Samuel Ekpe Akpabot was born in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria,[1] to parents of Ibibio heritage.
[2] He was educated at Baptist Academy and King's College, Lagos; at the latter, he was classmates with Emeka Ojukwu, Lateef Jakande and Alex Ekwueme.
[6] After spending three years with the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation, Akpabot joined the music department of University of Nigeria, Nsukka, as an assistant lecturer.
[11] While studying for his doctorate in Michigan, he composed "Nigeria in Conflict" for the wind symphony orchestra, his third piece for the Pittsburgh-based organisation.
Akpabot's last major orchestra piece was Verba Christi, a vocal composition with instrument accompaniment that was commissioned by the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation for FESTAC 77.