Jonathan And His Many Women

By Tunde Ogunesan, Nigerian Tribune

President Goodluck Jonathan has made good his promise by giving 32 per cent slot in his cabinet to women. Tunde Ogunesan examines the qualities of the women in Jonathan's cabinet.

"I promised women a 35 per cent slot in my cabinet and I fulfilled that vow, because it is my desire to ensure a level playing field in Nigeria by heading an administration where ethnicity, gender and religion do not hinder qualified persons from fulfilling their potential. It is also the reason I ordered the admission of women to the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) a first in Nigeria. Women should brace up to be all they want to be in life as this administration will be an enabler of your progress.”

Those were the words of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan on his Facebook wall, announcing to his over 25,202,873 friends of his loyalty to the female folk. The president reaffirmed his support and love for the Nigerian women by making two firsts as regards the female folk in Nigeria. The first; he became the first Nigerian president ever to give such percentage to women in his cabinet as far as federal appoi-ntment is concerned. Secondly, as revealed on the social network page, he, for the first time in the 52 years history of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) “ordered the admission of women” into the military school. Demonstrating his love and desire to work with more women, President Jonathan, appointed 13 female ministers as members of his cabinet more than any of his predecessors, cutting across the geo-political zones of the country.

Jonathan’s vow of increasing the percentage of women in his cabinet might not be unconnected with the resolution from the 1995 conference in Beijing, when women agreed that despite their widespread movement towards democratisation in most countries, women are largely under-represented at most levels of government, especially in ministerial and other executive bodies, and have made little progress in attaining political power in legislative bodies or in achieving the target endorsed by the economic and social council of having 30 per cent women in positions at decision-making levels by 1995.

With the Women for Change Initiative campaign championed by his wife, Patience, Jonathan even went beyond the 30 per cent Beijing recommendation to appoint 13 women out of 41 ministers as ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

They are: Hajia Zainab Maina;Minister for Women Affairs, Adamawa State; Mrs. Stella Oduah-Ogiemwonyi- Honourable Minister of Aviation, Anambra State; Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke; Minister for Petroleum, Bayelsa State, Hajia Zainab Ibrahim Kuchi, Minister of State for Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Niger State; Prof. (Mrs) Viola Onwuliri, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Imo State, Prof (Mrs) Ruqayyatu Rufai, Minister of Education, Jigawa State; Erelu Olusola Obada; Minister of State, Defence, Osun State, Chief Olajumoke Akinjide; Minister of State for FCT, Oyo State.

Others are: Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Minister for Finance, Abia State; Mrs. Hadiza Ibrahim Mailafa; Minister of Environment, Mrs Omobola Johnson Olubusola; Minister, Communication Technology, Mrs Sarah Reng Ochekpe, Minister, Water Resources and Ms. Ama Pepple; Minister, Lands and Housing.

Women’s political profile in Nigeria began to rise from 1960 when Mrs. Wuraola Esan from Western Nigeria became the first female member of the Federal Parliament to 1961 when Chief (Mrs) Margaret Ekpo won elections in Aba Urban North constituency under the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC) platform to become a member of the Eastern Nigeria House of Assembly and in 1966 as Mrs. Janet N. Mokelu and Miss Ekpo A. Young also contested elections, won and became members of the Eastern House of Assembly.

But it was not until 1980 when Chief (Mrs) Janet Akinrinade was appointed as Minister for Internal Affairs and Mrs Adenike Ebun Oyagbola as Minister for National Planning that women joined the Federal Executive Council. In 1983, few numbers of women were appointed commissioners in states. In 1983, Ms Franca Afegbua became the only woman to be elected into the Senate. Since then, women have not looked back, heading strong ministries like information, finance, petroleum and resources, education, aviation and performing excellently well in such areas. Globally, the campaign for more women participation in administration, gender equality first started at the famous Beijing conference in 1995. Nigeria’s former First Lady, Mrs Maryam Abacha led other prominent professional and political members of feminine class to the conference, which aftermath began the call for more women recognition for political consideration.

However, the 13 female ministers were appointed on merit.

In the case of the minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison – Madueke, she fought many battles to return to the cabinet and the ministry which she had earlier held before the last April polls despite coming from the president’s home state, Bayelsa. Also, Olajumoke Akinjide, from Oyo state who was appointed as minister of state for FCT while two professors were appointed, Viola Onwuliri (Imo) – Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Ruqayyatu Rufai (Jigawa) – Minister of Education; while he made sure that he made a woman, Mrs. Omobola Johnson Olubusola the country’s first minister of Communication Technology.

Olubusola, until her appointment was the Managing Director of Accenture, Nigeria, the first woman to hold the position in the country. She holds a bachelor's degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Manchester, and also has a master’s degree in Digital Electronics from King's College, London. She joined Accenture, then Andersen Consulting in 1985.

These are the women who the president in his bid to take crucial decisions towards the achievement of Nigeria’s vision 20: 2020.

Interestingly, none of these women has ever given the President any headache over their appointments over their pasts or otherwise. Though, Mrs. Diezani Alison – Madueke, minister of petroleum resources almost went on house-to-house campaign against her detractors over the president’s intention of retaining her for the plum petroleum position, the former Shell top shot, against all odds retained her post not for anything but her sheer professionalism.

Despite his promise of 35 per cent slot for women, President Jonathan, himself a Ph.D. degree holder in Zoology from the University of Port Harcourt, ensured his push for more women participation was not based on just numbers. His team of women are made up of tested technicrats; two professors, a lawyer, a World Bank finance expert, astute administrators, educationists, ICT expert and other professionals who have made laudable impact and achievements in their various professional callings.