Wike biography: Education, wife, political career, FCT minister

Ezenwo Nyesom Wike CON, a Nigerian politician, attorney, and current minister of the Federal Capital Territory, was born on December 13, 1967. From 2015 to 2023, he was the governor of Rivers State. He is an Ikwerre who hails from Rumuepirikom in Obio-Akpor, Rivers State.

Personal Details

Born	12 December 1967 (age 55)
Hometown	Obio-Akpor, Rivers State, Nigeria
Political party	Peoples Democratic Party
Spouse	Eberechi Wike
Children	3
Education	Master of Arts degree in Political and Administrative Studies
Alma mater	Rivers State University of Science and Technology (LL.B.)
Occupation	Politicianlawyer

Wike’s Education

Before attending the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUT), Wike attended Government Secondary School Eneka in Obiakpor, Rivers State, where he took his O’level exams and then enrolled in law school in 1997, he earned a Bachelor of Laws from RSUT. Wike graduated from RSUT with a Master of Arts in Political and Administrative Studies.

Politics as a career

From 1999 to 2007, Wike served as the Obio Akpor Local Government Area’s two-term Executive Chairman.

President Goodluck Jonathan named him the Minister of State for Education in July 2011, When Ruqayyah Ahmed Rufa’i was fired ,Wike was later named the acting minister of education but didn’t complete his term because he was running for governor of Rivers State,. Viola Onwuliri was brought in to take his place.

In the 11 April gubernatorial elections, Wike defeated Dakuku Peterside of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Tonye Princewill of the Labour Party to win the position of governor.

On Wednesday, April 3, 2019, INEC declared Nyesom Wike the victor of the Rivers State governorship elections after temporarily halting the process. At Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt on May 29, 2019, he took the oath of office to begin his second term. He pledged to prioritize Rivers state in his speech.

Wike announced in March 2022 that he would run for the office of president of Nigeria under the platform of the PDP ahead of the 2023 general election but was defeated by in the People’s Democratic Party presidential election primary held at the MKO ABIOLA National stadium in Abuja on May 28 and 29, 2022, with 371 votes to 237 votes for Wike, who finished as first runner up.

He was nominated, screened, and approved by the senate before being appointed by President Bola Tinubu as the FCT’s minister on August 16, 2023.

Wike’s nomination and ministerial position

Nyesom Wike was one of 27 ministerial nominees that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu forwarded to the 10th Nigerian Senate on July 27, 2023. Wike testified before the Senate on July 31, 2023, that President Tinubu would not have regretted selecting him as a minister in his cabinet.

Wike’s Reforms

Nyesom Wike made public primary and secondary education free in line with his goals for educational reform. In a meeting at the government house in Port Harcourt on Monday, June 24, 2019, he made this disclosure. This was accompanied by both complaints and praise, the latter coming from parents and former principals and headmasters in the state. Though they all disintegrated, the Government of Wike continued to stand its ground.

Wike announced free registration for state locals who would be taking the yearly JAMB exam in 2019 through the State Ministry of Education.

A law strengthening a woman’s right to inherit property was passed by him into law in 2022. He urged women to assert their legal rights after signing the legislation, saying they should not be afraid to do so.

Wike’s Projects

He began construction on three significant flyovers in Port Harcourt at the same time during his second term as governor. The flyovers take place at Garrison, Rumoukoro, and Artillery.