Ihonvbere’s Emergence As Majority Leader In The Green Chamber Is Well Deserved* -Edionwele
He has the required experience and all the necessary perquisites to deliver on this mandate…
The immediate Member, House of Representatives who represented Esan Central, Esan West and Igueben Federal Constituency during the 2015-2019/2019-2023 legislative years, Rt. Hon. Chief Joe Edionwele, JP, KSC, FCNA has congratulated one of the Edo-born National Legislators in the 10th Assembly, Rt. Hon. Prof. Julius O. Ihonvbere for his emergence as the Majority Leader in the Green Chamber of the National Assembly.
Chief Edionwele who extolled the leadership qualities of the brand new Majority Leader said, “Professor Julius O. Ihonvbere is a man of honour with sound credibility profile, an academician per excellence, a political scientist, a strategist and a seasoned administrator whose oratory prowess is undaunted. Considering his very rich resume, I believe that he will be a good Ambassador to the Edo people as a Majority Leader. He has all it takes to deliver on this mandate to exceed our expectations. As a former member of HoR, I know he needs our prayers now. So, may God grant him wisdom, knowledge and understanding to make us proud as a State, Amen.”
Professor Julius O. Ihonvbere is a Nigerian Professor born in Oyo in the old Western Region. He attended CMS Primary School in Oyo, St. John’s CAC School, Warri, and Edo Boys High School, Benin City, where he obtained the West African School Certificate. He took his B.A. Combined Honours Degree in History and Political Science from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University). He holds an MA in International Affairs and a Ph.D. in Political Science from Carleton University, Ottawa and the University of Toronto respectively. He then proceeded to teach at the University of Ife, Ogun State University and University of Port Harcourt all in Nigeria. He returned to the University of Toronto as visiting Professor of African politics. In 1991, he moved to the University of Texas at Austin, where he taught African and third-world politics as well as courses on US–Africa relations. In 1997, he joined the Ford Foundation in New York as Programme Officer in the Peace and Social Justice Program and was responsible for the portfolio on “Pluralism and Governance” until 2002, when he voluntarily withdrew his services to return to Nigeria.
As a student he was a Sanitary and Health Prefect at Edo Boys High School, Benin City, and later a Public Relations Officer of the University of Ife Students’ Union. When he returned to Ife as a lecturer in International Relations he became Secretary of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
At the University of Port Harcourt, he served first as Vice-Chairman and later as Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). He also served as head of the Department of Political and Administrative Studies at the University of Port Harcourt and President of the Senior Staff Club. He was an Adviser to the Students’ Union Government of the University of Port Harcourt for several years.
This National Lawmaker is representing the good people of Owan Federal Constituency of Edo State and former Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education. Ihonvbere was the former Special Adviser on Project Monitoring and Implementation to Nigeria’s ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo and was a two-time PDP Governorship Aspirant in Edo State and was also a former Chief of Staff to the former Edo State Governor, H.E. Comrade Sen. Adams Oshiomole.
