Ben Ayade

Biography

Ben Ayade is a Nigerian politician and academic who served as the Governor of Cross River State from 2015 to 2023. Born in Obudu, he had a distinguished academic career before entering politics, earning a Ph.D. in Environmental Microbiology from the University of Ibadan and eventually becoming a Professor. He also holds a Law degree. He began his political career as a Senator representing Cross River North in 2011. In 2015, he was elected Governor under the PDP platform and was re-elected in 2019 before defecting to the APC in 2021. His tenure was marked by ambitious industrialization projects, including the construction of factories for garment making, rice seedlings, and cocoa processing, aimed at decoupling the state's economy from federal allocation. Ayade is famous for his grandiose style of governance, often referred to as the "Digital Governor," and his penchant for giving his annual budgets elaborate and esoteric names.