Samuel Anyanwu

Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu (born 18 June 1965) known as Sam Daddy is a Nigerian business executive and politician currently serving as the national secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) since November 2021. He served as a senator in the 8^th Nigeria National Assembly representing Imo East Senatorial District from 2015 to 2019 and sponsored the bill for the establishment of South East Development Commission passed by the 8^th Senate but was vetoed by President Buhari. Anyanwu ran unsuccessfully for the PDP governorship nomination for the 2019 Imo State gubernatorial election.  Anayanwu is the founder of several businesses and non-profit organizations including New View Engineering Nig. Ltd, Sonada Oil Ltd and president of So Others May Eat (S.O.M.E) Foundation – a charity organization focused on helping less privileged.

Early life and education

Samuel Anyanwu was born on 18 June 1965 in Obodo, Amaimo, Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State to Chief Sebastine Anyanwu (Father) and chief Mrs Virginia Anyanwu (mother). He had his primary education at Modern Day Primary School, Aba and attended Iho Comprehensive School, Ikeduru for his secondary education. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in public administration from University of Port Harcourt before studying at the Cambridge Judge Business School and Harvard Kennedy School. Anyanwu is a Fellow of the Paul Harris Institute.

Career

Business

Anyanwu founded several businesses including Sonada Oil, Sam Daddy Farms, Sam Daddy Investments Ltd, Newseed Communications and New View Engineering Nig. Ltd operating in the energy, agriculture and telecommunication sectors.

Politics

Anyanwu began his political career in 2003 when he was appointed Transition Committee chairman of Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State serving concurrently as the secretary of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Imo State chapter. He was elected chairman of Ikeduru LGA on the ticket of PDP in 2004 and served until 2007 when he contested and won Ikeduru State Constituency seat in the Imo State House of Assembly serving two terms (2007-2015). In the state assembly he chaired House Committee on Public Accounts, Finance, and Commerce and Industry and was Vice chairman of the House Committee on Ethics, Petitions and Privileges.

Anyanwu was elected to the 8th Senate of Nigeria from Imo East Senatorial district on the ticket of the PDP in 2015. He served as the chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions and served on several other senate committees. In 2017, he sponsored the bill for the establishment of South East Development Commission passed by the 8th Senate but was vetoed by President Buhari. The bill was re-introduced in the 10th National Assembly co-sponsored by deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu and other lawmakers from the South East and was passed by the house in December 2023 and passed in the senate in February 2024.

He contested for the PDP’s ticket to run in the 2019 Imo governorship election but was not successful. In 2021, Anyanwu was elected national secretary of the PDP. He emerged as the 2023 Gubernatorial Candidate of the PDP after Emeka Ihedioha failed to garner support of party members.

Philanthropy

He is the founder and president of So Others May Eat (S.O.M.E) Foundation and Sam Daddy Musterseed Foundation – non-profit organizations helping the poor.

Personal life

Anyanwu is married and blessed with Children.

References