Emameh Gabriel looks at steps taken so far by President Bola Tinubu to appoint capable and credible women into his government.
Last week, President Bola Tinubu released the first batch of the members of his cabinet with eight women making the list out of the 28 nominees unveiled by the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
President Tinubu’s nomination of eight women to serve in his government, and others who might join later, could see Nigeria actualising the 30 per cent affirmative action promised by the President during his campaigns earlier this year.
Globally, the agitations for 35 percent women inclusion, otherwise known as Affirmative Action has been gaining momentum in the last decade. Before now, Nigeria has not taken significant steps in this regard, unlike countries like Sierra Leone, where a law known as Women’s Empowerment Act was enacted in January 2023.
The law states that 30 percent of public and private jobs must be reserved for women. President Julius Mada Bio actualised this commitment with 30 percent of public positions occupied by women, after his reelection in June.
In Nigeria, the list of 28 ministerial nominees, unveiled on Tuesday has added a new dimension to the quest towards Affirmative Action. In fact, it has continued to generate reactions from Nigerians, analysts and stakeholders. The list contains names of 20 males and eight females. The eight women nominees represents 25 per cent.
Some political stakeholders and commentators have applauded President Tinubu for the 25 percent mark, affirming that it is a significant leap in the efforts towards 35 percent Affirmative Action.
The women who made the list are Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, Doris Aniche Uzoka, Hannatu Musawa, Stella Okotete, Uju Kennedy Ohaneye, and Betta Edu
Most policy experts have hailed President Tinubu’s foresight in going for the best brains, especially women who have broken the glass ceiling in their chosen fields of human endeavours and have fully unleashed their potentials towards societal advancement, hence carving a niche for themselves.
Most of the women so appointed parade unimaginable and incredible résumé. A ready example is the four-term member of the House of Representatives and former Deputy Chief Whip who once chaired the House Committee on Aviation, Hon Nkeiruka Chidumen Onyejeocha.
Her nomination was credited to her loyalty, humility and her experience both in the public and private sector.
In the course of her 16 years stint at the Green Chamber of the National Assembly, Hon Onyejeocha served as the House Committee Chairperson on Aviation for two consecutive terms of eight years where she made landmark impacts on the sector. During the period, a lot of modern innovations were unleashed on the Aviation sector, including the deployment of emerging (advanced) technologies in line with the global best practices.
One of the hallmarks of operations in the aviation sector is safety. In order to enhance the performance of critical agencies in the sector, she encouraged the modernisation of infrastructure and equipment in the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency.
Onyejeocha’s political career started with her appointment in 2002 to the executive cabinet of Abia State as commissioner for Resource Management and Manpower Development. In 2003, she became the executive chairman of Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State.
She is, among others, an Officer of the Order of The Niger (OON); an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Shipping (ACIS); an Associate of Institute of Personal Management (AIPM), and Member, National Council of Women Society (NCWS).
She holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science, which she obtained from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (2021). She bagged Masters in Transport Management (MTM), from Ladoke Akintola University, Oyo, Nigeria, in April 2009. Similarly, in August 2005, Hon Onyejeocha clinched Masters of Arts in International Affairs and Diplomacy.
Upon the conclusion of her Bachelor of Laws degree (LLB) in July 2017 from Abia State University, Abia, Nigeria, she proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, Abuja, in August 2019.
In July 1993, Hon Onyejeocha bagged a Bachelor of Science in Religious Studies from the University of Nigeria. She also obtained a National Diploma in Social Work/Communication Development in July 1988 from the University of Nigeria.
Until hee nomination as a member of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), she represented the good people of Isuikwato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency for four consecutive terms 2007 – 2023 (16 years). As member of the House of Representatives, she served as Deputy Chief Whip of the 9th Assembly.
During these years, she was Chairman, Women in Parliament, Member, House Committee on Navy, Member, House Committee, Petroleum (Up Stream), Member, House Committee, Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Member, House Committee on House Services/Welfare, Member, House committee on Public Procurement, Member, House Committee on INEC and Member House Committee on Police Affairs.
These positions availed her the opportunity to sponsor several bills including the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act 2017 to enable every possibly Nigerian shot, access to immediate medical care in the absence of a police report; Sponsored Anti-torture Act 2017 to prohibit the maltreatment of all accused persons in Nigeria; Sponsored National Senior Citizens Centre Act, 2018 to cater for Nigerian Senior Citizens after retirement, among many others.
She led the Abia State chapter of Asiwaju Super Women and campaigned vigorously for the party’s victory in the February 25, 2023 presidential poll.
