In 1959 he proceeded to Lutheran High School, Obot Idim, now in the Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area.
For two years, he served as a president of the Oron Development Union Port Harcourt branch.
Okpoyo worked as a survey party chief with the Louis Berger Engineering Company.
Between 1974 and 1991 he also worked with the Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited, Port Harcourt, before resigning to go into private business.
He was elected as the first civilian deputy governor in 1992, alongside Obong Akpan Isemin, on the platform of the National Republican Convention, NRC.