Emmanuel Essien

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Emmanuel Ibok Essien

| image =

| office1 = Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District

| term_start1 = May 1999

| term_end1 = May 2003

| predecessor1 =

| successor1 = Itak Bob Ekarika

| birth_date =

| birth_place = Ikot Ekpene, Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria

| death_date =

| party = People's Democratic Party

| office2 = Deputy Chief Whip of the Nigerian Senate

| termstart2 = 1999

| termend2 = 2000

| nationality = Nigerian

}}

Emmanuel Ibok Essien {{Audio|Ig-Emmanuel Ibok Essien.ogg|Listen|help=no}} was elected Senator for the Akwa-Ibom North West District of Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria at the start of the Nigerian Fourth Republic, running on the People's Democratic Party (PDP) platform. He took office on 29 May 1999.{{cite web

|url=http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/n/nigeria/nigerialeg2.txt

|title=FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA LEGISLATIVE ELECTION OF 20 FEBRUARY AND 7 MARCH 1999

|work=Psephos

|access-date=2010-06-25}}

Essien studied Electrical/Electronics Engineering at the College of Technology, Calabar (1975 - 1977), the University of Ife (1977 - 1978) and Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, graduating in 1982 with a degree in Civil Engineering.

He worked with Mobil Producing Nigeria, taught at the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, and established an engineering construction company, as well as undertaking large-scale farming.

In 2000, he established Ritman Nursery/Primary School and Ritman College and also Ritman University.{{cite web

|url = http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/education/2008/july/08/education-08-07-2008-002.htm

|title = Education is my passion - Senator Ibokessien

|author = EMERSON GOBERT, JR.

|date = July 8, 2008

|work = Daily Sun

|access-date = 2010-06-25

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100727105045/http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/education/2008/july/08/education-08-07-2008-002.htm

|archive-date = 2010-07-27

}}

After taking his seat in the Senate in June 1999, Essien was appointed to committees on Works & Housing, Communication, National Planning, Internal Affairs, Information and Tourism & Culture (vice chairman).{{cite web

|url = http://www.nigeriacongress.org/assembly/committees1.htm

|title = Congressional Committees

|publisher = Nigeria Congress

|access-date = 2010-06-25

|url-status = usurped

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091118151316/http://www.nigeriacongress.org/assembly/committees1.htm

|archive-date = 2009-11-18

}}

He was Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate in 1999.

In September 2002, he was a strong supporter of a bill to end the onshore / offshore dichotomy in oil revenue allocation, a change that would benefit Akwa Ibom State.{{cite web

|url = http://www.thisdayonline.com/archive/2002/09/25/20020925news05.html

|title = Senate Favours Abolishing of Onshore/Offshore Dichotomy

|author = Bature Umar

|work = Daily Sun

|date = 2002-09-25

|access-date = 2010-06-25

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20050421233501/http://www.thisdayonline.com/archive/2002/09/25/20020925news05.html

|archive-date = 2005-04-21

}}

Essien was an aspirant to be a candidate in the 2007 elections for Governor of Akwa Ibom State.{{cite web

|url = http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/politics/2006/july/29/politics-29-07-2006-002.htm