Seven women, four ex-governors: Full Profile of Tinubu’s ministerial nominees
After several weeks of speculation and anticipation, President Bola Tinubu has finally revealed his list of ministerial nominees.
The list, which was submitted to the National Assembly for confirmation, was read out by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, during the plenary session on Thursday, July 27, 2023, and comprises 28 ministerial nominees.
There had been speculations that Tinubu might fail to meet the constitutional requirement of naming his cabinet within 60 days, according to a new constitutional amendment signed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in March 2023. During Buhari’s first tenure in 2015, he took six months before appointing ministers.
Many believe that the 28 nominees, which fall below the minimum required number of 36 (representing at least one minister from every state), were sent to the Senate for confirmation in order to fulfill Section 42 of the constitution, which states: “(a) the nomination of any person to the office of a Minister for confirmation by the Senate shall be done within sixty days after the date the President has taken the oath of office.”
However, the list, which contains four ex-governors, several former senators, and House of Representatives members, has generated mixed reactions. People, particularly within the opposition, described the list as full of politicians being rewarded for their roles during the 2023 general election.
Also, women represent 25 percent of the nominations, fulfilling Section 42 (b) of the constitution as amended, which states that not less than ten percent of persons appointed as Ministers shall be women.
Here are the 28 nominees and their records.
1) Yusuf Tuggar
Yusuf Tuggar, who holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations from the United States International University, has been the Nigerian Ambassador to Germany since 2017. Although Tuggar has contested twice for the Governorship of Bauchi State, he was a member of the House of Representatives between 2007 and 2011.
2) Ahmed Dangiwa
Architect Dangiwa is the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria. Before taking over as CEO of the Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Dangiwa was the managing partner of AM DesignConsults, an architectural and real estate development consultancy firm founded in 2009. Some believe that Dangiwa, if given the position of Minister of Housing, can use his expertise in real estate to solve Nigeria’s housing deficits.
3) Hannatu Musawa
The current Special Adviser on Culture and Entertainment Economy to President Tinubu, Hannatu Musawa, is among the seven women nominated to be a minister in Tinubu’s cabinet.
Musawa, who hails from Katsina State, studied Law at Buckingham University, United Kingdom, and also holds a master’s degree in maritime law from Cardiff University, Wales. The former deputy spokesperson for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) also has a degree in Oil and Gas Law from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland.
4) Uche Nnaji
Uche Nnaji, who was a governorship candidate under the platform of the APC, hails from Akpugo Nkanu West LGA in Enugu State.
5) Betta Edu
Former Cross River Commissioner of Health (December 2019 – March 2022) and current APC National Women Leader, Betta Edu, made the list of ministerial nominees.
In 2022, she became the youngest national woman leader when she was appointed to the role in March 2022. At age 36, Edu is believed to be the youngest ministerial nominee on the list.
6) Doris Uzoka-Anite
A former General Manager of Zenith Bank Plc, Doris Uzoka-Anite was also among the women expected to resume their roles in Tinubu’s cabinet as ministers after confirmation by the Senate. Although Uzoka-Anite was trained as a Medical Doctor and obtained her medical degree from the University of Benin, she has made an impact in Nigeria’s banking sector.
7) Nkeiruka Onyejiocha
Born on November 23, 1969, Nkeiruka Onyejiocha is a former member of the House of Representatives for Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency of Abia State.
8) Ekerikpe Ekpo
Ekpo was the senator who represented Akwa Ibom North-West between 2007 and 2011. Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District is being represented by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
9) Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo
Tunji-Ojo is a member of the House of Representatives for Akoko North East/Akoko northwest Federal Constituency of Ondo State.
10) Stella Okotete
Ex-Executive Director (Business Development) of Nigeria Export-Import (NEXIM) Bank, Stella Okotete, was appointed to the role by former President Buhari in 2017 and is one of the women who will be in Tinubu’s new cabinet. Okotete is a graduate of Benson Idahosa University, Benin City, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies and Diplomacy. She also holds a Diploma in Law from the Rivers State College of Arts and Sciences.
11) Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim
Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, from Plateau State, is a Nigerian politician and businesswoman who was the Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) from December 1, 2020, till May 27, 2021. She was also a former Commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI).
12) Uju Ohanenye
Uju Ohanenye from Anambra State was the only female presidential aspirant of the APC in the 2023 general elections.
13) Bello Goronyo
During the 2023 general election, Barrister Bello Muhammad Goronyo was the Director of National Youth Mobilisation for APC North West.
14) Lateef Fagbemi
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Lateef Fagbemi was born on June 22, 1956, in Ijagbo, Kwara State, Nigeria. He was called to the bar in 1984.
15) Olawale Edun
Olawale Edun, Tinubu’s former Commissioner for Finance when he was the governor of Lagos State, is among the 28 ministerial nominees.
With a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of London and a Master’s Degree in Economics from the University of Sussex, England, Edun has extensive experience in the financial market, and it is believed that having managed the Lagos economy, he could be a suitable fit for Minister of Finance.
16) Adebayo Adelabu
Before venturing into politics, Adebayo Adelabu, born on September 28, 1970, was the former Deputy Governor, Operations of the Central Bank of Nigeria between April 9, 2014 – May 24, 2018. He resigned from his role in CBN to contest as the Oyo State gubernatorial candidate for the All Progressives Congress in 2019.
17) Muhammad Ali Pate
Perhaps, if qualifications were the only criteria for assigning different ministerial portfolios, Muhammad Ali Pate would easily qualify as the Minister of Health, a position he had held in the past.
Pate is a physician and a Professor of the Practice of Public Health Leadership in the Department of Global Health and Population at Harvard University.
Born in the Misau local government area of Bauchi State, Pate served as the Global Director for Health, Nutrition, and Population and Director of the Global Financing Facility for Women, Children, and Adolescents (GFF) during his time at the World Bank Group.
18) Prof. Joseph Userve
Professor Joseph Terlumun is a civil engineer and former Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Wanune, Tarka LGA of Benue state, who also served as a commissioner under the administration of ex-governor Samuel Ortom.
19) Abubakar Kyari
Abubakar Kyari is a Nigerian politician who is the acting national chairman of APC. In the 9th Assembly, Kyari represented Borno North Senatorial District of Borno State.
20) John Enoh
Senator Enoh was a Senator in 2015 representing the Central Senatorial District of Cross River State in the 8th Assembly of the Senate.
21) Sani Abubakar Danladi
Sani Abubakar Danladi was the former Acting Governor and Deputy Governor of Taraba State who also served as the Senator representing Taraba North Senatorial Zone on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party before he was impeached.
22) Engineer Abubakar Momoh
Momoh, a two-time member of the House of Reps from Etsako East LGA of Edo state, is a Civil engineer.
Others on the list include Nyesom Wike, the immediate past Governor of Rivers State, who walked against his party, the Peoples’ Democratic Party, during the presidential election and was the ‘leader’ of the G-5 Governors. Also, David Umahi, former governor of Ebonyi State and a current Senator, Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, and Muhammadu Abubakar, ex-governor of Jigawa State, were nominated.
Also, Dele Alake, the current Special Adviser to the President for Special Duties, Communications, and Strategy, and Muhammed Idris, are among the nominees.
