“Fine Boy”
Technician | Engineering Instructor | Mentor
Stephen Nunoebiyu Mac-Ake, fondly known by the nickname “Fine Boy,” was a distinguished technical auto mechanic and engineering instructor from Ogbia Kingdom in present-day Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Widely admired for both his technical brilliance and personal charisma, he stood tall at 6.1 feet with a radiant fair complexion and graceful demeanor that earned him the affectionate sobriquet that followed him throughout life.
Beyond his physical charm, Stephen’s enduring legacy lies in his contributions to technical education and youth development in the Niger Delta. During the 1980s, he trained numerous young men in mechanical engineering, equipping them with practical skills that enabled many to earn livelihoods across the region. He also played a significant role in the agricultural sector during the celebrated School to Land Project in the old Rivers State, contributing meaningfully to employment generation and food security.
Birth and Early Life
Stephen Nunoebiyu Mac-Ake was born on May 2, 1942, in Amorokeni, within the Kolo Group of Ogbia Kingdom, in what was then colonial Nigeria. He was the first of four siblings born to Mac Ake Nunoebiyu, who hailed from the Alisian compound in Amorokeni and Kolo communities, and Mrs. Mac Ake Ayebakipreye, from the Ibulu compound of Amorokeni and Otuegila communities.
Like many children growing up in rural Niger Delta communities during the mid-twentieth century, Stephen was introduced early to the discipline of hard work. He assisted his parents in farming and in trading farm produce, experiences that instilled in him resilience, diligence, and an enduring work ethic. Despite his striking appearance and natural charm, he was widely known as a hardworking, intelligent, and affable young man—qualities that would define his character throughout life.
Education
Stephen began his formal education at Local Authority School Amorokeni, where he studied from 1948 to 1951. He later continued at Local Authority School Emeyal between 1952 and 1955, where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate.
From 1957 to 1960, he attended Martha Deil High School in Imringi, Ogbia, where his fascination with machines and scientific principles first took root. However, the outbreak of the Nigerian Civil War disrupted his academic journey. Undeterred, Stephen persevered and eventually obtained his West African Examination Certificate (WAEC) in 1970, demonstrating remarkable determination in the face of national upheaval.
In 1971, he enrolled at the Government Technical Center in Ahoada, old Rivers State, to pursue technical training. His quest for higher technical expertise later took him to the Federal Government Polytechnic Auchi in Bendel State, where he earned an Ordinary National Diploma (OND) in Mechanical Engineering in 1973.
Committed to advancing his knowledge, Stephen furthered his studies between 1978 and 1980 at the College Polytechnic University of Benin in the Republic of Calani, where he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Auto Mechanic Engineering.
Following his graduation, he participated in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), serving as an auto mechanic engineer at the Nigerian Army formation in Obinze Barracks, Owerri.
Career Life
Upon earning his OND in 1973, Stephen briefly joined the Nigerian Police Force in 1974, but his passion for engineering soon redirected his path.
In 1976, he joined the Government Vocational Technical Center (GVTC), Port Harcourt, where he served as a technical instructor, imparting mechanical skills to aspiring technicians.
His career later saw him serve as a technical teacher at Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Borokiri, Port Harcourt, before becoming actively involved in one of the most ambitious agricultural initiatives of the time.
Between 1985 and 1987, Stephen played a crucial role in the School to Land Project of old Rivers State, serving as a tractor mechanic engineer. The project was designed to promote agricultural development, employment creation, and food security. His expertise ensured the efficient operation and maintenance of agricultural machinery used in the program.
In 1992, during the administration of Governor Rufus Ada George, Stephen joined the Rivers State Employment Center, where he helped facilitate employment opportunities for young people in multinational companies operating in the region.
Following the creation of Bayelsa State on October 1, 1996, by the military government of General Sani Abacha, Stephen transferred his services to the newly created state and worked with the Bayelsa State Employment Center.
Due to limited employment opportunities in the young state, he was later redeployed to the Bayelsa State School to Land Agency under the Ministry of Agriculture, where he rose to become the Head of the Mechanical Engineering Department.
When the agency gradually became moribund due to declining attention to agricultural programs in the Niger Delta, Stephen was transferred to the Bayelsa State 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
Stephen remained deeply connected to his community and participated actively in several sociocultural organizations in Ogbia Kingdom. He was a member of the Amorokeni Development Union, the Kolo Creek Progressive Union, and Ogbia Brotherhood Worldwide.
His leadership qualities were widely recognized, and he at one point served as the Regent of Amorokeni Town, contributing significantly to the social development and unity of his community.
During his youth in the 1960s and 1970s, Stephen was also known for his vibrant personality and refined sense of style. He was particularly fond of Jamaican reggae and highlife music, which were popular genres in Port Harcourt’s social circles during that era.
Faith and Family
A devout Christian, Stephen was an active member of the Gospel Deliverance Mission (GDM) in Yenagoa, where he participated faithfully in church programs and activities.
He was a polygamist and was married to Mac-Ake Chimelam Naomi (née Koru), a retired civil servant of the Bayelsa State Government. The family resided in Okutukutu, Yenagoa, and together they raised nine children.
Even during periods of declining health, Stephen remained steadfast in his faith and continued attending church services whenever possible.
Death
On March 12, 2024, Stephen Nunoebiyu Mac-Ake passed away at the Niger Delta University Hospital in Okolobiri after suffering a stroke. He was 82 years old.
Stephen Nunoebiyu Mac-Ake, remembered fondly as “Fine Boy,” lived a life defined by technical excellence, mentorship, service, and community commitment. Through decades of dedication to mechanical engineering, technical education, and youth empowerment, he left an enduring legacy in the Niger Delta.
