PUSH NEWS 24 INTERNATIONAL : July 27th, 2023
President Bola Tinubu has finally unveiled the list of his ministerial nominees. Out of the 28 names sent, seven of them are women.
This indicates that women currently represent 25 per cent of the ministerial nominees.
Betta Edu, the national women leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC), is the youngest nominee. She is 36 years old.
Uju Ohanenye, APC’s sole female presidential candidate in the June 2022 presidential primaries, also made the list. She stepped down for Tinubu at primaries.
Stella Okotete, the executive director (Business Development) at the Nigeria Export-Import (NEXIM) Bank, made the list.
Here is a list of nominated female ministers and a brief profile:
HANNATU MUSAWA
Hannatu Musa Musawa from Katsina state is the recently-appointed special adviser on culture and entertainment economy. She is the daughter of the late Katsina politician Musa Musawa.
She studied Law at the University of Buckingham, United Kingdom; and holds Master’s degrees in the Legal Aspects of Marine Affairs from the University of Cardiff, Wales; and Oil and Gas Law from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland.
She is also a qualified solicitor in England and Wales, UK, and a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
BETTA EDU
Medical Doctor, Public Health Specialist, Harvard certified, MSc. London school (LSHTM), PHD Texila, politician, philanthropist, Godlover, Technocrat.
Betta Edu is from Cross River state and the youngest among the ministerial nominees. She is the national women’s leader of the All Progressive Congress and a former commissioner of health in Cross River state.
Dr Betta Chimaobim Edu (born October 27, 1986) is a result-oriented health policy and management expert with over twelve years’ professional experience building and leading teams in visioning, developing, and implementing life-saving health policies and programmes at national and state levels. Widely identified as one of the youngest politicians in Nigeria, she is best known for her works and revolutionary contributions in the health care system through innovation, prominent personality, purposeful leadership, and integrity.
In 2020, she became chairman of the Cross River State COVID-19 Taskforce.
In August 2022, she was appointed National Chairman of the Nigeria Health Commissioners Forum.
Dr Betta Chimaobim Edu, upon return to Nigeria completed her First school leaving Certificate and Common entrance in 1995 at Charles Walker International Nursery and Primary school. She further went on to have her secondary education at Federal Government Girls College, Calabar in 2001 where she obtained her West African Examination Council (WAEC) certificate. In 2009, she proceeded to complete her first degree in medicine and surgery (MBBCh) from the, University of Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria to help people.
STELLA OKOTETE
Executive Director (Business Development) Nigeria Export – Import Bank Co Founder E’Girls Right Foundation, Politician, Banker, Philanthropist.
Okotete is the executive director (Business Development) at the Nigeria Export-Import (NEXIM) Bank. She is 39 years old.
Okotete, undoubtedly, possesses the required qualification, experience and all that it takes to head any export agency in the world, having served as Executive Director of NEXIM Bank for five years.
A public administrator and business development specialist, Okotete’s antecedents in demonstrating high level proficiency in enhancing organizational growth in the various capacities she has served in public offices are phenomenal.
As a member of the Ughelli North Legislative Arm from 2008 to 2011 when she served as Chairman, House Committee on Education, Okotete oversaw functions and activities associated with the State Government Free Education Programme in Agbarho, Ughelli, Orogun, Ogor, Agbarha, Evwreni and Uwheru, all in the council area.
Born on April 20, 1984, Okotete, who hails from Ekrerhavwen-Agbarho community in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, attended the Federal Government Girls College Benin- City, Edo State where she obtained her Senior School Certificate in 2000.
She thereafter proceeded to the Rivers State College of Art and Science, Rumuola, Port Harcourt where she obtained a Diploma in Law in 2002.
In her quest to further her education, Okotete attended Benson Idahosa University, Benin-City where she bagged a Bachelor of Art in International Studies and Diplomacy in 2006 and a Certificate, Emerging Leaders from Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Boston, USA 2012.
UJU KENNEDY OHANENYE
In the last presidential election, Uju Kennedy Ohaneye from Anambra state was the only female presidential aspirant of the APC, who later stepped down for the President at the primaries.
DORIS UZOKA-ANITE
Doris is a career banker with over 20 years of experience at Zenith Bank, Nigeria. Despite studying medicine at the University of Benin, she pivoted into banking in 2002.
Uzoka-Anite was a former commissioner for finance and coordinating economy in Imo state. She holds some financial certificates from Oxford University in the United Kingdom.
Dr. Anite is a medical doctor by profession and holds a CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) charter, specializing in Financial Risk Management and Portfolio Management.
In 2002, she made a career shift to the banking industry, rising to become the General Manager of Zenith Bank Plc and later becoming the youngest commissioner under Imo state Governor, Hope Uzodinma.
During her tenure as a commissioner, Dr. Uzoka was in charge of various critical functions at Zenith Bank, including Fixed Income and Currency Trading, Asset and Liability Management, Treasury Corporate Sales, and Financial Institutions.
She was responsible for the bank’s investment strategy, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and managing risks.
Her banking career began in the Human Resources and Training department, and she later transitioned to Treasury in 2011.
She successfully handled roles in trading Fixed Income and Currencies, and eventually became the Treasurer of the bank.
Driven by her goal-oriented and customer-centric approach, Dr. Uzoka’s outstanding performance significantly contributed to the bank’s profitability, earning her several accolades and promotions within the organization.
Apart from her financial acumen, Dr. Uzoka possesses exceptional interpersonal skills, which she acquired through her human resources training. These skills have been instrumental in managing the diverse local and international relationships required in her role.
NKEIRUKA ONYEJEOCHA
Onyejocha was a House of Representatives member representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi federal constituency of Abia State.
She was first elected in 2007 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), then Nigeria’s ruling party. Onyejeocha defected to the APC in 2018 after intense pressure from her former party leaders to drop her ambition for a return ticket to the house.
Nkeiruka Chidubem Onyejocha born 23 November 1969 is a Nigerian politician and a ranking lawmaker in Nigeria’s Federal House of Representatives.
Constituency Kolonu Isuikwato / Umunneochi Federal Constituency Political party, All Progressives Congress, APC.
