Dr Sam Ominyi Egwu is a former Governor of Ebonyi state who served from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007 and a member of PDP in Nigeria. Dr Egwu is recognized as the pillar of educational development in Ebonyi state and Nigeria as he contributed greatly to the successes recorded in education sector during his tenure as governor. He is currently a senior lecturer at Enugu state university of technology (ESUT) Enugu and also served as commissioner for education in Ebonyi state.
In 2008, he was appointed Minister of Education by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua and held the position until April 2010 when he was replaced by Professor Ruqayyah Ahmed Rufia. Dr Egwu was former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s candidate for the National Chairman position of the PDP at its 2008 National Convention but withdrew his candidacy in favour of the compromise candidate Prince Vincent Ogbulafor subsequently chosen. Aside from the controversies that stemmed the ASUU (Academic Staff Union of Universities) and other university union strikes during his tenure as education minister which led to the call for his removal, Dr Egwu has been characterized as a good-natured politician in Nigeria.
He now currently serves as the chairman at the Industry Senate Committee representing Ebonyi North Senatorial Zone under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party.