Biography

John Owan Enoh: Biography, Age, Education, Marriage, Political Career, Controversy, and More

Published

9 months ago

2023/07/31

Biography:

John Owan Enoh is a Nigerian politician who served as the Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, representing Cross River Central Senatorial District from 2015 to 2019. He began his political career under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and later decamped to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in May 2017. He also vied for the Cross River gubernatorial elections in 2019.

Date of birth:

Born on June 4, 1966, to Chief Louis Owan Enoh and Helen Ayu Amba Enoh in Agbokim Waterfalls Community, Etung Local Government Area of Cross River State.

wife:

Rachel Owan–Enoh and has children by her.

Senator John Owan Enoh Daughter’s Graduation from Birmingham University in 2019.

Senator John Owan Enoh Daughter and sons

Education: John Owan Enoh’s educational journey started with a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacology from the University of Wales. He further pursued a Master of Business Administration from Cardiff Business School, both in the United Kingdom. John Owan Enoh attended St. Augustine Junior Seminary, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, for his secondary education and St. Gregory Primary School, Agbokim Waterfalls, Cross River State, for his primary education.

Before venturing into politics, Enoh held a lecturing position in the Sociology Department at the University of Calabar, Cross River State, from 1991 to 1997. His political career began in 1997 when he contested and won the election to represent Etung constituency in the Cross River State House of Assembly under the platform of Grassroots Democratic Movement (GDM). However, his seat was nullified following the cancellation of the Sani Abacha Political Transition Programme. In 1999, he successfully reclaimed his seat in the Cross River State House of Assembly under the All Peoples Party (APP), representing the Etung Constituency. During this tenure, he served as the Minority Leader and Chairman of the Committee on Information.

Political career:

In 2003, John Owan Enoh ran for a seat in the Federal House of Representatives, representing the Etung/Obubra Federal Constituency, and was elected under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). He served in various capacities, including Vice Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, Deputy Chairman of Culture & Tourism, and Deputy Chairman of the Appropriation Committee. He was re-elected in 2007 and became the Chairman of the Finance Committee. Upon his return to the House of Representatives in 2011, he was appointed Chairman of the Appropriation Committee.

In 2015, John Owan Enoh contested for the Senatorial seat, representing the Cross River Central Senatorial District, and emerged as the winner on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). He later defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in May 2017. In the 2019 general elections, he vied for the governorship of Cross River State but lost to the incumbent governor, Benedict Ayade of the PDP.

Beyond his political career, John Owan Enoh is known for his dedication to serving humanity and the less privileged in society. As a farmer and philanthropist, he established the JOE (John Owan Enoh) Foundation, where he provides assistance to people living with diabetes in Nigeria.

Throughout his political journey, John Owan Enoh has received several awards and honors, including the Momento Award of Excellence from the Senate Students’ Union Government (SUG), University of Calabar, the Obafemi Awolowo African Hero Award as Grand Advocate of the Masses, and the Most Resourceful Legislator of the Year, among others.

In his various capacities, Enoh has initiated and supported numerous projects aimed at improving the lives of his constituents. Notably, he spearheaded the establishment of the Budget Office and the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) through an Act of parliament while serving as Chairman of the Appropriation Committee. His dedication to community development is evident through projects like the Senator Owan Enoh Vocational Empowerment Scheme, the establishment of out-grower schemes in communities, and the attraction of various development projects to the Etung/Obubra constituency.

John Owan Enoh’s leadership style reflects his commitment to serving humanity and contributing to the betterment of society, making him a quintessential leader in Nigeria’s political landscape.

Controversy:

Former Senator that represented Cross River Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Owan Enoh, has declared an end to litigation against his party’s governorship candidate in the state.

The development came one week after the intervention of the Presidential Candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in the crisis rocking the party in the state.

Enoh, a former Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, said the ‘hard decision’ was taken after series of consultations.

Recall that Enoh, who was one of the governorship aspirants of the APC but lost to Senator Bassey Otu at the party primary in May, had sued the party and Otu.