Ifeanyichukwu Arthur Okowa CON (born July 8, 1959) is a Nigerian doctor and politician who served as Governor of Delta State from May 2015 until May 2023. He was a member of the People’s Democratic Party and served as the party’s vice presidential candidate in the 2023 presidential election, alongside Atiku Abubakar, the party’s presidential candidate.
Ifeanyi Okowa Biography
Ifeanyi Okowa, now 65, was born on July 8, 1959, in Owa-Alero, Delta State’s Ika North-East Local Government Area.
Okowa attended the University of Ibadan, earning an MBBS in Medicine and Surgery. He began his medical career as a Medical Officer at the Bendel State Hospitals Management Board and later became the Director of Victory Medical Centre, Igbanke.
Career
Okowa was appointed Secretary to the Ika Local Government and later Chairman of the Ika North-East Local Government Council (1991–1993). He was the Delta North Coordinator for the Grassroots Democratic Movement (GDM).
He joined the PDP in 1998 and worked on Governor James Ibori’s campaign in 1998/99. He was a commissioner in the Delta State administration for Agriculture and Natural Resources (July 1999-April 2001), Water Resources Development (April 2001-May 2003), and Health (September 2003-October 2006).
Okowa resigned to run in the 2007 Delta State PDP governorship primary, but he did not win. In June 2007, Ifeanyi was named Secretary of the Delta State Government.
Ifeanyi was elected the Delta North Senatorial candidate in the January 2011 PDP primaries with 942 votes; however, the outcome was disputed by party officials, who preferred Marian Amaka Alli as the candidate.
He was re-elected in a rematch, with 1,446 votes to Marian Alli’s 108. In the April 2011 Delta North Senatorial election, Ifeanyi received 98,140 votes, beating out candidate Prince Ned Munir Nwoko, who received 67,985 votes.
According to reports, tensions over the January 2013 election remained high. On December 8, 2014, Ifeanyi ultimately won the PDP gubernatorial election ticket for 2015 with 406 votes.
He won the Delta State Gubernatorial elections in April 2015 with 724,680 votes and was inaugurated as Governor on May 29, 2015. In the 9 March 2019 Governorship election, Okowa, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, received 925,274 votes, defeating his opponent, the All Progressives Congress candidate, Great Ogboru, who received 215,938.
As governor of Delta State in 2020, he created the University of Delta in his hometown of Agbor. He also established the University of Science and Technology in Ozoro and Dennis Osadebe University in Anwai, both in Delta State.
Award and Honour
He was named Man of the Year 2017 by the Independent Newspaper at the Eko Hotel & Suites in Lagos. Alhaji Ismalis Isa Funtu delivered the award.
In 2017, he received the highest award from the University of Ibadan, Ibadan-Nigeria as the Alumni of the Year 2016, where he successfully delivered a lecture titled “Good Governance for Wealth Creation and Sustainable Development: Experience and Lessons” at the 2017 edition of the University of Ibadan Alumni Lecture organised by the University of Ibadan Alumni Association (UIAA).
President Muhammadu Buhari bestowed the Nigerian national title of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) upon him in October 2022.
Controversy and Allegations
In November 2024, Okowa was summoned to the Port Harcourt office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for questioning regarding alleged mishandling and diversion of 13% derivation designated for Delta State between 2015 and 2023, totalling N1.3 trillion. He was apprehended by the anti-corruption agency.
Ifeanyi Okowa Wife
Ifeanyi is married to Dame Edith Okowa, and the couple has three children: Victor, Mildred, and Ejiro Okowa. The family is noted for its close friendship and support for one another’s endeavours. Okowa’s personal life is defined by his commitment to his family and his craft.
Ifeanyi Okowa Net Worth
Ifeanyi Okowa’s net worth is reported to be around $1.5 million, resulting from his successful medical and political careers.
Social Media
X: @IAOkowa