Banigo Ipalibo Harry

Ipalibo Gogo Banigo (née Harry; born **20 December 1952** in Obuama, Degema, Rivers State) is a Nigerian medical doctor and politician who is the current senator representing the Rivers West Senatorial District since 2023. She served as the first female deputy governor of Rivers State from 2015 to 2023, and a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

During her political career, she held key roles in the Rivers State Ministry of Health, including Director of Public Health Services, Acting Commissioner, Director-General, and Permanent Secretary. She gained prominence in 1995 as Secretary to the Government of Rivers State before becoming the state’s Head of Service in 1998. In December 2014, Ezenwo Wike selected her as his running mate in the 2015 election, leading to her election as deputy governor on 29 May 2015.

Early life and education: Born to the Harry family in Obuama, Degema, Rivers State, Banigo earned the West African School Certificate (Division One) and the Higher School Certificate at Queens College, Lagos, where she won prizes for Chemistry, Biology, and English Literature. She was also the Best All-Round Student from 1969 to 1970. She obtained a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery from the University College Hospital, Ibadan, and later pursued a master’s degree at Harvard University School of Public Health. Between 1990 and 1992, she received diplomas in Tropical Hygiene and Dermatology from the University of London.

Career: Banigo began her professional journey at the Rivers State Port Health Service as Registrar of Births and Senior Medical Officer-in-charge. She later served as an honorary consultant dermatologist at the University of Port Harcourt and became principal of the Rivers State School of Health Technology in 1985. Her administrative contributions included five key roles within the Rivers State Ministry of Health.