Rt. Hon. Essien Ayi was born on October 14, 1956, in Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria.
Rt. Hon. Essien Ayi is the Member Representing the Akpabuyo/Bakassi/Calabar South Federal Constituency in the National Assembly. He is currently occupying the seat for the 5th time in a row (20 years by 2023).
Background
Rt. Hon. Essien Ayi was born Essien Ekpenyong Ayi on October 14, 1956, in Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria. He is a politician who currently serves as a member of the Federal House of Representatives representing Akpabuyo/Bakassi/Calabar South Constituency, popularly called ABC Constituency. He is popularly called Isantim translated as an “Hippopotamus” in Efik Language. His Legislative Interests border on making better legislation for the general improvement of the lives of Nigerians
Personal Life
Essien Ayi is a Christian and a known Apostle in his home Church, Peniel Church of God, Calabar. He is a Senior Pastor in the Church. In June 2018, he donated one million Naira (N1,000,000) for the building of a Mosque at Bogobiri, Calabar, Cross River State capital.
In December 2015, Essien Ayi was caught on camera sleeping and snoring during a joint Assembly session in which President Muhammadu Buhari was delivering the Budget to the National Assembly.
Education
Essien Ayi possesses First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC), West African School Certificate (WASC), General Certificate of Education (GCE) and B.Edu in Education.
Early Career
Essien Ayi began his career as a Team Manager with Rovers Football Club in Calabar, Cross River State. He also served as the Secretary of the Cross River South Development Authority. He was subsequently appointed the Chairman of the Cross River State Football Association and Cross River State Sports Commission from September 2002 – March 2003. He was a Member of, Cross River State Local Government Pension Board from July 2000 – May 2002 and the Cross River Primary Education Board from July 2001 – May 2002.
Political Career
Essien Ayi served as Chairman of Calabar South Local Government Area from 1995 to 2002. In 2003, he was elected under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to represent Akpabuyo/Bakassi/Calabar South Constituency at the Federal House of Representatives. He was reelected in 2007, 2011, 2015, and 2019 in the same position.
In the Federal House of Representatives, Essien Ayi has been a member as well as chaired several Committees. The Committees are as follows;
Committee Member at Customs and Excise Committee (Reps) until May 2015
Chairman at Labour, Employment and Productivity Committee (Reps) until May 2015
Committee Member at Solid Minerals Committee (Senate) until May 2015
Committee Member at Petroleum Resources (Up Stream) Committee (Reps) until May 2015
Committee Member at Electoral Matters & Political Party Matters Committee (Reps) until May 2015
Committee Member at FCT Area Councils and Ancillary Matters Committee (Reps) until May 2015
Committee Member at Sports Committee (Reps) until May 2015
Chairman at Niger Delta Affairs Committee (Reps) until May 2023
Awards.
Essien Ayi has received several awards, including the Utuen Ikang Eneyo title given to him by the Eneyo Community in Cross River State.
Projects and Other Achievements
In August 2018, Essien Ayi donated a 300KVA Power Transformer with about 33KV to Esuk Ekpo Eyo Community of Akpabuyo Local Government of Cross River State. In March 2021, he organised a 10-day Agricultural value chain training for the people of Bakassi. He also donated N1 million for the construction of a Mosque in Calabar in 2018.
Rt. Hon. Essien Ayi, Member Representing Akpabuyo, Bakassi and Calabar South Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, performing the commissioning of 300KVA electricity substation at Esuk Ekpo Eyo Community in Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State.
Contact
Essien Ayi can be contacted as follows;
Postal Address: 5b/9 Fenton Street, Calabar South, Cross River State
E-Mail: essienayi@yahoo.co.uk
Phone: 08033486856
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/essien.e.ayi