HER EXCELLENCY, DAME SEN. DR. MRS. IPALIBO HARRY BANIGO, DSSRS, SENATOR REPRESENTING RIVERS WEST, SENATORIAL DISTRICT, RIVERS STATE NIGERIA.
Her Excellency, Dame Sen.Dr.Mrs.Ipalibo Harry Banigo, DSSRS was born in Ibadan to the illustrious family of the Late Chief and Mrs. Caywood Brown Tom Big Harry of Obuama in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria on the 20th of December in the early fifties.
EDUCATION
She attended MaryHill Convent Primary School, Iwo Road, Ibadan; the prestigious Queens College Yaba, Lagos where she obtained Division One in her West African School Certificate Examinations in 1968 and Distinction in the Higher School results in 1970.
Senator Banigo proceeded to the University of Ibadan, University College Hospital for her MBBS Degree in Medicine in 1976; and Harvard University School of Public Health for her Masters in Public Health in June 1981.
Dr.Banigo also attended the University of London, School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine for a Post-graduate Diploma in Industrial Health (D.I.H) in 1990; the University of London for a Diploma in Dermatology in July 1992, and an M.Sc. in 2007.
CAREER
Her Excellency joined the Rivers State Government Civil Service where she served in various capacities such as Registrar of Births and Senior Medical; Principal, Rivers State School of Health, Port Harcourt; Director Public Health Services, Rivers State Ministry of Health and Social Welfare; Acting Commissioner for Health and Social Welfare; Director-General, Rivers State Ministry of Health and Social Welfare; and Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
Following her impressive track record of service, Mrs Banigo was appointed the first female Head of Civil Service of Rivers State as well as Secretary to the Rivers State Government. Her wealth of experience in public service also attracted other appointments to her as a Member of, Rivers State Food and Nutrition Committee and Project Director, United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA).
Dr. Banigo was the Chairman of, the Rivers State Relief Committee; a Member of, Rivers State Hospital Management Board, and Project Director, UNICEF amongst others.
APPOINTMENT
Apart from working for the Rivers State Civil Service, Senator Banigo held other positions which include, but were not limited to Honorary Consultant Dermatologist, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital; Public Health Adviser to Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (East); Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency and Secretary to the Board of that Agency.
This Amazon and Intellectual Property was also a Member, the Governing Council, University of Calabar; Governing Board, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital; Member, Reference Board( DFID).
As the first female Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Dr.Banigo was the Chairman of, the Rivers State Boundary Commission and Chairman, Ease of Doing Business Council.
Her records in academics, and Public Service are lividly captured in the Scripture that says: “The path of the Righteous is like a shining light, shining from glory to glory into the perfect day.” (Proverbs 4:18 ).
It is therefore not surprising that at a tender age, young Ipalibo Harry (then), started winning academic laurels as the Best All Round Student of the Year 1969-70 and best in key Science Subjects – Chemistry, Biology, and Physics as well as Literature in Queen’s College Yaba, Lagos.
She was the Winner of the BBC Award for Students Poetry in 1968 in the prestigious Queen’s College.
CONFERENCE
The former Deputy Governor of Rivers State has attended various Conferences and Seminars locally and internationally.
She was at the World Health Assembly in 2001, 2002; World Health Regional Meeting in Congo Brazzaville, 2001; the Commonwealth Ministers of Health in New Zealand in 2001; Sandoz Dermatology Conference, Brighton, London 1995 and Various National Councils on Health meetings from 1994 to 1997 as well as the International Parliamentary Summit in New Delhi, India in October, 2023.
POLITICAL LIFE
Her Excellency, (Mrs.) Banigo has maintained a simple, homely, and a quiet but active lifestyle as a social Crusader, Community Worker, Philanthropist, Trailblazer, and a devoted Christian Politician.
On the 29th of May 2015, history was made when Dame Dr. Banigo was sworn in as the First Female Deputy Governor of Rivers State.
She got re-elected for another successful four-year tenure in May 2019.
She was adjudged the most Distinguished and Loyal Deputy Governor in Nigeria by Tell Communication Ltd, Publishers of Tell Magazine in 2021.
Haven served meritoriously for 8 years of two termed-bid, Dr. Banigo was endorsed by her Political Boss and Mentor, Chief Barrister Nyesom Wike CON, GSSRS, POS Africa, Life Bencher, and the PDP Stakeholders to contest on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 General Elections.
On the 11th of June, 2023, Mrs.Ipalibo Harry Banigo was sworn in as Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, representing Rivers West Senatorial District, Rivers State at the Red Chamber of the National Assembly, Abuja. Dr. Banigo currently heads the Senate Committee on Health in the Senate.
PHILANTHROPY
In a bid to impact lives, provide succor to the less privileged, and enhance Destiny recovery for the Youths, Women, and the Vulnerable in Society; Senator Banigo founded an NGO -CAWOOD BROWN FOUNDATION in 2008 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The NGO provides an advocacy platform for the Girl Child as well as yearly Skill Acquisition and Empowerment Programs for Youths.
So far, The Skill training Programs have provided succor and given a sense of divine direction to thousands of people in the State including Muslim faithful in Rivers State.
It is pertinent to note that thousands of Beneficiaries across Nigeria who passed through the various Empowerment Outreaches by Her Excellency are today not only gainfully employed but are now employers of Labour.
Some of the Beneficiaries of the Skill Acquisition Programs were financially empowered and provided with Starter Packs, while others were assisted in securing sustainable Job placement with some Corporate Organizations and the State Government. Indeed, the Physically challenged persons are also beneficiaries of her kind gestures.
Among the Skills Programs sponsored by Sen Banigo yearly are Boat Making, Fashion Design, Shoe Making, Heir Dressing, Painting, Cosmetology, ICT, Digital Economy Training, Photography, Videography, Film Production and Training in Musical Equipment.
AWARDS
Dame Sen. Dr. is a recipient of numerous Awards including Distinguished Service Star of Rivers State.
- Life Time Achievement Award for Dermatology, Public Health, and Political Leadership. – 23rd June, 2022.
- First Female Indigenous Principal of the Rivers State School of Health Technology
- First Female Director of Public Health Services
- First Female Head of Service of Rivers State
- First Female Secretary to the Rivers State Government
- First Rivers State Indigene to be appointed Executive Secretary/Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency
- First Female Chairman of Boys Brigade of Nigeria (Rivers/Bayelsa Chapter)
- First Female Deputy Governor of Rivers State.
- Nigerian Most Distinguished and Loyal Deputy Governor Award recipient by Tell Communication Ltd; Publishers of the Tell Magazine on May 10, 2021.
- Distinguished Ambassador of Jesus Christ Awardee by Evangelical Fellowship in the Anglican Communion (EFAC) Niger Delta Diocese 29th January 2021.
FAMILY
Senator Banigo was married to the late Chief Owen Gogo Banigo of the Ancient Grand Bonny Kingdom and blessed with six (6) lovely Children and grandchildren.
Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Dame Senator Dr. Mrs. Ipalibo Harry Banigo DSSRS, Chairman, Senate Committee on Health as the recipient of the “Platinum Defensor of Niger Delta Diocese”.
The Award is to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the Niger Delta Diocese and in recognition of her commitment, dedication, and selfless service to the Diocese.
