Ayade Benedict Bengioushuye

Benedict Bengiuoshuye Ayade (born 2 March 1968) is a Nigerian politician who served as the Governor of Cross River State from 2015 to 2023. He previously served as Senator for Cross River North from 2011 to 2015. Born in Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State on 2 March 1968, he hails from Kakum Village, Ipong Ward of the same LGA. His parents, Peter Akinsheye Ayade and Beatrice Ngayi Ayade, were both devout Catholics. His father worked as a public servant with the water board.

Ayade received his primary education at St. Stephens Primary School, Obudu, and proceeded to Government Secondary School, Obudu, Nigeria, for his secondary education. He earned his B.Sc. (Honours) in Microbiology from the University of Ibadan (1984–1988), followed by an M.Sc. in Microbiology (1989–1990) and a Ph.D. in Environmental Microbiology (1990–1994), winning the Best Doctoral Dissertation Award in Environmental Microbiology. He also holds an MBA from Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma (2000–2002).

Ayade is a lawyer with an LL.B. degree from Delta State University, Abraka (2006–2010). He worked as a lecturer and was subsequently appointed professor at Delta State University, Abraka. Additionally, he holds a Master’s Degree (LL.B) in Law from the University of Calabar, Cross River State. From his work in groundwater remediation, Ayade invented a sewage treatment plant powered by solar energy.

Ayade ventured into politics by running for a seat in the Nigerian Senate in the 2011 elections as a member of the PDP, accumulating 91,123 votes. During his Senate term (2011–2015), he served as vice-chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology and was a member of committees on Petroleum Downstream, Education, Drugs/Narcotics/Crime, etc.

He won the gubernatorial election in Cross River State as a PDP candidate in April 2015, polling 342,016 votes against the APC candidate, Odey Ochicha, who received 53,983 votes. Ayade was reelected as governor in the 2019 gubernatorial elections, again as a PDP candidate. During his last year as governor, he contested the 2023 Cross River North Senate Seat as a PDP candidate but lost to Sen. Jarigbe Agom.

Ayade has been awarded multiple honors, including the 2016 Vanguard Governor of the Year, 2019 Champion Newspaper Governor of the Year, 2020 Leadership Newspaper Governor of the Year, and the 2021 Blueprint Newspaper Governor of the Year for his contributions to agro-industrialization. He was invested as the Knight of St. John (KSJ) International by the Roman Catholic Church in 2019 and awarded the national honor of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) by President Muhammadu Buhari in October 2022.

Married to Dr. Linda Ayade, Ayade has three children. His hobbies include reading, playing and watching games, and dancing.