Prof. Okpata started his public service career, as an Assistant Head Teacher in ASUTECH Nursery/Primary Staff School, Abakaliki Campus in 1990-1992, served as an Acting Principal Ebiem Community High School, Ekpaomaka,  in Ikwo LGA in 1992, just before he was appointed as an Administrative Assistant (AA), in Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) in September,1992.

Prof Fidelis O. Okpata, served as a pioneer member, Ebonyi State Primary Education Board (SPEB), from 1997-1999. When Abakaliki Campus of ESUT, became a University College, he received accelerated promotion from Administrative Officer (AO) to Senior Assistant Registrar (SAR) of the University College for his exceptional dedication to duty in 1998-2000.

He has served in many capacities as an Administrative staff in EBSU and single-handedly structured the six administrative units of the Registrar’s Department before his conversion to Academics in 2000.

Prof. Okpata was the pioneer Chairman, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, EBSU Chapter from 1998-2000, Secretary/Member, University Staff School Management Board, EBSU in the same 1998-2000. He also pioneered the headship of the Personnel/HRM unit in the University College, Abakaliki, 1998-1999 and Coordinated the University Summer School, EBSU in 2001-2002. He also served Ebonyi State Government in several capacities to include the Chairman, Education Sub-committee, Ebonyi State Committee on the Draft of Ebonyi State Blue Print, 2014 and member Government House chapel 2000-2006.

Following his conversion into Academics in 2000, he was appointed Ag. Head of Department, Public Administration in August, 2007-October, 2009 and Acting Dean. Faculty of Management Sciences, EBSU November 2009-September, 2012. Prof. Fidelis O.Okpata was promoted a full Professor in 2010, just within the space of ten years he converted into academics. He was a visiting Professor at Uniuyo, 2013-2014 and in Uniuyo, became the Departmental PG Coordinator and Chaired the Committee on the demerging of Public Administration from Political Science Department.

Still in Ebonyi State, he was appointed the Pioneer Deputy Chief of Staff, Ebonyi State Government House from 2015-May, 2019 and while in the State Executive Council, he served as Chairman and Secretary to many Exco Committees including leading a joint team of Exco and members of the State House of Assembly for an economic partnership trip in Western region of China in 2017.

Prof. Okpata after his political sojourn in Ebonyi State Government, transferred his services from EBSU to AE-FUNAI in June, 2019 as a Professor and has since served in several University committees as both chairman and member to include Senate Ceremonials Committee, ODL Committee, Investigative committees and has served for the fifth time now, as the Director, Centre for Human Resource Development of the University.

Presently, he is a Senate Representative in the University Governing Council. He has supervised over 20 PhDs, more than 30 M.Sc.s and numerous undergraduates spanning through his 26 years of academic service in the university.

He has to myself, over 100 publications both in Journals, Conference proceedings, Books and Book chapters and has assessed 6 Candidates for Professorial appointments, an external examiner to 6 Universities in Nigeria and 2 Polytechnics.