Nyesom Wike

Nyesom Wike: Biography and Profile **Early Life and Education** Ezenwo Nyesom Wike was born on December 13, 1967, in Rumuepirikom, Obio-Akpor, Rivers State, Nigeria. He is of Ikwerre descent. Wike began his formal education at Government Secondary School, Eneka, in Obio-Akpor, and later attended Rumuepirikom Secondary School, where he obtained his West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). He pursued higher education at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (now Rivers State University), where he obtained a Bachelor of Law (LL.B.) degree. He subsequently attended the Nigerian Law School and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1997. Wike also holds a Master of Arts degree in Political and Administrative Studies from the University of Port Harcourt. **Career Progression** Wike began his political career in local government administration. He served as the Executive Chairman of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area for two terms, from 1999 to 2007. During this period, he was also the National Vice President of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) and later became its National President. In 2007, Wike was appointed as the Chief of Staff to the Governor of Rivers State, serving under Governor Rotimi Amaechi. He held this position until 2011 when he was appointed by President Goodluck Jonathan as the Minister of State for Education. Following a cabinet reshuffle in 2013, he briefly served as the Acting Minister of Education before resigning in 2014 to contest the gubernatorial elections in Rivers State. In 2015, Wike was elected as the Governor of Rivers State under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). He was re-elected for a second term in 2019, completing his tenure in May 2023. **Major Achievements and Notable Works** As Governor of Rivers State, Wike’s administration focused heavily on infrastructural development, encapsulated in his "New Rivers Vision" agenda. Major achievements include the construction and rehabilitation of numerous urban and rural road networks, including the construction of multiple flyovers across Port Harcourt to ease traffic congestion. He significantly invested in the health sector, overseeing the construction of new health centers and the remodeling of existing hospitals. In education, his administration executed several school reconstruction projects. Wike is also recognized for his strong emphasis on security and sanitation in the state capital. His uncompromising stance on matters of state autonomy and resource control often placed him at the forefront of national political discourse. **Current Status** Following the conclusion of his two terms as Governor of Rivers State in May 2023, Nyesom Wike was appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in August 2023. He currently holds this position, where he oversees the administration and development of Nigeria’s capital city, Abuja.