President Bola Tinubu announced a list of 28 nominees for cabinet positions on July 27. The names of the 28 nominees were sent to the Senate for approval, just two days before the sixty days deadline allowed by the constitution.

The list includes former governors, economists, finance experts, health experts, lawyers and allies of Tinubu, who took office on May 29.

However, just seven women are on the list of 28. 25% of the nominees are women while 75% are men. The women on the list are Betta Edu, Doris Aniche Uzoka, Hannatu Musawa, Nkiru Onyeojiocha, Stella Okotete, Nkiru Onyeojiocha, Uju Kennedy Ohaneye, and Iman Suleiman Ibrahim.

In 2019, former president Muhammadu Buhari also appointed seven women to his cabinet, but they were seven out of 42, representing 16% of the total cabinet.

Tinubu, in his manifesto document titled “Renewed Hope 2023 – Action Plan for a Better Nigeria”, said he will work with the National Assembly to increase women’s participation in government to at least 35% of all governmental positions.

The representation of women on the ministerial list fell short of the 35% limit recommended for affirmation. However, the president may have plans to increase the number of women to align with what he promised during his campaign.

Here are the profiles of the seven women that made the list presented by Tinubu: 

1. Doris Uzoka-Anite

Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite is a medical doctor and holds a CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst), with specialisation in Financial Risk Management and Portfolio Management.

She made a career switch to the banking industry in 2002, climbing up the ladder to become the General Manager of Zenith Bank Plc. In 2003, she moved on to become the Head of Recruitment and Head of Philanthropy before heading up the Human Resources and Training department.

She later transitioned to Treasury in 2011, becoming the Head of Bonds Training and handled roles in trading Fixed Income and Currencies. She rose up to hold the position of the Treasurer of Zenith Bank.

In 2021, she became the youngest commissioner under Imo state Governor, Hope Uzodinma. She was the Commissioner for Finance and Coordinating Economy. She proved her worth as a skilled strategist, financial expert, and coordinator.

Dr. Doris' contributions to the success of the Imo State administration in the areas of strategy, financial management, and coordination have garnered praise and recognition both locally and internationally

Asides her financial dexterity, she possesses remarkable interpersonal skills and hails from Oguta LGA of Imo State.

2. Hannatu Musawa

Hannatu Musawa is a prominent lawyer, Columnist and was the former Deputy Spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council.

She studied Law at the University of Buckingham, United Kingdom; and has Master’s degrees in the Legal Aspects of Marine Affairs from the University of Cardiff, Wales; and Oil and Gas Law from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland.

She is also a qualified solicitor in England and Wales, UK; and a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. 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.

With her vast work experience in Nigeria and the UK, Musawa has established herself as a respected legal practitioner. She has worked with different firms, and is the Principal Partner of her own legal firm, Hanney Musawa and Associates.

Musawa, a daughter of the late Katsina politician, Musa Musawa, is a lawyer, politician and author.

3. Nkeiruka Chidubem Onyejocha

Nkeiruka Chidubem Onyejocha is an astute politician and public servant who has time and again dedicatedly served her community.

Onyejocha political career began with her appointment in 2002 to the executive cabinet of Abia State as commissioner for Resource Management and Manpower Development by Governor Orji Uzor Kalu.

She is recognised for the establishment of skill acquisition centres across Abia state and the Traditional Rulers Council Umunneochi conferred on her a chieftaincy title of Adaejiagamba (ambassadorial daughter). She was the first to receive the title.

In 2003, she was Transition Executive Chairman of Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State. During her term in office, she executed erosion control projects, improved community security, and carried out rehabilitation of feeder roads.

She was first elected to Nigeria’s Federal House of Representatives in 2007 on the platform of PDP. She has served four terms since then, making her a ranking member of the House of Representatives.

In 2017, she sponsored a bill that makes emergency treatment of victims of gunshot obligatory and compulsory for hospitals without demanding or delaying treatment to first obtain police reports before commencing treatment in emergency situations. The Bill was passed by the Nigeria National assembly on 14 November 2017 and was signed into law on 20 December 2017 by President Muhamadu Buhari.

She holds a Master's Degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy from Imo State University and another Master's Degree in Shipping from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Oyo State.

4. Dr. Betta Edu

Dr. Betta Edu is the youngest on the list of nominees who also became the youngest national woman leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in March 2022. Her nomination makes her the first female minister from Cross River State.

The 36-year-old hails from Abi Local government area in Cross River State. She obtained her first degree in medicine and surgery from the University of Calabar in 2009.

She has a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Health for Developing Countries from London School Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, a master'sdegree in Public Health in Developing Countries from London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and Doctor of Public Health from Texila American University.

In 2015, Edu became the youngest person to be appointed Special Adviser to the former 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. Edu is a Fellow of the Royal School of Public Health and the African Institute of Public Health Professionals.

5. Stella Okotete

Stella Okotete FCE, PFD is a trailblazer in education and leadership, born on April 20th, 1984, in Warri, Delta State. She is the Co-Founder of the E’Girls Right Foundation and has actively engaged with Internally Displaced Persons at IDP Camps in Ughelli, Maiduguri, and Abuja.

Her academic journey is marked by a Bachelor's degree in International Studies and Diplomacy from Benson Idahosa University (Nigeria), a Diploma in Law from the Rivers State College of Arts and Sciences (Nigeria), and a Master's degree in Peace and Conflict Resolution from the National Open University of Nigeria and an ongoing Executive Master's in Business Administration (EMBA) from the University of Abuja.

The 39 year old is the current Executive Director, Business Development of NEXIM Bank, a position she has held since April 2017. Her expertise has contributed to driving economic growth and development

Oketete's dedication to continuous learning is evident through numerous certificate programs from prestigious institutions such as Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government (USA), the University of Virginia (USA), INSEAD Business School (France), Columbia Business School in New York (USA) among others.

6. Uju Kennedy Ohaneye

Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye is a lawyer, philanthropist and politician. She is a member of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Anambra State.

Uju was the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s only female presidential candidate but later withdrew to back President Bola Tinubu.

For more than a decade, she has been touching the lives of the underprivileged by building and equipping health centres in rural communities, along with conducting empowerment programs. The businesswoman-turned-politician is happily married with four children.

7. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim

Iman Suleiman Ibrahim is a Nigerian politician and businesswoman and an advocate for women’s empowerment and social justice.

She was born in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria and hails from Keffi, Nasarawa State, Nigeria. The businesswoman graduated from University of Abuja with a degree in sociology at 19 and at 21, she received two master's degrees from Webster University, an MBA and MA.

On 1 December 2020, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim was appointed by the president of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari as the director-general of National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP for a four-year tenure to replace Julie Okah-Donli.

She served as the Director-General of NAPTIP for 6 months from December 2020 to May 20211, following the directives of President Muhammadu Buhari to move to the National Commission For Refugees Migrants And Internally Displaced Persons Office as the Honourable Federal Commissioner.