Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, CON, was born on 22 October 1954 in Warri North Local Government Area in Delta State of Itsekiri origin. He attended Federal Government College, Warri (1968–1974), and the University of Benin (1975–1980) earning a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) degree, and a Diploma in Anaesthesia. He is married, with two children.
He began work in 1983 at the Delta Steel Company, as a medical officer. From 1989 to 1994, he worked in a number of hospitals including Westend Hospital, Warri; Benoni Hospitals, Benin City and Shell Hospital, Ogunu, where he was a consultant anesthesiologist. In 1994 he set up a private medical practice. He has held various positions in the Nigerian Medical Association in Warri, Bendel State and Delta State. He was also active in the Junior Chamber International (Jaycees) leadership development organization.
Political career
Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan was a founding member and executive member of the Grassroots Democratic Movement (GDM), and a foundation member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
On 6 August 1999, then Governor of Delta State, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, appointed Dr. Uduaghan as Commissioner for Health, Delta State. In this position he improved the pay of medical staff and upgraded infrastructure.
On 6 June 2003, Dr. Uduaghan was appointed Secretary to the Delta State Government.
In November 2008, Dr. Uduaghan and State Chief Justice Rosaline Bozimo approved establishment of sanitation mobile courts to prosecute sanitation offenders in the State.
Dr. Uduaghan ran again for the governorship position in the 26 April, 2011 elections, and was reelected. He gained 525,793 votes, while Chief Great Ogboru of the Democratic People’s Party (DPP) was the runner-up with 433,834 votes.
He was recently honoured by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka with the award of the prestigious Doctor of Public Administration (Honoris Causa).
Personal life:
He is happily married and the marriage is blessed with children.