By Ifere Paul
Professor Anthony Owan-Enoh: A Technocrat, Administrator & Politician
Professor Anthony Owan-Enoh was born on the 27th of December 1957 in Etung Local Government of Cross River State.
Professor Anthony Owan-Enoh attended Government Secondary School, Ikom from 1972 to 1976. He proceeded to the School of Arts and Science in Uyo between 1976 and 1978. In 1978 he was admitted to pursue a degree in Bachelor of Education in Biology. He went on to pursue a Master’s of Education in Philosophy still in the University of Jos. By 1993, he had completed a PhD in Philosophy of Education.
Professor Owan-Enoh started his career as a lecturer with the Federal College of Technical Education in Gombe State in 1982 when he was posted there for his National Youth Service (NYSC). After completing the service year in 1983, he was retained as a full lecturer in 1984 and remained there till 1991.
By the end of April 1991, Professor Anthony Owan Enoh was appointed as a lecturer in Philosophy of Education, Department of Arts and Social Sciences of the University of Jos as an Assistant Lecturer.
Professor Anthony Owan-Enoh was promoted to Lecturer II in 1993. He was also promoted to Lecturer I in 1996. He got his promotion as Senior Lecturer in 1999 and was promoted to the position of Reader in 2002. He became a Professor in 2005.
Professor Owan-Enoh has handled consultancy services for many State governments, federal government ministries, UBE and UNESCO.
In 1999, he was the coordinator for the training of Secondary School Teachers for the Ministry of Education in Nasarawa State. He was a Consultant for the training of Secondary School Teachers for the Ministry of Education in Cross River State in 2005, 2006 and 2007. Between 2002 to 2003, he served as a Consultant for Universal Basic Education (UBE)/UNESCO for the Supervision of UBE Projects in Bayelsa State. He was also the Consultant for the Cross River Ministry of Education for the State’s Education Summit in 2008 and 2011. He volunteered as a part-time lecturer for Master/Doctoral Students at the University of Calabar. He also mentored students of the National Teachers Institute, Kaduna State.
Apart from lecturing and mentoring, he has also held leadership and administrative position during his professional growth.
He served as an Admission Officer, Federal College of Technical Education, Gombe between 1988-1990. He was also the Chief Coordinator, Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) Sandwich Programme of the Institute of Education, University of Jos, between 1999 -2002. The programme had an enrollment of over 5,000 students.
He served as Secretary, Departmental Seminar Committee between 1994 – 2001 at the University of Jos, and was a Member of the Departmental Editorial Committee the same year. He has been the Coordinator, Faculty Post Graduate Seminars from 1996 – 2001.
Professor Anthony Owan-Enoh became the Coordinator, Philosophy of Education Unit, Department of Arts and Social Sciences Education, University of Jos in 1993 – 1997 and 2002 – 2008. He was a Chairman, Departmental Time Table Committee between 1997 – 2000. He also was the General Coordinator of Doctoral Seminars for PhD Candidates, Facility of Education from 1996-2002 at the University of Jos.
Professor Owan-Enoh was elected a Member Senate by the Faculty of Education, University of Jos from June 2004 – September 2005. He was a Member of the Cross River State University of Technology, from 2005 till 2010. He was the Chairman, Junior Staff Disciplinary Committee of the Cross River State University of Technology between 2006 – 2008. He was Senate Representative to Council, Cross River State University of Technology 2007 – 2008. Between 2006 – 2008, he served as the Dean and Head of Campus Faculty of Education, Cross River State University of Technology, Akampka Campus the same year.
In December 2008, Professor Owan-Enoh was appointed the Provost of the Cross River State College of Education, Awi, in the Akampka Local Government Area of Cross River State. Upon completion of his assignment in 2014, he was appointed the Vice-Chancellor of the Cross River State University of Technology (CRUTECH), now the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS), Calabar. He served meritoriously from 2014 – 2019.
Professor Anthony Owan-Enoh has served as External Supervisor to the University of Ibadan, Ibadan; University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt; Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti; Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto; University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri; Federal College of Education, Pankshin; Federal College of Education (Technical), Gombe and Federal College of Education, Obudu.
Professor Owan-Enoh enjoys membership in professional associations including the Philosophy of Education Association of Nigeria where he was a Member and later President. He is a Member of the International Network of Philosophers of Education. He also enjoys the Membership of the Philosophy of Education Society of Great Britain. He is also a Member of the Philosophy of Education Society of Australia.
Professor Anthony Owan-Enoh is an avid reader, editor, writer and author of several articles and books.
Professor Anthony Owan-Enoh was appointed Secretary to the Cross River State Government on the 6th of June 2023.
He is married to Bevlyn Egajor Owan-Enoh and the marriage is blessed with several children.
