View source for Sam Egwu

{{Short description|Nigerian politician}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Sam Ominyi Egwu
| image               = 
| office              = Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from [[Ebonyi State]] North District
| term_start          = 29 May 2015
| term_end            = 14 June 2023
| predecessor         = [[Christopher Nwankwo|Sen. Chris Nwankwo]]
| office2             = [[Governor of Ebonyi State]]
| term_start2         = 29 May 1999
| term_end2           = 29 May 2007
| predecessor2        = [[Simeon Oduoye]]
| successor2          = [[Martin Elechi]]
| office3             = [[Federal Ministry of Education (Nigeria)|Minister of Education]]
| term_start3         = 17 December 2008
| term_end3           = 17 March 2010
| predecessor3        = [[Igwe Aja-Nwachukwu]]
| successor3          = [[Ruqayyah Ahmed Rufa'i]]
| birth_date          = {{Birth date and age|1954|06|20|df=y}}
| birth_place         = 
| party               = [[People's Democratic Party (Nigeria)|People's Democratic Party]] (PDP)
| nationality         = [[Nigerian]]
}}
'''Sam Ominyi Egwu''' [[Order of the Niger|CON]] (born 20 June 1954) is a Nigerian politician and member of [[People's Democratic Party (Nigeria)|People's Democratic Party]] (PDP) in [[Nigeria]].  He was elected [[List of Governors of Ebonyi State|Governor]] of [[Ebonyi State]] in the [[1999 Ebonyi State gubernatorial election]] from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-18 |title=2023: Ebonyi governorship and zoning controversy |url=https://www.sunnewsonline.com/2023-ebonyi-governorship-and-zoning-controversy/ |access-date=2022-02-28 |website=The Sun Nigeria |language=en-US}}</ref>  Dr Egwu is noted as pillar of educational development in Ebonyi state and Nigeria.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/articles/dr-egwus-education-roadmap.html|title=Dr Egwu's Education Roadmap|last=Adibe|first=Jideofor|website=www.nigeriavillagesquare.com|language=en-gb|access-date=2018-03-01}}</ref>  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 Science and Technology|Enugu State University of Technology]] in 1996. He was a senior lecturer at [[Enugu State University of Science and Technology|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.<ref name="auto">{{Cite news|url=http://www.gospelhitsnaija.com/promote-your-gospel-song/|title=GospelHitsNaija.com|date=2017-06-16|work=NASCO Group|access-date=2018-03-01|language=en-GB}}</ref>

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]].<ref name=tday0407>{{cite web
| url          = http://allafrica.com/stories/201004070116.html
| title        = Ministers - the Profiles
| date         = 7 April 2010
| work         = ThisDay
| access-date   = 2010-04-13
}}</ref>

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]].<ref name=Grip>[http://allafrica.com/stories/200803090001.html "Nigeria: As Ogbulafor Emerges PDP Chairman Obasanjo Loses Grip"], ''Daily Trust'', Abuja (allAfrica.com), 9 March 2008.</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ekpe |first1=Sam |title=Leave Sam Egwu alone |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2009/07/leave-sam-egwu-alone/ |website=Vanguard |access-date=28 January 2019}}</ref>

In 2015, he successfully contested the senatorial seat for Ebonyi North Senatorial Zone on the platform of [[People's Democratic Party (Nigeria)|People's Democratic Party]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.nigerianeye.com/2015/04/know-your-senators-list-of-senators.html|title=Know your Senators: List of Senators Elect|work=Nigeria News Today. Your online Nigerian Newspaper|access-date=2018-03-01}}</ref>  Currently, he is the [[Senate of Nigeria|Senate]] committee chairman on industry.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nasco.net/courtesy-visit-by-senate-committee-on-industries/|title=Courtesy Visit by Senate Committee on Industries — NASCO Group|date=2017-06-16|work=NASCO Group|access-date=2018-03-01|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.aitonline.tv/post-senate_committee_sees_to_procurement_of_locally_made_vehicles|title=Senate Committee Sees To Procurement Of Locally Made Vehicles|access-date=2018-03-01|language=en-US}}</ref> He is from [[Ohaukwu]] LGA of the state.

== Awards and honours ==
* Commander of the [[Order of the Niger]] (CON).<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nassnig.org/mps/single/258|title=National Assembly &#124; Federal Republic of Nigeria|website=www.nassnig.org}}</ref>
* D.Sc. (Honoriscausa) by University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 2006.<ref name="auto1"/>
* D.Sc. (Honoriscausa) by Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, 2008.<ref name="auto1"/>

== See also ==
* [[List of governors of Ebonyi State]]
* [[List of people from Ebonyi State]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{EbonyiStateGovernors}}
{{Nigerian state governors 1999-2003 term}}
{{Nigerian state governors 2003-2007 term}}
{{Cabinet of President Umaru Yar'Adua}}
{{Nigerian Senators of the 9th National Assembly}}

== Notes ==
{{reflist|group=note}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Egwu, Sam}}
[[Category:1954 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Nigerian Pentecostals]]
[[Category:Governors of Ebonyi State]]
[[Category:Igbo politicians]]
[[Category:Peoples Democratic Party state governors of Nigeria]]
[[Category:People from Ebonyi State]]
[[Category:Education ministers of Nigeria]]
[[Category:Senators of the 9th National Assembly (Nigeria)]]
[[Category:Senators of the 8th National Assembly (Nigeria)]]

{{Ebonyi-politician-stub}}