Emmanuel Aguariavwodo
Senior Political Adviser
Born in December 1957, from Okpare-Olomu, Ughelli South LGA, Distinguished Senator Emmanuel Edesiri Aguariavwodo comes to the service of the administration with over 35 years experience in policy formulation, strategy development, budgeting, economics, infrastructural development, journalism, legislation, communication, team building and mentoring, garnered from both the private and public sectors.
From St. Joseph Roman Catholic Mission Primary School, Okpare, where he obtained his FLSC, he went to Ibru College Agbarha-Otor and St. Gregory’s College, Ikoyi, Lagos, for his West African Ordinary School Certificate (O Levels) and Advance Level Certificate (A Levels), and thereafter proceeded to the University of Benin where he bagged B.Sc. (Honours) in Economics in 1983.
He added more academic honours from the famous Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard Institutes for International Development, Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A, where he obtained an Advanced Certificate with Distinction in Budgeting and Financial Management in the Public Sector, 2000, and from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, Washington DC, for another certificate in Executive-Legislative Relations and Performance.
A consummate political leader and former aspirant for the Gubernatorial ticket of Delta PDP, he has represented his people at both the Green and Red Chambers of the National Assembly.
His public service record also includes Special Adviser on Infrastructure and Housing Development to the immediate past Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa; Chairman of the Transition Subcommittee on Infrastructure; Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), 2003, after his active participation in it’s legislative enactment; and re-appointment as MD/CEO of the commission in 2005.
During his tenure in the House, Senator Aguariavwodo pioneered legislations that revolutionized the participation of indigenous companies in the oil and gas sector, aptly titled “Operation Procedure (Regulation)” of the Petroleum Company Act 2001.
He was Vice Chairman of the standing Senate Committees on Privatization and on NEPAD, and also a member of the Senate Standing Committees on Education, Agriculture and Senate Services.
Under his watch at the NDDC, the Niger Delta Regional Development Master Plan was completed and approved by Mr President and the Federal Executive Council, while the public perception and goodwill of the organisation rose remarkably due to the very concrete and visible achievements in delivery of roads and bridges, school buildings, health centres, canalisation and shoreline protection, water and electrification projects, Youth/Women Empowerment programmes, skills acquisition, sports development and job creation.
A very active member of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, he was appointed Board Chairman of the Niger Delta Basin Development Authority in 2009 by then President Umaru Yar’Adua, and later Board Chairman of the Centre for Management Development, Abuja, in 2013.
A prolific writer, poet and journalist, especially celebrated for his days in various titles under the Guardian Newspaper stable, Senator Aguariavwodo has been decorated with several honours in recognition of his sterling qualities and contributions in the public and private sectors.
These include the University of Benin Alumni Award for Excellence; the Rotary District 9130 Community Service Award;
AIT Award for Excellence in the Development of the Niger Delta; Award for Leadership and Excellence by the Nigeria Advancement Award;
Certificate of Honor by the Nigeria Union of Journalists; and the NAPIMS Award of 2001 Research and Publications.
