As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to commemorate this year’s International Women’s Day on March 8, President Muhammadu Buhari has felicitated with the womenfolk and released a list of 55 high profile political appointees serving in the administration.
March 8 is set aside annually to observe globally as International Women’s Day and the theme for 2021 is “Choose to Challenge’’.
Among the women who occupy cabinet positions in the government are seven ministers, two special adviser and the Head of Service of the Federation.
They are Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Sadiya Umar Farouq, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Pauline Tallen, Minister of Women Affairs, Mariam Yalwaji Katagum, Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Sharon Ikeazor, Minister of State for Environment, Gbemisola Saraki, Minister of State for Transportation, and Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Others are Dr (Mrs) Folashade Yemi-Esan, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mariam Uwais, Special Adviser to the President, Jumoke Oduwole, Special Adviser to the President on Industry, Trade and Investment, and Secretary of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) as well as Aishah Ahmad, Deputy Governor, Financial System Stability, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Also on the list are Prof. (Mrs) Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Hadiza Bala-Usman, Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairperson and CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Chioma Ejikeme, Executive Secretary, Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), Patience Oniha, Director-General, Debt Management Office (DMO), Aisha Dahir-Umar, Director-General, National Pension Commission, Jummai A.M. Audi, Chairperson, Nigerian Law Reform Commission (NLRC) and Yewande Sadiku, Executive Secretary, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC).
Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Gloria Akobundu, National Coordinator/Chief Executive of New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), Nigeria, Nnenna Akajemeli, National Coordinator/CEO, SERVICOM, Folashade Joseph, Managing Director, Nigeria Agriculture Insurance Corporation (NAIC), Cecilia Gaya, Director-General, Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), Ronke Sokefun, Chairperson, Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Stella Ojekwe-Onyejeli, Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), and Oge Modie, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Strategic Communications also made the list.
The list also parades : Moji Rhodes. Senior Special Assistant on Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs, Toyin Adeniji, Executive Director, Micro Enterprises, Bank of Industry (Oversees the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme, GEEP), Stella Okotete, Executive Director, Business Development, NEXIM Bank, Omolola Abiola-Edewor, Executive Director, Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Imaan Sulaiman–Ibrahim, Director-General, National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Lauretta Onochie, Personal Assistant to the President on Social Media, and INEC Federal Commissioner-nominee, Dr. Yosola Akinbi – Senior Technical Adviser, National Economic Council (NEC) (Office of the Vice President).
Dr. Balkisu Saidu, Senior Special Assistant Legal, Research and Compliance Matters (OVP), Prof. Fatima Waziri-Azi – Senior Special Assistant – Rule Of Law (OVP), Foluso Idumu, Senior Special Assistant On Administration (OVP) and Lanre Shasore, Senior Special Assistant On Coordination & Planning (OVP).
Dr. Mariam Masha, Senior Special Assistant on Humanitarian Interventions, Imeh Okon, Senior Special Assistant on Infrastructure (OVP), Dr Ebi Awosika, Senior Technical Assistant On Community Engagements (OVP), Koko Iyamu – Special Assistant Administration (Wife of the VP), Olabisi Ogungbemi – Special Assistant on Political Matters (OVP), Olaolu Beckley, Special Assistant On Documentation (OVP), Ibilola Essien, Special Assistant on New Media (OVP), Edewede Akhidenor – Special Assistant, Administration (OVP), Nkoli Anyaoku– Special Assistant, Administration (OVP), and Dr. Lilian Idiaghe – Special Assistant, Legal (OVP),
Tolani Alli – Special Assistant On Visual Communications (OVP), Adesuwa Iyare – Special Assistant On Visual Communications (Wife of the VP) and Olatoyosi Onaolapo – Special Assistant On Community Engagements, Haijya Halima Bawa – Special Assistant On Community Engagements, Nonye Ojekwe – Special Assistant On Community Engagements, Fakorede Omotayo Basirat- Special Assistant On Special Duties, and Omotayo Rachael Omowunmi – Special Assistant On Household & Social Events.
A statement by Mr Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity and given to Persecondnews, said the International Women’s Day celebration provides ample opportunity to reflect on how Buhari honours the womenfolk.
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