Sam Ominyi Egwu
Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from Ebonyi State North District
In office
29 May 2015 – 14 June 2023
Preceded bySen. Chris Nwankwo
Governor of Ebonyi State
In office
29 May 1999 – 29 May 2007
Preceded bySimeon Oduoye
Succeeded byMartin Elechi
Minister of Education
In office
17 December 2008 – 17 March 2010
Preceded byIgwe Aja-Nwachukwu
Succeeded byRuqayyah Ahmed Rufa'i
Personal details
Born (1954-06-20) 20 June 1954
NationalityNigerian
Political partyPeople's Democratic Party (PDP)

Sam Ominyi Egwu CON (born 20 June 1954) is a Nigerian politician and member of People's Democratic Party (PDP) in Nigeria. He was elected Governor of Ebonyi State in the 1999 Ebonyi State gubernatorial election from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007.[1] Dr Egwu is noted as pillar of educational development in Ebonyi state and Nigeria.[2] He attended the University of Nigeria, Nsukka where he obtained a bachelor's degree in Agriculture in 1981. He later received a master's degrees in Agricultural from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1987 and Doctorate in Agronomy from Enugu State University of Technology in 1996. He was a senior lecturer at Enugu State University of Technology and served as commissioner for education in Ebonyi state contributed to the successes recorded in education sector during his tenure as governor.[3]

In 2008, President Umaru Yar'Adua appointed him Minister of Education, position he held till April 2010 when he was replaced by Professor Ruqayyah Ahmed Rufa'i.[4]

Egwu was former President Olusegun Obasanjo's choice to become National Chairman of the PDP at its 2008 National Convention. However, at the convention on 8 March 2008, he withdrew in favour of the compromise candidate Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, who was chosen as an alternative to Egwu and his main rival for the position, Anyim Pius Anyim.[5]

His stay as education minister was characterized by ASUU (Academic Staff Union of Universities) and other university union strikes. This led to people demanding his sacking.[6]

In 2015, he successfully contested the senatorial seat for Ebonyi North Senatorial Zone on the platform of People's Democratic Party.[7] Currently, he is the Senate committee chairman on industry.[8][9] He is from Ohaukwu LGA of the state.

Awards and honours

  • Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).[10]
  • D.Sc. (Honoriscausa) by University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 2006.[10]
  • D.Sc. (Honoriscausa) by Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, 2008.[10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "2023: Ebonyi governorship and zoning controversy". The Sun Nigeria. 18 February 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  2. ↑ Adibe, Jideofor. "Dr Egwu's Education Roadmap". www.nigeriavillagesquare.com. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  3. ↑ "GospelHitsNaija.com". NASCO Group. 16 June 2017. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  4. ↑ "Ministers - the Profiles". ThisDay. 7 April 2010. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
  5. ↑ "Nigeria: As Ogbulafor Emerges PDP Chairman Obasanjo Loses Grip", Daily Trust, Abuja (allAfrica.com), 9 March 2008.
  6. ↑ Ekpe, Sam. "Leave Sam Egwu alone". Vanguard. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  7. ↑ "Know your Senators: List of Senators Elect". Nigeria News Today. Your online Nigerian Newspaper. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  8. ↑ "Courtesy Visit by Senate Committee on Industries — NASCO Group". NASCO Group. 16 June 2017. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  9. ↑ "Senate Committee Sees To Procurement Of Locally Made Vehicles". Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  10. 1 2 3 "National Assembly | Federal Republic of Nigeria". www.nassnig.org.


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