Born on September 5, 1965 in Ofoni Community in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo belongs to the league of the very best in terms of competence, intellectualism and education. He rose from a very humble beginning to become a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and presently the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State.
He started his educational career at Ebikeniye Primary School, Kpakiama in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, graduating in 1976. He thereafter attended Government College, Bomadi, before crossing over to Community Secondary School, Ofoni, from where he obtained his West African School Certificate (WASC).
He attended the Rivers State College of Health Technology, Port Harcourt, between 1989 and 1991, obtaining a Diploma in Community Health. Not done with his quest for knowledge, Ewhrudjakpo attended the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Port Harcourt between 1991 and 1996 from where he obtained a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Secretarial Administration.
In 1998, he returned to the RSUST for a Masters degree programme in Business Administration and consequently obtained a MBA with Management Option in 2000.
In a bid to expand his horizon, Ewhrudjakpo secured admission to study law, again, at the RSUST, where he bagged an L.L.B. (Hons) degree in Law in 2007.
Simultaneously, he was also studying for a certificate course in Change Management in Said Business School, Oxford University, United Kingdom as he was undergoing his law programme. Between 2008 and 2009 he undertook another Masters studies in the Science of Coaching and Consulting for Change at the HEC School of Management, Paris, France.
Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo was called to Bar in 2009 after completing his Law School programme at the Nigerian Law School, Bwari, Abuja. Having qualified as a Barrister, he obtained a Diploma certificate in Mediation, Negotiation and Arbitration from the Centre for Conflict Resolution, Ghana.
Ewhrudjakpo's quest for knowledge is unprecedented. Between 2011 and 2012, he took yet another Master’s course at the Birmingham City University, United Kingdom and consequently obtained an LLM degree in International Human Rights Law.
In April 2012, the hard working Ewhrudjakpo was appointed as Commissioner of Works and Infrastructure by the immediate past governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Seriake Dickson. He was reappointed in 2016; a position he held till August 2018.
While at the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Ewhrudjakpo brought his leadership prowess to bare on his job. Under his watch, the works ministry recorded tremendous improvement and unparalleled transformation as it became more productive, efficient and effective.
He was instrumental to the huge infrastructural development in Bayelsa State through the political will and intervention of the then Governor Seriake Dickson-led Restoration Government, particularly the Sagbama/Ekeremor road under construction by the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, which he supervised and re-jigged.
He displayed exceptional versatility, competence and capacity when he held sway as commissioner of Works and Infrastructure in Bayelsa State. He did not read Architecture, Engineering, Quantity Survey or any related discipline but anyone who had the opportunity of listening to him speak when he was the helmsman at the works ministry, would readily think he was a professional in that area. He acquired himself exceptionally on the job.
In 2018, Ewhrudjakpo was elected as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to represent the people of Bayelsa West Senatorial District.
He contested the November 16, 2019 Bayelsa State Governorship election as running mate to Senator Douye Diri. A man of many parts, Ewhrudjakpo is an astute administrator, a quintessential Management Consultant, and a Legal Practitioner and a Community Health Practitioner.
As deputy governor of Bayelsa State, he has stood stoutly by his principal, Governor Douye Diri and has given him all the support he needs. No doubt, Ewhrudjakpo's invaluable support has contributed immensely in making Governor Diri succeed to the extent that he has. He has always been there as a dependable ally to the governor.
In spite of his hectic schedule as Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Ewhrudjakpo still found time to read for a Doctorate degree, majoring in International Human Rights and Labour Law. One thing that cannot be taken away from him is that he has a prodigious appetite for knowledge.
He has been described as one of Nigeria's most educated public office holders. In the area of education, he is in a class of his own. With his plethora of degrees and certificates, Senator Ewhrudjakpo is an inspiration to the younger generation, preaching the need for youths to embrace education.
Asked what he thinks of Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, a Yenagoa-based journalist, Stanley Imgbi, said, "He is a humane and urbane man with a quiet disposition.
He is also an exceptional man; an all-rounder. He belongs in the class of Peter Obi and former Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe, when you talk about acquisition of degrees and certificates. He is versatile and can fit into any role. On top of all of that, he is a very humble man".
As the versatile, indefatigable Senator Ewhrudjakpo, dependable ally to Governor Douye Diri, clocked 59 yesterday, Thursday, September 5, the entire state has been celebrating him through their messages of congratulation, which are still pouring in. My wish for him is for him to continue to be a source of inspiration to the youths of Bayelsa and Nigeria at large.
