Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa
Website: www.deltastate.gov.ng
Office Date: May 2015
Address: Government House, Delta
Birth Date: 8th July 1959
Birth State: Delta State
Political Party: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
Spouse: Mrs. Edith Okowa
State: Delta State
Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa was born on 8th July 1959 into a Christian family in Owa-Alero, Ika North-East Local Government Area Delta State.
He attended Iroro Primary School Owa Alero (1965-1969), and later enrolled at the prestigious Edo College, Benin City from where he obtained the West Africa School Certificate (1974) and Higher School Certificate (1976). Later, he proceeded to the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, where he qualified as a medical Doctor in June 1981. Before then, he did his internship with the Central Hospital, Benin City (1981-1982), and thereafter, completed his National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) with the Primary Health Care Department in Ahiazu-Mbaise Local Government Council, Imo State (1982-1983).
Dr. Okowa was employed by the Bendel State Hospitals Management Board in 1983 and worked at the General Hospital, Uromi, and Government Hospital, Igbanke, at different times. He resigned from government service in 1986 to establish Victory Medical Clinics at Igbanke and Boji Boji, Owa.
He ventured into politics in 1991 and became the Secretary of Ika Local Government Council. With the creation of Ika North East Local Government Area in the same year, he became its pioneer Executive Chairman (1991-1993). With the truncation of the Third Republic in 1993, Dr Okowa resumed his medical practice but returned to politics in 1998 with the lifting of the ban on politics by the then Military Government.
Since the inception of the Nigerian Fourth Republic in 1999, Senator Okowa has had the privilege of wholesome engagements in the governance of Delta State. He was Commissioner of Agriculture and Natural Resources (1999-2001), Water Resources Development (2001-2003) and Health (2003-2006).
Dr Okowa resigned in October, 2006 to contest election to the office of Governor, Delta State, under the platform of PDP. He was runner-up at the PDP Gubernatorial Primaries, and later led the campaign of the Party as Director-General. He served as the Secretary of the Government Transition Committee in April/May, 2007, an assignment he also had the privilege to perform in 1999.
In June, 2007, he was appointed Secretary to the State Government (SSG). He resigned in July, 2010 to contest the senatorial election for Delta North Senatorial District, an election he won convincingly.
Senator Dr Okowa was elected the fourth Executive Governor of Delta State on April 11, 2015, and was sworn in on May 29, 2015.