Edwin Kiagbodo Clark

Former Minister of Information

Date of Birth: 25/05/1932
Place of Birth: Kiagbodo, Bendel State

Education: African Church School, Effurun, 1939; Native Authority School, Okrika, 1940; Native Authority School, Akugbene, 1940-45; Holborn College of Law, United Kingdom, 1961-64

Career: Headmaster, Local Authority School, Ofoni, Western Ijaw; Headmaster, Local Authority School, Bomadi, 1954; Headmaster, Secondary Modern School, Bomadi, 1955-57; Assistant Community Development Officer, 1957-61; Director, Asaba Textile Mill 1967; Commissioner for Education, Mid-Western State, 1968-71; Commissioner for Finance and Establishment, Bendel State, 1972-75; Minister for Information, 1975; Chairman of Council and Pro-Chancellor, University of Benin, 1970-75; Director, Bendel Brewery, 1972-74; Chairman, Bendel Line, 1973-74; joined the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), 1979; Pro-Chancellor, University of Technology, Minna, 1983; Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1979-83; Leader, Delta State Elders' Forum.

Commentary: Still a prominent player in Nigerian regional politics and an ally of President Goodluck Jonathan, Edwin Clark is Chairman of the Delta State Elders' Forum and has campaigned for Ijaw rights in the ethnically volatile Niger Delta. He has been openly resentful of the influence on the region of the Itsekiri, who were favoured under colonial rule in spite of their relatively small numbers. In 2007, he openly opposed the election of Emmanuel Uduaghan as Governor of Delta State on ethnic grounds, and he has spoken in support of loosening the region's federalist ties.