Odion Ugbesia
| Magnus Odion Ugbesia | |
|---|---|
| National Senator | |
|
Assumed office 2007 |
|
| Constituency | Edo Central |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 28 January 1949 Ubiaja, Edo State |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Political party | People's Democratic Party (PDP) |
| Spouse(s) | Lily Odion-Ugbesia |
| Children | 4 |
| Profession | Teacher, Politician |
Elder Magnus Odion Ugbesia is a Nigerian politician who was elected to the National Senate in 2007 representing the Edo Central constituency of Edo State for the People's Democratic Party (PDP).
Odion Ugbesia was born on 28 January 1949 in Ubiaja, Edo State. He gained a BA in Political Science from the University of Illinois, and an MA in International Relations from Northeastern Illinois University, United States. From 1978 to 1989 he was a Lecturer in Political Science at the University of Benin. He also served as Edo State Coordinator, and was a member of the Presidential Policy Advisory Committee on Niger Delta and other Oil Producing Areas.
Odion Ugbesia was appointed Commissioner for Information in Edo state, then became special assistant to the Federal Minister of Housing. He was promoted to Minister of State at the Ministry of Internal Affairs. In July 2003, President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed him Minister of Solid Minerals.
In a November 2003 interview, he stated that Nigeria had great mineral wealth, including gold, tantalite, barite, coal, and iron ore. These resources had not been sufficiently explored. The government had a seven-year development plan, including revival of the Geological Survey Agency, conducting a full Airborne Geophysical Survey, and improving mining infrastructure and facilities. An important consideration was reducing environmental damage. The government planned to formalize artesanal mining, training miners and monitoring their activity. The Nigerian Coal Corporation was being privatized, and foreign investment was welcomed.
As early as July 2004, Odion Ugbesia was being considered as a potential candidate for governor of Edo State in the 2007 elections. He was the favorite of Chief Anthony Anenih, one of the most powerful men in the state, having once been Anenih's personal assistant. In December 2007 his daughter, Omozuwa, married Iriaobe Anenih, son of Chief Tony Anenih. However, President Obasanjo insisted that Professor Osariemen Osunbor, cousin to his late wife, Stella, would be the PDP gubernatorial candidate.
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