IWD: Past and present great Nigerian women

The International Women's Day (IWD) is dedicated to celebrate and honour women's achievements in the social, economic, cultural, and political spheres across the globe. The day also brings attention to gender parity and women's rights, as well as important tool for policy makers striving towards gender equality. Celebrated on March 8 every year, it is a typically day for women from different backgrounds and cultures to come together to fight for gender parity and women’s rights. The theme for 2020, “I am a Generation of Equality: Realising Women’s Rights” #Eachforequal aligned with the UN Women’s new multigenerational campaign, Generation Equal, which marks the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. The year, 2020 is a crucial for advancing gender equality worldwide, as the global community takes stock of progress made for women’s rights since the adoption of the Beijing Platform for Action. Our reporter profiled some Nigerian women, past and present achievers, who have contributed their quota to national development in politics, financial sector, agriculture, estate development and others.

Chief Margaret Ekpo Born on July 27, 1914, Chief Margaret Ekpo was a women's rights activist and social mobiliser. She was a pioneer female politician in the country's First Republic and a leading member of a class of traditional Nigerian women activists, many of who rallied women beyond notions of ethnic solidarity.

She played major roles as a grassroots and national politician in the eastern Nigerian city of Aba. It was in the era of a male-dominated movement towards independence. Her activities helped in socialising and mobilising women across the country to stand for their rights. She died September 21, 2006.

Hajiya Gambo Sawaba She was a politician and activist who was known for charitable activities, especially fighting for the liberation of northern women.

Born to a Ghanaian father and Nupe mother, as a child, Gambo was so stubborn that she got into fights with bullies while also showing affection to those who were bullied.

This character trait developed her fierce attitude towards the ills against the poor masses in the society.

Gambo joined politics when she was 17. During that time, northern Nigeria was dominated by the Northern People’s Congress, which had the support of emirs and the British colonial authority, but Gambo joined the opposition group.

She died at 71 in October 2001.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala She is a Nigerian economist, author and entrepreneur. She was the first female finance minister and the first female Foreign Affairs minister in Nigeria. Also, the first female and black candidate to contest for the presidency of the World Bank Group in 2012.

Okonjo-Iweala is a powerful woman who, during her time as a minister of finance, spearheaded negotiations with the Paris Club on debtors, which led to wiping out of US$30billion Nigeria’s debt. She also initiated processes that helped improve Nigeria’s macroeconomic management and reduce macroeconomic volatility. All her initiatives tackled corruption to an extent and restored the faith of investors in Nigeria, creating more jobs for youth.

Aisha Buhari She is the wife of President Muhammadu Buhari. Aisha Buhari holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Administration from Ambrose Alli University (AAU), and a master's degree in International Affairs and Strategic Studies from the Nigerian DefenCe Academy, Kaduna. She is a member of the United Kingdom Vocational Training and Charitable Trust and the International Health and Beauty Council.

Aisha is a vocal advocate of women and children’s rights. This was a focal point during her campaign for her husband's election in 2015.

The Future Assured is an initiative founded by her to continue her advocacy work for the health and wellbeing of women and children, through community mobilisation and health promotion.

Hadiza Bala Usman She is an alumnus of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where she earned a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) degree in Business Administration. She also obtained a postgraduate degree in Development Studies from the University of Leeds, United Kingdom.

Before her appointment as the first female managing director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in its 63 years of existence, Hadiza Bala Usman worked at the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), after which she was hired by the UNDP for the Federal Capital Territory Administration as an assistant to the minister on project implementation.

Pauline Tallen She was first appointed as minister of state for science and technology in 1999 during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. In 2007, Mrs Tallen was elected as the deputy governor of Plateau State, making her the first women to be elected for the position in northern Nigeria. She was honoured as Woman of the Year for her contribution to Nigeria at the 10th African Icon of Our Generation Award.

She was a board member of the National Agency for Control of Aids(NACA) until her appointment as the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development (FMWASD) by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Ibukun Awosika She has made a giant stride in the banking industry as the first chairman of First Bank of Nigeria Plc since its establishment over a century ago.

Awosika is also a businesswoman, author and motivational speaker and a board member of the Women in Management and Business (WIMBIZ) and Convention on Business Integrity.

In her interview with one of the national dailies in 2016, Awosika said that beyond monetary gains, her spiritual, social life and health were equally important to her.

Dr. AjoritsedereAwosika Dr. Awosika is an accomplished administrator with over three decades experience in public sector governance. She was at various times the permanent secretary in the Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Science and Technology, as well as Power.

She is a fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria and the West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacy. Dr. Awosika holds a doctorate degree in Pharmaceutical Technology from the University of Bradford, United Kingdom.

Amy Jadesimi She is the chief executive officer of the Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics Base (LADOL), overseeing the growth of West Africa's largest logistics and engineering facility operating in a free trade zone.

The LADOL is utilising the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, expanding service to sectors outside the oil industry and creating tens of thousands of jobs.

Among her many accolades, Jadesimi was named Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.

Hamda Ambah Having served effectively as an executive director from September 2009 to January 2017, she was appointed the managing director/ chief executive officer of the FSDH Merchant Bank in February 1, 2017. While serving as the bank’s executive director, she was in charge of the marketing teams, including; Corporates –Multinational, Middle-tier Corporations, Telecommunications and the energy sector, as well as the Port Harcourt and Abuja regional offices.

She graduated from the University of Lagos in 1980, after which she headed to the Imperial College of Science and Technology, London for her postgraduate qualifications. Before joining FSDH Merchant Bank in 1993, Mrs. Ambah was at Reuters Ltd, Nigeria, where she worked in the capacity of a senior executive for about five years.

She is a member of the Nigerian Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers and was the recipient of the 1999 IBTC award for the best examination candidate in corporate finance.

Zainab Ahmed She is the present Nigeria’s Minister of Finance. She is an accountant by profession. She became the minister of finance following the resignation of Kemi Adeosun. She was the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning. In over 30 years of her career, she has served the Nigerian public in various high ranking positions.

Abike Dabiri-Erewa Before her journey into the political space, President Muhammadu Buhari's Senior Special Assistant on Foreign and Diaspora Affairs had a successful career in the media. She recorded a landmark achievement in the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).

President Buhari appointed her in 2015,and she still holds the position.

Stella Okoli She is an entrepreneur, pharmacist and a philanthropist. She is the chief executive officer and managing director of Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, a leading indigenous pharmaceutical company in Nigeria.

Stella Okoli started her career as a ward/ clinical pharmacist at Middlesex Hospital in London and later worked briefly as a pharmacist at Boots UK, formerly known as Boots the Chemist Ltd.

She returned to Nigeria and worked for a while at Massey Children Hospital, Lagos before joining a pharmaceutical manufacturing company, Park Davies Nigeria Limited (now Pharma-Deko Plc). At Pharma-Deko Plc, she worked as a medical representative and later as a sales manager.

Angela Ajala She caught her niche as an entrepreneur at an early age and impacted greatly on many Nigerian women across board. She is the national president of the African Women Entrepreneurship Programme, Nigeria.

She has been in the education and training business for more than three decades. She is the executive director of Ladela Schools.

She currently serves as an advisory member of Board of the Enterprise Development Centre and also sits as member of the Board, National Board for Technical Education.

Olufunsho Olusanya Olufunsho Olusanya is the executive director in charge of the yreasury and international banking division of the FSDH Merchant Bank. She is responsible for formulating/implementing strategic business decisions that seek to position the treasury division as the most innovative and efficient in the market. She possesses over 20 years of banking experience.

Prior to re-joining FSDH Merchant Bank, Olufunsho was the group treasurer of the UBA Plc, where she was in charge of developing an integrated treasury, which was responsive to the group’s needs, profit, focus on cost optimisation, with enhanced liquidity and good risk management practices (Basle II compliant).

Hajia Bola Shagaya Hajiya Bola Shagaya is the 10th wealthiest woman in Africa, according to Forbes.

As a businesswoman, she is most notable for her interest in real estate.

She is the founder of Bolmus Group international, a diversified Nigerian conglomerate with interests in oil, real estate, banking, communication and photography.

In recognition of her leadership qualities and immense contribution to economic growth, she was twice awarded the National Productivity Order of Merit award and Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) by former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

Dr. Folasade Omolara Yemi–Esan She is the current Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. She graduated as the best dental surgery student in 1987 from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. She later earned a certificate in Health Planning and Management, and a master’s degree in Public and International Administration, both with distinctions.

She started her career at the Federal Ministry of Health and rose to become a director.

Saadiya Aminu She is the managing director and chief executive officer of Urban Shelter Limited, an estate firm with over 25 years’ experience.

Sa’adiya has had a varied career in a number of roles, bringing her characteristic drive and inter-personal skills to every position she has occupied.

She earned a BSc in Economics from Brunel University, following that up with a master’s degree in Finance and Development from the School of African Studies (SOAS), London.

Her ambition for Urban Shelter includes affordable housing, for which she has a particular passion.