7 Women make President Tinubu’s 28-Person Ministerial Nomination List 

By Emmanuel Chidera Amoke

The Nigerian President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, had on Thursday the 27th of July, 2023, sent the list of ministerial nominees to the Senate for approval. 

The list which was titled, ‘Request For Confirmation Of Ministerial-Nominees’ was unveiled by the Senate president, Senator Godswill Akpabio during a plenary seating, and it contained 7 women out of the 28 nominees. 

Here is a list of the seven women, and some of the things you should know about them and their backgrounds. 

1.Hanatu Musawa 

Hanatu is a former deputy spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council. She 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. She later proceeded to the University of Cardiff, Wales, to complete a master’s degree in the Legal Aspects of Marine Affairs. Hanatu also holds 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. Hanatu was one of the lawyers on the prosecution team in the 2003 Presidential Election Petition between Muhammadu Buhari, and President Olusegun Obasanjo.

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

2. Beta Edu 

Beta Edu is an alumna of the prestigious University of Calabar, Cross River State, where she earned her medicine and surgery degree. 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

Hon. Nkiru Onyejeocha graduated from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and 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 People’s Democratic Party (PDP), then Nigeria’s ruling party. 

Hon. Nkiru 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. 

6. Iman Suleiman Ibrahim 

Iman Suleiman Ibrahim is a graduate of the renowned 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 Honorable 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.