Emmanuel Ibok Essien | |
Office1: | Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District |
Term Start1: | May 1999 |
Term End1: | May 2003 |
Successor1: | Itak Bob Ekarika |
Birth Place: | Ikot Ekpene, Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria |
Party: | People's Democratic Party |
Office2: | Deputy Chief Whip of the Nigerian Senate |
Termstart2: | 1999 |
Termend2: | 2000 |
Nationality: | Nigerian |
Emmanuel Ibok Essien was elected Senator for the Akwa-Ibom North West District of Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria at the start of the Nigerian Fourth Republic, running on the People's Democratic Party (PDP) platform. He took office on 29 May 1999.[1]
Essien studied Electrical/Electronics Engineering at the College of Technology, Calabar (1975 - 1977), the University of Ife (1977 - 1978) and Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, graduating in 1982 with a degree in Civil Engineering.He worked with Mobil Producing Nigeria, taught at the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, and established an engineering construction company, as well as undertaking large-scale farming.In 2000, he established Ritman Nursery/Primary School and Ritman College and also Ritman University.[2]
After taking his seat in the Senate in June 1999, Essien was appointed to committees on Works & Housing, Communication, National Planning, Internal Affairs, Information and Tourism & Culture (vice chairman).[3] He was Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate in 1999.[2] In September 2002, he was a strong supporter of a bill to end the onshore / offshore dichotomy in oil revenue allocation, a change that would benefit Akwa Ibom State.[4]
Essien was an aspirant to be a candidate in the 2007 elections for Governor of Akwa Ibom State.[5] As of 2010, he was a member of the PDP Board of Trustees.[6]