These are the 7 Women in President Tinubu’s 28-Person Ministerial List

After 59 days in office (1 day shy of the 60-day constitutional requirement), President Tinubu sent his long-awaited ministerial list to the Senate on July 27, 2023.

The list was delivered to Senate President, Godswill Akpabio by Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila. Out of the twenty eight names on the list read by the Senate president on the floor of the Senate during plenary on Thursday, seven (25%) are women.

They are:

Hannatu Musawa

Hannatu Musawa is a lawyer, a newspaper columnist, and the Deputy Spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC).

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

She also has a Postgraduate master’s Degree in Oil and Gas Law from the University of Aberdeen. She is completing a Doctorate, which she has been doing part-time.”

Before this nomination, she was appointed Special Adviser on Culture and Entertainment Economy by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in June.

Musawa hails from Katsina State, while her father is a veteran politician, Alhaji Musa Musawa.

Dr. Betta Edu

One of the youngest on the list of nominees, 36-year-old Betta Edu, became the youngest national woman leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in March 2022.

In 2015, Edu became the youngest person to be appointed Special Adviser to the Executive Governor of Cross River State, Benedict Ayade, on Community and Primary Healthcare. In 2020, she became chairman of the Cross River State COVID-19 Taskforce.

She was Cross River State Commissioner for Health until her resignation in 2022. She was also the national chairman of the Nigeria Health Commissioners Forum.

Betta Edu hails from Ibalebo village in Abi local government Area, Cross River State.

Doris Uzoka-Anite

Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite was a former Commissioner for Finance and Coordinating Economy, Imo State. She was also the former General Manager of Zenith Bank Plc. She hails from Oguta LGA in Imo State.

Nkeiruka Onyejeocha

Nkeiruka Chidubem Onyejeocha, born on November 23, 1969, is a ranking lawmaker in the Federal House of Representatives, representing the Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency of Abia State.

Onyejocha was previously the Executive Transition Chairman of the Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State in 2002. In 2003, she served in the executive cabinet of Abia State as commissioner for Resource Management and Manpower development.

During the 7th assembly, she was awarded the title of most vibrant female legislator in Nigeria by the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASSAN).

Stella Okotete

She is a graduate of Benson Idahosa University, Benin City, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies and Diplomacy. Stella also holds a Diploma in Law from the Rivers State College of Arts and Sciences.

She also holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration, Peace Studies, and Conflict Resolution.

In addition to her academic qualifications, she has completed prestigious certificate programmes, including the Harvard Kennedy School Certificate Programme for Emerging Leaders and the Entrepreneurial Management programme at the Lagos Business School.

She was the National Women’s Leader of the APC Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC).

Okotete was also appointed as the Executive Director, Business Development, Nigeria Export-Import (NEXIM) Bank in 2017. 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).

Uju Kennedy Ohaneye

Uju Kennedy Ohanyere, a businesswoman with interests in real estate and education, was the sole female presidential aspirant under the APC who stepped down for Tinubu at the convention ground on account of her cherished fatherly relationship with the former Lagos State governor.

Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim

Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim was a special adviser on strategic communication to the Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, and she was appointed a member of the Nasarawa State Economic Advisory council by the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr. A. A. Sule, in September 2019.

She was recently the Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons for the duration of six months, from December 2020 to May 2021. Currently, she is the Honourable Federal Commissioner of the National Commission For Refugees, Migrants, And Internally Displaced Persons Office as of June 4, 2021.