Uche Ekwunife
Uche Lilian Ekwunife (née Ogudebe born 12 January 1970), is a Nigerian Politician and member of the 9th Nigerian Senate representing the people of Anambra Central Senatorial District of Anambra State and she is one of the most active female senators in the House.
Uche Ekwunife | |
|---|---|
 Senator Uche Ekwunife | |
| Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from Anambra Central Senatorial District | |
| Assumed office June 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Victor Umeh |
| Member of the Nigerian House of Representatives from Anambra | |
| In office June 2007 – June 2015 | |
| Constituency | Anaocha/Njikoka/Dunukofia |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Uche Lilian Ogudebe 12 December 1970 Igbo-Ukwu, Anambra, Nigeria |
| Political party | People's Democratic Party (PDP) |
| Spouse(s) | Larry Ekwunife |
| Alma mater | University of Calabar (BSc) Nnamdi Azikiwe University (MBA) |
| Website | https://senucheekwunife.com |
Early life and education
Ekwunife was born on December 12, 1970 in Igbo-Ukwu, Anambra to Emmanuel and Lucy Ogudebe. Ekwunife attended University of Calabar and graduated with a bachelor's degree in Business and Accounting in 1993. She went on to earn her MBA degree from Nnamdi Azikiwe University in 2002.[1]
Ekwunife had a career in banking where she rose to be an area manager. She married a businessperson from Nri[2] community Anaocha LGA. She and Chief Larry Ekwunife have children.[3]
Political career
Ekwunife stood for election twice unsuccessfully.[4] She was elected as a representative in 2007 for Anambra's Anaocha/Njikoka/Dunukofia constituency. She was one of 11 women elected in 2007 who were re-elected in 2011 when the lower house was nearly 95% male. Other women elected included Juliet Akano, Mulikat Adeola-Akande, Abike Dabiri, Nkiru Onyeagocha, Nnena Elendu-Ukeje, Olajumoke Okoya-Thomas, Beni Lar, Khadija Bukar Abba-Ibrahim, Elizabeth Ogbaga and Peace Uzoamaka Nnaji.[5]
In 2015, she was elected to the Nigerian Senate. She was one of the six women elected to the 8th National Assembly. The other women were Rose Okoji Oko, Stella Oduah, Fatimat Raji Rasaki, Oluremi Tinubu and Binta Garba.[6] Ekwunife had won the 2015 election by switching from one political party to the other. Because of this her election was challenged and in December 2015 her seat was declared vacant. Ekwunife was unable to get her former political party to back her for the bi-election for her former seat.[7]
She won the 2019 senatorial elections representing Anambra central Senatorial District, Nigeria.[8][9] She contested for the same elections in the 2015 senatorial elections Nigeria, but lost to Senator Victor Umeh.
References
- "Ekwunife Senator Uche Lilian". Biography Legacy for Research Foundation.
- "Kingdom of Nri". About Nri Kingdom.
- "About Uche Ekwunife - NASS". National Assembly of Nigeria.
- "The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)". INEC WEBSITE.
- "Women who will shape Seventh National Assembly". Vanguard News. 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2020-05-03.
- The 6 female senators in 8th National Assembly, Naij,com, Retrieved 15 February 2016
- APC panel disqualifies “fair-weather” Ekwunife from contesting Senate rerun on party's platform, 21 January 2016, Festus Owete, Retrieved 15 February 2016
- Ekwunife, Uche (February 28, 2019). "Finally,INEC Declares Ekwunife winner of Anambra central senatorial Election". This Day.
- Ekwunife, Uche (November 9, 2018). "Nigeria Tribune".