Emmanuel Essien
Emmanuel Ibok Essien | |
|---|---|
| Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District | |
| In office May 1999 – May 2003 | |
| Succeeded by | Itak Bob Ekarika |
| Deputy Chief Whip of the Nigerian Senate | |
| In office 1999–2000 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ikot Ekpene, Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria |
| Political party | People's Democratic Party |
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.
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.
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). He was Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate in 1999. 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.
Essien was an aspirant to be a candidate in the 2007 elections for Governor of Akwa Ibom State. As of 2010, he was a member of the PDP Board of Trustees.