Benedict Ayade
| Benedict Ayade | |
|---|---|
 H.E. Senator (Prof) Ben Ayade Executive Governor, Cross River state | |
| Governor of Cross River State, Nigeria | |
|
Assumed office May 29, 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Liyel Imoke |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
2 March 1969 Kakum, Obudu LGA, Cross River State, Nigeria |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Political party | People's Democratic Party (PDP) |
| Spouse(s) | Dr. Linda Ayade |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Website | www.senatorbenayade.org |
Benedict Bengioushuye Ayade, (born 2nd March 1969), is the Governor of Cross River State of Nigeria. He was sworn-in on 29th May 2015. He ran successfully for the office of Governor in the April 2015 elections on the platform of People's Democratic Party (PDP)
Ayade was elected Governor of Cross River State on 11 April 2015. He was a member of the 7th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.[1]
Early Life
Benedict Bengioushuye Ayade was born on the 2nd of March 1969 to the family of Mr. & Mrs. Peter Akinsheye Ayade, a native of Kakum, a village in Obudu LGA, northern Cross River. His parents were both devout Catholics. His father worked as a public servant with the water board.[2]
Education
Ben Ayade received his primary education at St. Stephens Primary School, Obudu and proceeded to Government Secondary School, Obudu.
He got his BS.c honours in Microbiology at Ambrose Alli University in Ekpoma (1984 -1988) and proceeded to the University of Ibadan 1990-1994 where he obtained his Ph.D and won the best Doctoral Dissertation award in Environmental Microbiology. Ayade went on to work as a lecturer at Delta State University, Abraka where he was subsequently appointed Professor. [3]
From his work in Groundwater Remediation in Nigeria, Ayade invented a sewage treatment plant which depended on solar energy. His invention is currently being used off-shore by oil producing companies in Nigeria. [4]
Appointments/Political Career
- Chairman of the Ecological fund
- Chairman of the International Institute of Environmental Research
- Member of SPAC
- Member of the Nigeria Association of Petroleum Engineers
- Member Cross River State Poverty Alleviation Board[5]
Ayade entered the political stage when he ran for the northern senatorial seat beating his closest rival Patrick Agbe of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) with over 80,000 votes in the 9th of April 2011 elections, Ayade polled 91,123 votes while his rival Patrick Agbe of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) managed a meager 11,056 votes. During his term in the Senate, Prof. Benedict Ayade held the position of Vice-Chairman, Senate committee on Environment and Ecology. He was member of other Senate Committees such as Petroleum Downstream, Education , and Drugs/Narcotics/Crime.
Ayade was one of the most active Senators of the 7th Senate having sponsored a total of 41 bills to rank the highest in the league of senators of the Seventh Senate. Among the Bills he sponsored are: Nigerian Naira stabilization bill, Nigeria Expatriate quota control bill, Job creation and protection bill, Federal Scholarship Commission bill, Petroleum Refineries Bill, Green Cities development bill, EFCC Act 2003 bill, National Energy bill.[6] Four years later, Sen. (Prof) Ben Ayade won the gubernatorial polls under the platform of the People's Democratic Party ( PDP) in the April, 2015 governorship elections in Cross River State having polled 342,016 votes, ahead of the All Progressives Congress candidate in the state, Odey Ochicha, with 53,983 votes.[7]
In his 8 months as Governor of Cross River State, Gov. Ben Ayade already has several ongoing projects, they include 260km dual carriage superhighway, Calabar Deep seaport, Calabar garment factory, a project that is projected to employ more than 2000 persons amongst others. He has planned to build three new cities in the state also.[8][9]
Ayade was the only African governor listed to speak at the summit by the United Nations Secretariat for Climate Change when he led the African Governors to the Climate change summit in Paris on the 7th of December, 2015[10]
Family and Personal Life
Ayade is married to Dr. Linda Ayade and has children. His hobbies includes reading, playing/watching games and dancing. [11]
References
- ↑ "Election update : Prof. Ben Ayade wins in Cross River State". Encomium. April 13, 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
- ↑ "Meet Sen Ben Ayade". Senator Ben Ayade's Website. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
- ↑ Senator Ben Ayade Online Media Team (13 January 2015). "Meet Sen Ben Ayade". Senator Ben Ayade website. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
- ↑ Channels TV (6 December 2015). "Gov. Ayade Leads African Governors to Climate Summit in Paris". Channels TV. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
- ↑ Senator Ben Ayade Online Media Team (13 January 2015). "Meet Sen Ben Ayade". Senator Ben Ayade website. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
- ↑ Jonathan Nda-Isaiah (29 June 2015). "Senators Who Made 7th Senate Tick". Leadership Nigeria Newspaper. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
- ↑ "Senator Ayade Wins Cross River Governorship With Landslide". Cross River watch. 13 April 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
- ↑ "Calabar Deep Seaport Will be Ready in 18 Months - Ayade". Cross River watch. 4 July 2015. Retrieved 4 July 2015.
- ↑ "Super-highway: Ayade has Struck the Right Chord With Buhari - Imoke". Vanguard Newspaper, Nigeria. 5 November 2015. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
- ↑ Channels TV (6 December 2015). "Gov. Ayade Leads African Governors to Climate Summit in Paris". Channels TV. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
- ↑ Senator Ben Ayade Online Media Team (13 January 2015). "Meet Sen Ben Ayade". Senator Ben Ayade website. Retrieved 13 January 2015.