In a public service career spanning over four decades, Mr. Ekpo has served as Proof Reader, Reporter and Editor in several Nigerian newspapers and broadcasting organisations. He served in senior editorial and management positions in the Daily Express, Daily Times, West African Pilot, the Morning Post, Eastern Nigeria Broadcasting Service and Western Nigeria Broadcasting Service.
He was for years the Nigerian country Correspondent for the Voice of America (VOA), Deutsche Welle (Voice of Germany) and the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
Ekpo was also General Manager of Cross River State Newspaper Corporation, Publishers of the Nigerian Chronicle Group of Newspapers.
He also served as Chief Information Officer in the Cross River State Government as well as the Chief Public Relations Officer to that Government.
He was also Assistant Director of Information and Acting Federal Director of Information
and Director of Nigerian Information Service with concurrent accreditation to Europe and the Americas.
He was Commissioner for Information, Social Development, Youths & Sports at different times in both Cross River and Akwa Ibom States.
Among other roles performed in the past, Ekpo was Director, Nigerian Copyright Council. Director-General, Nigerian Copyright Commission, President of the General Assembly of the World Intellectual Property Organization and a Federal Commissioner, National Population Commission, Abuja.
The latter was the last position held until his election into office as the Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State