Women in power: Meet the seven women on Tinubu’s Ministerial list 

After an initial list of 28 nominees for ministerial positions was presented by President Bola Tinubu, it was observed that seven of these nominees are women.

The list was submitted to the Senate, with women representing 21.42% of the total nominees.

The women who made the list are: Hannatu Musawa, Betta Chimaobim Edu, Doris Anite Uzoka, Nkeiruka Onyejocha, Stella Okotete, Uju Kennedy Ohanenye and Imaan Suleiman Ibrahim. 

President Tinubu mentioned that more nominees would be sent to the Senate, so there’s a possibility that more women could be added to the list.

Hannatu Musawa 

Hannatu Musawa is a lawyer, politician, and writer from Nigeria. She is from Katsina state in Northern Nigeria and her father is a veteran politician named Alhaji Musa Musawa.

She is qualified to practice law in both England & Wales, United Kingdom, and Nigeria’s Supreme Court. Currently, she serves as the deputy spokesman for the All Progressives Congress (APC) political party.

Hannatu has extensive experience as a lawyer in both Nigeria and the UK. She has a law degree from England and Wales and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. She has worked as a litigation attorney and legal counsel for various private companies. 

She also worked with Chief Clement Akpamgbo’s legal firm (former Attorney General of Nigeria) and assisted Barrister Bala Na Allah with the Oputa Panel Human Rights Violation Commission.

She later established her own law firm, Hanney Musawa & Associates, where she is the Principal Partner. Hannatu has been actively involved in politics since 2003 and supported opposition parties during the 2003 and 2007 elections in Nigeria. 

In 2003, she was part of the legal team that prosecuted the Presidential Election Petition between General Muhammadu Buhari and General Olusegun Obasanjo. After the election, she continued to express her views through a weekly newspaper column.

Through her writing, she advocates for the rights of the voiceless and addresses issues related to peace and justice in Nigeria. She has a strong history of supporting women’s and human rights. In 2011, she ran for a seat in the Federal House of Representatives in her home state of Katsina.

Betta Chimaobim Edu

Betta Edu, born on October 27, 1986, is a Nigerian female politician and a medical doctor specializing in public health. She currently serves as the National Women Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) political party.

She grew up in London with her family and later returned to Cross River, Nigeria, with her parents and siblings when she was about eight years old. Betta Edu describes her life in London as having access to free basic education, reliable health care, and efficient transportation, though the cold weather was uncomfortable at times.

After returning to Nigeria, she completed her primary and secondary education in Calabar. She then pursued her medical degree at the University of Calabar and obtained additional qualifications in public health from institutions in the UK and the USA.

In her political journey, she was introduced to politics by Dr. Linda Ayade, wife of a former Cross River governor, who is also a close friend and medical colleague. Betta Edu was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) until she defected to the APC in 2021.

She gained prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic when she became the chairman of the Cross River State COVID-19 Taskforce and later the National Chairman of the Nigeria Health Commissioners Forum.

In March 2022, she made history as the youngest National Women Leader of the APC. She hails from Cross River State and is married with two children.

Doris Anite 

Born on December 13, 1967, in Imo State, Nigeria, Dr. Doris Anite Uzoka holds a CFA charter, specializing in Financial Risk Management and Portfolio Management. Currently, she serves as the Imo State Commissioner for Finance and Coordination of Economy, playing a significant role in the state’s financial matters.

She is a highly skilled individual with both medical and financial expertise. She started her career as a medical doctor but later transitioned to the banking industry in 2002. Over time, she rose to become the General Manager of Zenith Bank Plc and gained recognition as the youngest commissioner under Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma.

During her time at Zenith Bank, she handled critical functions like managing investments, trading fixed income and currencies, and overseeing various financial aspects of the bank. Her exceptional performance led to numerous accolades and promotions within the organization.

Dr. Uzoka’s background in human resources and training has equipped her with excellent interpersonal skills. These skills have been vital in managing relationships with diverse people, both locally and internationally.

Nkeiruka Onyejocha

Nkeiruka Chidubem Onyejocha, born on November 23, 1969, is a Nigerian politician and a respected member of the Federal House of Representatives. She represents the Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency in Abia State. Onyejocha actively participates in parliamentary debates on important national issues and has made valuable contributions to improve the lives of ordinary citizens and protect their rights.

One of her notable achievements was sponsoring a bill in 2017 that mandates hospitals to provide emergency treatment to gunshot victims without waiting for police reports. This move has helped save lives during critical situations.

Initially elected in 2007 as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which was then the ruling party in Nigeria, she later joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2018 after facing pressure from her former party leaders to drop her ambition for re-election. In 2019, she won her fourth term in the House of Representatives and remains one of its longest-serving members.

In 2019, Onyejocha contested for the position of speaker in the male-dominated Federal House of Representatives. Her campaign focused on advocating for a speaker from the South-East region of Nigeria to ensure fair distribution of federal powers among the country’s six geo-political zones. However, she eventually stepped down from the race less than 24 hours before the election.

Before her tenure as a lawmaker, Onyejocha served as the Executive Transition Chairman of Umunneochi Local Government Area in Abia State in 2002. In 2003, she held the position of commissioner for Resource Management and Manpower Development in Abia State’s executive cabinet.

Stella Okotete

Stella Okotete is an active politician of the APC and also a philanthropist and humanitarian. She currently serves as the Executive Director of Business Development at the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), a position she was appointed to by President Muhammadu Buhari on April 20, 2017.

From 2011 to 2015, Stella played a crucial role as a focal person for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Delta State. She led efforts to implement programs that aligned with the United Nations Millennium Declaration’s goals and targets, positively impacting neglected communities in the state.

Aside from her professional responsibilities, Stella is deeply involved in volunteer work and has assisted Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at camps in Ughelli, Maiduguri, and Abuja.

Her work at NEXIM involves providing leadership for the bank’s operations, developing new products and services, and overseeing business development activities. She has introduced initiatives like the ‘Women and Youth Export Facility’ and the ‘Small and Medium Export Enterprise Facility’ to promote job creation, industrialization, and gender equality in line with the government’s economic and development plans.

Stella remains committed to the growth of Nigeria’s non-oil export sector and advocates for the rights of the girl-child. She is also actively involved in various social and humanitarian organizations, including the E’Girls Right Foundation.

Educationally, she holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies and Diplomacy from Benson Idahosa University and has completed several certification programs from prestigious institutions such as Harvard Kennedy School and the University of Virginia.

Stella Okotete’s contributions to the banking and humanitarian sectors have earned her recognition and honorary memberships in various professional institutes and organizations.

Uju Kennedy Ohanenye

Uju Ken-Ohanenye, also known as Uju Kennedy Ohanenye, was born in Nigeria on December 23, 1973. She is a lawyer, entrepreneur, politician, and film producer in Nollywood. Notably, she made history as the first woman to run for president of Nigeria under the All Progressive Congress (APC).

Uju Ken-Ohanenye lives in Abuja and manages the Kenuj 02 Mall in Owerri, Imo State, as well as a luxurious area in the Federal Capital Territory.

She is a devoted wife and a caring mother of four children. Originally from Awka in Anambra State, she is also actively involved in philanthropy, especially helping the less fortunate and disabled individuals, supporting students, widows, and those in the lower socio-economic classes.

Uju Ken-Ohanenye has made significant contributions to rural areas in several states, establishing and equipping health centers and skill development centers to benefit communities in Kogi, Kaduna, Kano, Imo, and Anambra.

Although she is relatively new to politics and has not held any government positions, Uju is a dedicated member of the APC and has actively supported the party during campaigns by using her malls as campaign offices and providing campaign materials to thousands of people.

Her passion for the well-being of her fellow Nigerians drives her ambition to be a responsible and caring citizen.

Imaan Suleiman Ibrahim

Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim is a Nigerian politician, businesswoman, and public servant. She was born in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria, and hails from Keffi, Nasarawa State. Raised in Abuja, she attended Aruwa Nursery School and Jabi Primary School before continuing her education at the Federal Government Girls College, Bwari, Abuja, for her secondary education.

At a young age, Imaan demonstrated her dedication to education and achieved significant milestones. She graduated from the University of Abuja at the age of 19, obtaining a degree in sociology. Continuing her academic pursuits, she earned two master’s degrees from Webster University in the United Kingdom – an MBA and an MA – when she was just 21 years old.

Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim started her career at Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS) before moving to the UK, where she worked in human resources, business, and management. She became a certified SAP Human Resource Management (HCM) consultant and later joined Mary Kay, where she reached the position of senior sales director.

In her professional journey, Imaan held significant roles, including serving as a special adviser on strategic communication to the Minister of State for Education and as a member of the Nasarawa State Economic Advisory Council.

On December 1, 2020, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari as the Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), replacing Julie Okah-Donli. She served in this capacity for six months until May 2021, when President Buhari redeployed her as the Honourable Federal Commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons.

Imaan’s dedication to public service and her passion for humanitarian work are evident in her various roles, from combating human trafficking to providing support and aid to refugees, migrants, and internally displaced persons. She is known for her advocacy for the welfare of vulnerable populations, including the less fortunate and disabled individuals.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim is a family-oriented person, being a devoted wife and a caring mother of three children. Her commitment to education, community development, and humanitarian causes continues to drive her efforts in serving her country and making a positive impact on the lives of Nigerians.