John Owan Enoh
John Owan Enoh (() ⓘ; born 4 June 1966)[1] is a Nigerian politician, teacher, farmer, and philanthropist. He is currently the 36th Minister of Sports Development of Nigeria.[2]
John Owan Enoh | |
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Minister of Sports Development | |
Assumed office 21 August 2023 | |
President | Bola Tinubu |
Preceded by | Sunday Dare |
Senator for Cross River Central | |
In office 9 June 2015 – 9 June 2019 | |
Preceded by | Victor Ndoma-Egba |
Succeeded by | Sandy Ojang Onor |
Member of the House of Representatives of Nigeria from Cross River | |
In office 3 June 2003 – 6 June 2015 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Agbokim, Eastern Region (now in Cross River State), Nigeria | 4 June 1966
Political party | All Progressives Congress (2017–present) |
Other political affiliations | Peoples Democratic Party (before 2017) |
Spouse | Rachel Owan-Enoh |
Children | 3 |
Alma mater | University of Calabar |
Occupation |
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Early life and education
Enoh was born and raised in Agbokim Waterfall community of Cross River State.[3] He graduated from the University of Calabar in 1988 with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology (2nd Class Upper Division), and was the best graduating student of his set. He has attended several courses at home and abroad on capacity building in aid of his legislative work. These include a course in 'Public Financial Management', Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard University (Executive Education), 'Telecoms Regulatory Master Class' – Bath UK , 'Law Making for the Communication Sectors' – BMIT, Johannesburg, South Africa and 'Influence and Negotiation', Stanford Graduate School of Business ,amongst others. Sen. Enoh is a fellow, Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, CEPACS, University of Ibadan. He was also listed as one of Nigeria’s 50 most Outstanding Legislative Icons (1999 – 2010) in a definitive book published by Parlia Consult, a Consortium of Legislative Historians. He holds an Msc (Hons) Demography, Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM), and MBA. [4]
Political career
Enoh returned to the University of Calabar and served as a lecturer between 1991 and 1997. He went on to bag an M.Sc (Demography), a PGDM, and an MBA degree.
In 2003, he got elected to the House of Representatives on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, where he served in the 5th, 6th and 7th Houses. During his first term, he served as deputy chairman, House Committee on Culture & Tourism (2003-2005) and deputy chairman, House Committee on Appropriation (2005-2007). In his second term, he was chairman, House Committee on Finance (2007-2011). He chaired the Committee on Appropriation in his third term (2011-2015).[5]
He got elected to represent Cross River Central Senatorial District and served in the 8th Senate (2015-2019) as chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance. In 2017, he defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the floor of the Nigerian Senate and was the party’s Governorship candidate for Cross River State in 2019.[6]
He was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) up until May 2017 when he decamped to the ruling All progressive Congress (APC)[7] and contested for governorship[8] and lost to Ben Ayade.[9]
He was appointed minister of Sports Development by President Bola Tinubu on 16 August 2023.[10]
Farm venture
Aside from politics, Enoh own numerous farms where he conducts arable and livestock production. Farming venture he started in 2000 has as at 2021 cultivated about 2000 hectares of cultivated lands. Enoh's farm spreads across various parts of Cross River State. About 150 hectares of planted palms in his native Agbokim Waterfalls; and expanding to about 100 hectares of planted palms, and counting, at Etara-Ekuri. All communities in Etung LGA of Cross River State, where the politician hails.
Enoh is said to operate an out-grower scheme in communities where his farms are located. The out-grower scheme is a corporate social responsibility scheme that empowers local small scale farmers with arable and livestock to grow in their farms and later provides them with the market to sell these products.[11]
Philanthropy
Aside from politics, Enoh runs a philanthropy[12] including founding a foundation tagged JOE (John Owan Enoh) Foundation where he provides help for people living with diabetes in Nigeria.[3][6]
Personal life
He is married to Rachel Owan-Enoh and has three children with her; Rachel, John Jr. and Victor. He is a football and lawn tennis enthusiast.[13]
References
- "Meet farmer, politician, John Enoh appointed as Nigeria's Minister of Sports". Vanguard News. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
- "Enoh replaces Dare as Nigeria's Minister of Sports - Daily Trust". dailytrust.com. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
- "Distinguished Senator John Owan Enoh at 54 | The Paradise". theparadise.ng. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
- Ubanagu, Makua (17 August 2023). "Meet Nigeria's new Sports Minister, John Enoh". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
- Eludini, Tunde (18 August 2023). "PROFILE: John Owan-Enoh: New minister of sports looks like another square peg in round hole". Premium Times Nigeria. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
- "Profile: Sen. JOHN OWAN ENOH Cross River Central". National Assembly of Nigeria. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
- "Senator Owan-Enoh's defection, a blow to PDP ―APC chieftain". Tribune Online. 9 May 2017. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
- "Senator emerges Cross River APC governorship candidate". 2 October 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
- "Tribunal returns Ayade as Cross River chief executive". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 13 September 2019. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
- Ulom, Frank (17 August 2023). "Names Of Nigeria Ministers, Portfolio, State Of Origin, Geopolitical | Converseer". converseer.com. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- "Inside Nigeria ex-Lawmaker farm ventures | The Paradise News". theparadise.ng. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
- "Senator Owan-Enoh tackles diabetes in 6 C'River LGs". Vanguard News. 26 November 2019. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
- "John Owan Enoh Biography and Detailed Profile". Politicians Data. 24 May 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2021.