Sam Egwu

Sam Ominyi Egwu (born 20 June 1954) is a Nigerian politician and member of People's Democratic Party (PDP) in Nigeria. He was Governor of Ebonyi State from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007. Dr Egwu is noted as pillar of educational development in Ebonyi state and Nigeria. Been a senior lecturer at Enugu State University of Technology (ESUT) Enugu and served as commissioner for education in Ebonyi state contributed to the successes recorded in education sector during his tenure as governor.

In 2008, President Umaru Yar'Adua appointed him Minister of Education, position he held till April 2010 when he was replaced by Professor Ruqayyah Ahmed Rufa'i.

Egwu was former President Olusegun Obasanjo's choice to become National Chairman of the PDP at its 2008 National Convention. However, at the Convention on March 8, 2008, he withdrew in favor of the compromise candidate Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, who was chosen as an alternative to Egwu and his main rival for the position, Anyim Pius Anyim.

His stay as education minister was characterized by ASUU (Academic Staff Union of Universities) and other university union strikes. This led to people demanding for his sack.

In 2015, he successfully contested and won the senatorial seat for Ebonyi North Senatorial Zone on the platform of People's Democratic Party. Currently, he is the Senate committee chairman on industry.