Rt. Rev. Prof. U. U. Effiong served as Resource Person, Cross River State Book Writing Committee (Technical) (2005); Resource Person, Cross River State Book Writing Committee (Primary Science) (2005); and Resource Person, Cross River State Book Writing Committee (Physics) (2009). He is member of several professional bodies: Science Teachers Association of Nigeria (STAN), Curriculum organization ofNigeria (CON), World Council for Curriculum and Instruction (WCCI); Common Wealth Association of Science, Technologyand Mathematics Educators (CASTME); Nigeria Association of Science Education Researchers (NASER). To this end, TheRt. Rev. Prof. U. U. Effiong has received several awards in recognition of his distinguished services to mankind.

Bishop U. U. Effiong is happily married to Mrs. Promise Chinwe Effiong, the Missionary Supervisor, and they are blessed with four children – John, Samuel, Esther and Elizabeth. His hobbies include reading, writing, and playing football andtable tennis.