Ebonyi state is a young state created in October, 1996 from two states of the old Abia and Enugu. The state has thirteen local government areas which include Abakaliki, Ebonyi, Ikwo, Ezza South, Ezza North, Ishielu, Izzi, Onicha, Ivo, Ohaozara, Afikpo, Edda and Ohaukwu local government areas. Simeon Oduoye, a police commissioner was the first governor of the state and was later followed by Walter Feghabor, a naval officer from Bayelsa state during the military rule.
In the advent of democracy, the first governor of the state was Dr Sam Egwu, a university lecturer from Ngbo, Ohaukwu local government area. The state is very rich in solid minerals including Salt, Lead, Zinc, Iron ore, Lithium, Quarry and many more in superlative commercial proportion. The state hosts the historic cement factory, Nigercem located in Nkalagu which in the past had in its employ over six thousand workers.
The state has three A-list urban places which include Abakaliki, Afikpo and Onueke. The state has the following institutions of higher education: Ebonyi state University, Abakaliki, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ikwo, Akanu-Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Afikpo, Ebonyi state College of Education, Ikwo, College of Health Technology, Ezzamgbo, David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences in Uburu, Federal College of Education (Technical) in Isu, Federal College of Agriculture in Ishiagu, Martins College of Health, Ikwo, etc.
The state is the food basket of the South Eastern Nigeria mainly rice and yam with its historic Abakaliki Rice Mill Complex. In this article, Iyierioba.com analysizes twenty most influential persons in the state in terms of politics, business, entertainment, sports, literary creativity, law and others.
1. Rt Hon. Francis Nwifuru:
This is the current governor of the state. Before becoming governor, he was the Speaker of the Ebonyi state House of Assembly. He’s a graduate of Law, though yet to be officially called a barrister. He’s from Oferekpe community of Izzi local government area and his wife, Maudlin Uzoamaka Nwifuru from Ikwo LGA of the state. His marriage is blessed with children. He’s is 49 years old by 2024.
2. Engr David Umahi:
The serving Nigerian Minister of Works is 60 years old. He’s from Uburu, Ohaozara local government area. An Engineer by profession, David Umahi was an accomplished businessman of oil and gas concern. He started his political journey with becoming Chairman of the Governing Board of the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba. He later became chairman of the People’s Democratic Party in Ebonyi state from where he rose to become deputy governor in 2011. In 2015, he became governor of the state, serving an eight year tenure and currently serving as minister of Works in the cabinet of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
3. Sen. Dr Sam Egwu:
A lecturer before his foray into politics, Sam Egwu holds a doctorate degree in Agriculture. He was a Commissioner for Education during the reign of Walter Feghabor as the military governor of the state prior to 1999. 1999, Egwu became governor of the state and served in this capacity for a period of eight years. He’s known as the father of democracy and education in Ebonyi state due to his efforts in making the state an education destination in the South East by creating and funding the Ebonyi state University, Ebonyi state College of Education and School of Health Technology to an enviable crescendo. After his reign as governor, he became Minister of Education in the administration of the late President Yar’adua. He later became senator representing Ebonyi North district for a period of eight years wherein he served as the Senate Committee Chairman on Housing. He’s the first democratically elected governor of the state. He’s from Ngbo, Ohaukwu local government area and married with children and grandchildren. He’s 68 years old.
4. Chief Martin Elechi:
This eighty years old personality is from Alike, Ikwo LGA. He served as Commissioner for Works in the old Enugu State Government. In the year 2007, he was elected governor of the state and served in this capacity for a period of eight years. He holds a Master’s Degree. He’s married with children and grandchildren.
5. Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim:
A lawyer by profession, Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim is from Ishiagu, Ivo Local Government Area. He was elected Senate President of Nigeria during the administration of Olusegun Obasanjo as president of Nigeria. Later, he became Secretary to the Federal Government under president Goodluck Jonathan. He’s married with children and sixty six years old.
6. Professor Chigozie Ogbu:
This is another popular personality in Ebonyi State. He has served as deputy governor of the state for a period of eight years. He’s currently the Vice Chancellor of the Ebonyi State University. He’s a professor of Medicine and comes from Onicha Igboeze, Onicha LGA. He’s married with children.
7. Professor Fidelis Ogah:
He’s from Amagu, Ikwo LGA. He’s the longest serving university Vice Chancellor in Nigeria. He was the Vice Chancellor of the Ebonyi State University for a period of twelve years and more. The septuagenarian is regarded as the best Vice Chancellor of a university in the South East during his time. His building the state university to the number one public university in the zone made him popular within and outside the state. He’s the most cherished civil servant in Ebonyi state. He’s married with children and grandchildren.
8. Hon. Chinedu Ogah:
He is serving a two term tenure at the House of Representatives representing Ezza South/Ikwo Federal Constituency. He’s from Amagu, Ikwo LGA. He owns the Blessed Martins College of Health Technology in Ikwo. He’s the CEO of Chiboy Motors and once the most influential young person in Ebonyi state before his election into the House of Representatives in 2019 on the platform of an opposition political party. He’s known all over the state and feared for his brutal antecedents in the political scene of the state. He holds a Master’s degree in Micro Biology. He’s married with a child and forty eight years old.
9. Chief Ifeanyi Odii:
Regarded as the richest Ebonyi man, this forty seven years old business mogul is from Isu in Onicha LGA. He’s a multifaceted businessman with interest in raw materials production and hospitality and real estate in Lagos, Egypt and America. He delved into politics in 2023 wherein he contested governor of the state on the platform of PDP. His foray into politics came with a storm which announced him in the state and beyond. He owns two private jets and assortment of Porsche vehicles and buildings abroad. He’s a graduate. He’s married with children.
10. Frank Ogbuewu:
This is one of the most known names in the political scene of Ebonyi state. He’s from Amagu, Ikwo LGA. He was Chairman of Ikwo LGA during the military administration. He later became Minister of Culture and Tourism in the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo. He was later appointed Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of Greece. He has been a perennial governorship contestant in the state. Before his foray into politics, he owned the Unifrank multimillion business interest. His wife has served as Commissioner in the state for eight years. Ambassador Frank Ogbuewu is married with children and sixty nine years old.
11. Onyebuchi Oreke:
A renowned gospel music artiste, De-lamb as he’s called has over the years remained the number one musical icon in Ebonyi state. He’s from Alike, Ikwo LGA. He’s a household name in the music industry in the state. He’s married with children.
12. Sen. Julius Ucha:
He’s from Ezzagu, Ishielu LGA. This Ezza man is one of the earliest politicians in the democratic dispensation in the state. He’s a lawyer by profession and served as the Speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly from 1999-2003. In 2003, he was elected into the Senate to represent Ebonyi Central Zone. He returned to the Senate in 2007 for his second tenure. He’s a Commissioner in the National Assembly Service Commission. He has contested for governor multiple times. He’s married with children and grandchildren. He’s in his late sixty years of age.
13. Amb. Lawrence Nwuruku:
He’s from Alike, Ikwo LGA. He’s one of the most popular public figures in Ebonyi state. He started off as INEC resident electoral commissioner for Adamawa State. He later became Minister of State for Solid Minerals. He later became Nigerian Ambassador to Botswana. He was subsequently appointed commissioner representing South East at the Independent National Electoral Commission. He was earlier elected Senator, but the military truncated his inauguration into the Senate during the military era. He has contested for governor and Senator in the state and lost. He’s regarded as the most benevolent politician in the state. He’s married with children and grandchildren.
14. Chief Elias Mbam:
He’s from Izzi local government area. He started as Commissioner in Ebonyi state and then a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He later became Chairman of the Revenue Mobilization Commission, a commission of the Federal Government responsible for allocating funds to public institutions including the presidency and the thirty six states of the country and the FCT-Abuja. He has contested for governor in the state. He’s a business man and major distributor of Nestle products in the South East of Nigeria. He’s married with children.
15. Sir Edward Okereke Nkwegu:
He’s from Agbaja, Izzi local government area. An industrialist, he is a major contractor in Ebonyi state and has contested for governor several times in the state. He’s the owner of a five star hotel in Abuja, Barcelona Hotels and Suites. EDON as he’s addressed is one of the known public figures in Ebonyi state. He holds a PhD in Architectural Science. He’s married with children and grandchildren.
16. Professor Bernard Odoh:
He’s a professor of Geology at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. He’s from Ezza North LGA. He was the Secretary to the Government of Ebonyi state and has contested for governor of the state several times. He’s a popular political figure in the state. He’s forty eight years old. He’s married with children.
17. Sir Nwoba Chika Nwoba:
A Knight of Saint Christopher, Nwoba Chika Nwoba is from Amangwuru village, Ekpelu community of Ikwo LGA. He was born on 4th May, 1991. A graduate of English from the Anambra State University, Nwoba is the most popular young person in Ebonyi state currently. He’s reputed as the most fearless young person in the state due to his daring spirit and his several activist efforts in the defense of the less privileged people of the state. He has won awards for three consecutive years as the Ebonyi Social Media Man of the Year due to his large presence on social media moreover the Facebook. He is a blogger, influencer, published writer and Publicity Secretary of the PDP in the state. His popularity in the Ebonyi environment and beyond is growing by the day as he has remained a piece of inspiration for the young people of the state. He’s one of the few people of the state earning a living from the virtual media space. He’s the founder of the Ebonyi Prestigious Club. He’s a member of the Association of Nigerian Authors. An associate member of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria, Ebonyi state wing, Nwoba Chika Nwoba fondly addressed as NCN is married with a child.
18. Chief Chibuike Orogwu:
A business icon specializing in liquor production, Baby Oku as he’s fondly addressed is from Amudo, Ezza South LGA. A billionaire businessman, Chief Orogwu is forty six years old. He’s a popular name in Ebonyi state as he has several times empowered his people meaningfully.
19. Maria Ude Nwachi:
She’s from Afikpo LGA. This fifty two years old woman is the most popular Ebonyi woman due to her history of philanthropy and controversial public life. When she returned from the United States of America where she had lived for over a decade, her popularity rose. A social media mogul, Maria popularly addressed as Afikpo Chic, was elected into the Ebonyi State House of Assembly in 2015. She contested for the House of Representatives, but was defeated.
20. Chibueze Nwaobasi:
An ace journalist, Chibueze Nwaobasi is from Onicha LGA. He has worked as a newscaster in the Ebonyi radio for many years and became a known name in the state. He’s the most popular journalist in the state.
This is a compilation of the editorial table of the Iyierioba.com and is subject to argument. 
2 Comments
Well articulated, evaluated and deposited. Well-done!
Thank you