Important facts to know about the women in Tinubu's ministerial list

President Bola Tinubu transmitted the much-awaited ministerial nominees’ list to the nation’s Senate on Thursday.

According to DAILY POST National Assembly correspondent, the list contains 28 nominees for the various ministerial positions.

DAILY POST findings show that women constitute a quarter of Tinubu’s ministerial nominees unveiled by the Senate on Thursday.

The women are Hannatu Musawa, Betta Edu, Doris Aniche Uzoka, Nkiru Onyeojiocha, Stella Okotete, Uju Kennedy Ohaneye, and Iman Suleiman Ibrahim.

The proportion of women on the ministerial list fell short of the 35 per cent threshold recommended for Affirmative Action.

Tinubu’s promise

During his inaugural speech shortly after his swearing-in, the President promised to feature women and youth “prominently” in his administration.

Tinubu said, as contained in his party’s manifesto, he would ensure good representation of women and youths.

According to the manifesto (Renewed Hope 2023: Action Plan for a Better Nigeria), members of the Federal Executive Council are to reserve certain senior positions for women, while the private sector will be encouraged to do the same.

“Working with the National Assembly, we will aim to pass legislation promoting female employment in all government offices, ministries, and agencies. The goal will be to increase women’s participation in government to at least 35 per cent of all governmental positions,” he stated.

DAILY POST presents brief profiles of the seven women that made the list:

1. Hanatu Musawa

Hanatu, a former deputy spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, was recently appointed Special Adviser on Culture and Entertainment Economy by the President.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in law from the University of Buckingham, UK, and took a master’s degree in the Legal Aspects of Marine Affairs from the University of Cardiff, Wales.

She also has a master’s degree in Oil and Gas Law from the University of Aberdeen.

As a qualified Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, she has varied and rich working experience in Nigeria and the UK.

Hannatu contested for the Federal House of Representatives legislative seat in her home state of Katsina in 2011.

She was also one of the lawyers on the prosecution team in the 2003 Presidential Election Petition between Muhammadu Buhari and President Olusegun Obasanjo.

2. Beta Edu

Beta Edu earned her medicine and surgery degree from the University of Calabar, Cross River State.

She is also the immediate past Commissioner for Health in Cross River State.

Edu became the National Women Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in March 2022 after defeating her opponent by 2,662 to 117 votes at the APC National Convention.

She has also served as the Special Adviser on Women’s Affairs for the defunct Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Committee.

3. Hon Nkiru Onyejeocha

Onyejeocha, who graduated from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, was one of the longest-serving members of the House of Representatives until 2023.

She was first elected a member of the House of Representatives in 2007 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), then Nigeria’s ruling party.

She defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2018 and won her re-election bid for a fourth term in Nigeria’s Green Chamber in 2019.

However, she lost to Chief Amobi Ogah of the Labour Party (LP) for the Isuikwuato/Umunneochi House of Representatives in Abia State in the just concluded 2023 general election.

4. Stella Okotete

Stella Okotete graduated from Benson Idahosa University, Benin City, where she majored in International Studies and Diplomacy.

She was appointed the Executive Director (Business Development) at the Nigeria Export and Import Bank( NEXIM) by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2022.

Between 2011 and 2015, she served as the Special Assistant and Adviser to the Executive Governor of Delta State on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

5. Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye

Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye was the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s only female presidential candidate but later withdrew to back President Bola Tinubu.

She is a legal practitioner and businesswoman based in Abuja.

The businesswoman-turned-politician is happily married with four children.

6. Iman Suleiman Ibrahim

Iman Suleiman Ibrahim was educated at the University of Abuja with a degree in sociology.

She was the director-general of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) between 2020 and 2021.

In 2021, she was redeployed as the Honourable Federal Commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons by former President Muhammadu Buhari.

7. Doris Aniche Uzoka

Uzoka is the current Imo State Commissioner for Finance. She has also served as the SA Presidential Policy Advisory Council (National Economy).

Uzoka is said to have had decades of political and professional affinity with Lagos and was an easy pick for Tinubu because of her background in the finance sector.

She has little or no scandal associated with her name.