Ugwuanyi was born in March 1964 and is from Orba Town in Udenu Local Government Area of Nsukka Zone in Enugu State. He attended St. Theresa's College, Nsukka. He holds bachelor's degree and master's degree in Business Administration from University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Ugwuanyi was the General Manager of Premier Insurance Brokers Limited Enugu and has also been the president of the Rotary Club of Emene in Enugu State.
Political career
Ugwuanyi was first elected to the House of Representatives of Nigeria in 2003 and he was the Chairman, House Committee on Marine Transport. Ugwuanyi was a two term Chairman of house committee on Marine Transport. Ugwuanyi also held the position of Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Pensions where he helped enact the Pension Reform Act 2004. Following his party's primary election of 8 December 2014 in Enugu, Ugwuanyi won PDP's gubernatorial ticket, which made him the State's PDP Governorship Candidate for the 2015 General Elections. However, another PDP gubernatorial aspirant, Senator Ayogu Eze, was displeased with the conduct of the primaries. Eze went to court to challenge the legitimacy of Ugwuanyi's emergence as the PDP's flag-bearer for Enugu State Governorship Elections. Eze's petition was dismissed by Justice Evoh Stephen Chukwu, an Abuja Federal High Court Judge, who ruled that Ugwuanyi's election in the gubernatorial primary was legitimate and legally binding. Ugwuanyi who was sworn in on May 29, 2015 as Governor has initiated some approaches to develop and transform Enugu State. One of those initiatives was his recent oversea trip to Ireland for an investment summit organised by Metro Eireann Dublin. He was also the recipient of Metro Eireann International Outstanding Leadership Award 2016 for his exemplary performances as a legislator, especially as the Chairman of Marine Transport, during his time in the House of Parliament of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. On March 9, 2019, Uguwuanyi was re-elected as Governor of Enugu State in the 2019 Nigerian gubernatorial election. He polled 449,935 votes which was higher than his opponent, Senator Ayogu Eze who scored 10,423 votes.
Counterpart
Rt. Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi received his counterpart, Governor of Lagos State, Mr Akiunwumi Ambode on Thursday at the government house in Enugu state. Governor Ambode applauded Mr. Ifeanyi for the good work he is doing in the State. Governor Ambode was accompanied by members of the State Executive Council and was also warmly welcomed by the Governor Rt. Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and Deputy Governor Hon. Cecelia Ezeilo, members of Enugu State Executive Council, Former Governor of Kano state; Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso,Senate Minority Leader; Senator Godswill Akpabio and many other dignitaries.
