10th Assembly: Meet 17 Female House Of Reps Members

,,,,,,The 10th House of Representatives has 17 women members. It is an improvement on the 9th Assembly with 12 members. But, the gender disparity shows that the Lower Chamber falls bellow expectation in meeting the 30 percent affirmative action. Correspondent TONY AKOWE profiles the 17 amazons.

▪️Khadijat Abba-Ibrahim (Yobe APC):

Khadija Bukar Abba-Ibrahim was first elected into the House of Representatives in 2007 to represent Damaturu/Gunna/Fulani/Tarmuwa Federal Constituency in Yobe State. She was born into a political family; the family of the late advocate of politics without bitterness, Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim.

Abba-Ibrahim, who was elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), holds a National Diploma in Business and Finance from Padworth College, Reading, in the United Kingdom (UK) and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Studies and Sociology from Roehampton Institute for Higher Education, an affiliate of the University of Surrey, (UK).

Her foray into politics began in 2004 with her appointment as Commissioner for Transport and Energy by former Yobe State Governor Bukar Abba Ibrahim, who she later married in 2006. Following demands from her people, she contested for a seat in the House of Representatives on the platform of the All Nigeria People’s Party (APP) in 2007 and won. She was re-elected in 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2023 respectively.

However, her stay in the National Assembly was cut short in 2016 when she was appointed Minister of State for Foreign Affairs by former President Muhammadu Buhari. She resigned from the cabinet in January 2019 after defeating her stepson in the APC primary for a return to the parliament. She has served in different committees of the House such as Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Rural Development; Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Communications; Chairman of the House Committee on Rural Privatisation and Commercialisation and Chairman of the House Committee on the Northeast Development Commission.

▪️Beni Lar (Plateau PDP):

Beni Lar is the daughter of the first Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national chairman, Chief Solomon Lar. She was first elected to represent Langtang North, Langtang South Federal Constituency of Plateau State in the House of Representatives. She has remained in the parliament since then. Many believe that the seat may have been ceded to the late former governor’s family, as she has surmounted all oppositions to remain in parliament since she first stepped into it.

She was quoted as saying that her late father taught her to be hard-working. She said: “My father taught me that there is no difference between a male and a female (child). He taught me to be hard-working; so, I trained as a lawyer just like him.”

Lar has served as the Chairman of the House Committee on Women’s Affairs, House Committee on Human Rights and House Committee on Science and Technology. She has supported emergency funding for the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), seeking increased penalties for child abuse and the creation of a National Child Protection and Enforcement Agency. Some have argued that the Plateau lawmaker has been a shining example of what women could do in politics. However, others believe she is enjoying the privilege of her father’s name.

▪️Boma Goodhead (Rivers PDP):

Boma Goodhead is a woman who caught a niche for herself as a bold and courageous woman. On several occasions, she has had to confront security operatives when they appear to be doing things she considers unjust. One such was when she confronted men of the Department of State Services who invaded the National Assembly. Born to the family of a retired High Court Judge in Rivers state, Melford Dokubo, Boma represents Asari-Toru Federal Constituency of Rivers State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party. Boma is reputed to have challenged the DSS officials to “Shoot this gun”; “How many people can you shoot down here, how many?”

She was later quoted to have said that her action was not all about her, but the country. Her words: “I will tell you the truth that it wasn’t about me; it was about Nigeria where we have to fight for democracy. It was not about Boma Goodhead. There were a lot of us out there, but someone has to take the lead. So, it wasn’t just about me; it was about Nigeria. When I saw what was going on, I just felt that it was undemocratic and provocative because you cannot just come to someone’s house or office and say you would not allow him entrance to the property or office where he works, especially when I saw them (security agents) in masks.”

▪️Regina Akume (Benue APC):

Regina Akume is the wife of the current Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume. She served as First Lady in Benue State from 1999 to 2007 when her husband was the governor. She has also served in different capacities at the grassroots level in the past. She is a woman leader in her constituency and across Benue State. There is however not much information in the public space about her political activities. But she defeated one of the most experienced lawmakers from Benue State, Dr John Dyegh to book a seat in the federal parliament.

Mrs Akume heads the House Committee on NAFDAC.

▪️Maureen Gwacham (Anambra APGA):

Gwacham is one of the five elected members of the House on the platform of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA). Before her election, she was Managing Director of Best Western Meloch Hotel, Awka, Anambra. Popularly known as Ugo Chalu Acha, she represents Oyi/Ayamelum Federal Constituency in the Green Chambers.

She is reputed to be an accomplished businesswoman and a good governance advocate. While campaigning for the election, she said: “Constitutional responsibility also places a heavy onus on the legislator to make laws that will be beneficial to his/her constituents. To achieve this objective, a legislator must, through persuasion and negotiation, collaborate with his or her colleagues in mainstreaming the interests of his/her local constituency within the context of national developmental imperatives. A second function, which is no less important, is the legislator’s duty in scrutinizing the executive’s appropriation bill. It is during this appropriation process that the versatile legislator persuades, negotiates and collaborates with his/her colleagues, as well as the executive branch to attract essential federal projects and services that would engender physical development and economic empowerment of his/her constituency and constituents, respectively.”

She is believed to have extensive experience in advising governments at various levels on policy issues with a special focus on sustainable economic development, amongst others.

▪️Marie Ebikake (Bayelsa PDP):

Marie Ebikake served as a commissioner for transportation under former Governor Seriake Dickson and later commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs between 2012 and 2015. She was sacked following an allegation that she teamed up with former First Lady Patience Jonathan to work against the re-election of Dickson.

Ebikake worked as a school teacher before going into politics. She had contested the Brass-Nembe Federal Constituency seat in 2019 and lost to Israel Sunny Goli. She ran for the second time in the recent general election against the same Goli and won.

She was chairman of Brass Local Government and the only woman to have won such an election in Bayelsa State. She once said that she has been a public servant most of her life and equally believed that people know what they want. She said: “A pedigree of equitable service to my people follows my political career. This is their motivation. I don’t believe in money politics. I believe people should call you out to serve and not impose yourself on the people because you have money. However, I am and will be financed by those who believe and trust me. My representation would, therefore, aim to add more value to the lives of my constituents by continuing to push them above the poverty lines. I shall use the instrument of lawmaking to achieve that.”

▪️Zainab Gimba (Borno APC):

Zainab Gimba is a member of Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) and an advocate for the representation and maintenance of gender equality.

She has a doctorate in Public Administration and Policy Analysis from the University of Abuja. She represents the Bama/Ngala/Kala-Balge Constituency of Borno State. A former lecturer at the University of Maiduguri before joining active politics, Gimba hit the headlines when she spent almost N300 million to empower her constituents while serving in the 9th Assembly.

Before her election into the House of Representatives, she served as commissioner for poverty alleviation and youth empowerment and also as a commissioner in the State Universal Basic Education Board. Between 2015 and 2018, she was a commissioner under the Ministry of Water Resources in Borno State.

Born on December 25, 1972, Zainab defeated four men to clinch the ticket of the APC on her way to becoming one of the few women to have won an elective position in Borno State and she admitted that it was not an easy ride to victory. She was quoted as saying that she was beaten up, bruised, tear-gassed and went three days without sleep even though she was one of the longest-serving female commissioners in the state. She defeated Mamman-Nur Sheriff, the younger brother of former Governor Ali Modu Sheriff for the seat in 2019.

▪️Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu (Delta PDP):

Erhiatake Ibori-Surnu is the daughter of former Governor James Ibori. She is a graduate of Business Studies and Information Systems and was elected into the Delta State House of Assembly in 2019 to represent the Ethiope West State Constituency.

She is married to Badagry, Lagos State-born Abioye Suenu, and served as the chairman of the Committee on Appropriation and Finance while still serving in the Delta House of Assembly.

She had to pass through the PDP primary for the House of Reps ticket twice before defeating Ben Rolls and Igbakpa to emerge the winner. Their first meeting ended in a tie, why defeating her opponent with a single vote in the second outing. Igbakpa was then the member representing Ethiope Federal Constituency. She is said to be close to her father. She was quoted as saying that not all dreamers are winners, but all winners are dreamers. Described as a worthy daughter of the Urhobo nation, she is believed to be a caring philanthropist who has consistently empowered the youths and the women folks in her constituency. She runs S.H.I. Mobile Free Clinics to train doctors in primary healthcare in Ethiope West Local Government Area.

She has emerged as the House Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

▪️Mariam Onuoha (Imo APC):

Mariam Onuoha, who is popularly known in the House as Princess, is one of the lawmakers who came to the House after a rerun of the 2019 House of Representatives elections after the Court of Appeal ruled that the election that produced Obinna Onwubuariri was not conducted in compliance with the provisions of the electoral act. She won the rerun election and was inaugurated to represent Isiala Mbano/Okigwe/Onuimo on the platform of the APC.

A graduate of Estate Management from the University of Lagos and a Master’s degree in Environmental Planning and Protection from the University of Abuja, Mariam once served as a Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Bayelsa State on International Development Cooperation.

She is the only female lawmaker who indicated interest in contesting the position of Speakership of the House of Representatives. She however did not push through with her ambition even though she was part of the G-7 group that went to protest the decision to hand the Speaker ship position to Tajudeen Abbas. She is also the only female lawmaker from the South East and I be of the six returning lawmakers to the 10th Assembly from the region. She who was the pioneer Chairman of the House Committee on Disabilities and Special Needs now heads the House Committee on TETfund and other services, one of the committees created for the education sector.

▪️Kafilat Ogbara (Lagos APC):

An indigene of Aiyepe in Ogun State, Ogbara is representing Lagos State in the National Assembly. A graduate of English Language and Literature from the University of Lagos, she also has an M.Sc. degree in International Law and Diplomacy and another in Public Administration from the University of Lagos. She has had stints in both print and Electronic Media. She was the presenter of the NTA programme, ‘Faces and Events, as well as the Publisher of Today’s Prime newspaper. She also worked with the National Mirror newspaper where she served as the Managing Director/CEO. She has always had her eyes on the federal parliament, contesting the seat in 2003 and 2007 on the platform of the PDP, but was not successful.

She was one of the brains behind the South West Agenda for the Asiwaju, otherwise known as SWAGA 23. Interest tingly, she contested the governorship of Ogun state in 2011 but was not successful. She worked as a Special Assistant in Trade and Investment and Technical Aid Corps at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs between 2011-2013. She has served as a Member of the Board of Directors at the National Centre for Women Development, a member of the Board of Directors at the Horticultural Research Institute and a member of the Board of Directors of the Nigeria Television Authority Abuja. An ender Rights advocate, Kafilat now heads the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development as Chairman.

▪️Adewunmi Onanuga (Ogun APC):

Popularly known as Ijaya, she holds the traditional title of Yeye Oba of Makun, Otunba Adewunmi Oriyomi Onanuga is currently the Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives. Before her election to the lower chamber, Onanuga had served in different capacities at the grassroots politically. Born on December 2, 1965, Otunba Adewunmi Onanuga represents Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency in Ogun state and was chairman of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development in the 9th Assembly.

Although born in Hammersmith, London to Nigerian parents, when has always believed in community service and service to the people of the grass root. She always advocates the inculcation of habits, lifestyles and promulgations that would exhibit a sustainable and healthy environment, advocate the embracing of our cultural heritage, encourage the recognition and support for the participation of professional women in politics and increase human capital development.

She has a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Relations & Advertising from the Nigeria Institute of Journalism and an MBA from the Business School of Netherlands in 2013. She was the Pageant Manager at the Daily Times of Nigeria Plc in charge of the Miss Nigeria Pageant. She later established her own Events Management and Environmental Advocacy company after the sale of Daily Times to private investors in 2005.

▪️Fatima Talba (Yobe APC):

The lawmaker is a philanthropist who is noted to have touched the lives of hundreds of people in her constituency by providing educational scholarships and other forms of support.

In 2007, Fatima contested a seat in the Senate on the platform of the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) against her brother, Adamu Garba Talba, but lost. She challenged the victory of her brother at the Tribunal but failed. To make it. She challenged her brother’s victory and again lost after the election petition tribunal declared her brother the winner.

She was a member of the green chamber between 2003 a s 2007 representing the Nangere/ Postikum Federal Constituency of Yobe State. She has occupied several political offices, especially in the executive. She was a local government chairman and two-time commissioner as well as Special Adviser. In 2011, the then Governor Ibrahim Geidam appointed her as Commissioner for Health and later Commissioner for Special Duties. Believed to be passionate about girl child education, she also served as Special Adviser to Gov. Mai Mala Buni on Women Affairs.

Speaker Tajudeen Abbas has handed her the mandate of coordinating the women in Parliament as Chairman of the House Committee on Women in Parliament.

▪️Tolulope Akande-Sadipe (Oyo APC):

Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, a former Special Adviser to the Oyo State governor on projects ,is a graduate of accounting from American University, Washington D.C., USA. The former chairman of the House Committee on Diaspora Matters began her career as an accountant with a communication processing company called Enterprises for New Direction, which worked on transportation matters for the U.S. President. She later joined an accounting firm in Washington D.C. called Gardiner Kamya & Associates.

The member representing the Oluyole Constituency of Oyo State also holds a Master’s degree in International Business Management from Southeastern University, Washington D.C. USA. As Chairman of the House Committee on diaspora matters, she moved several motions on issues affecting Nigerians abroad. She aspired to the position of Deputy Speaker of the 10th Assembly

▪️Chinwe Nnabuife (Anambra YPP):

One of the two YPP members in the House of Representatives, Chinwe Nnabuife, is a graduate of Mass Communication. She obtained her Higher National Diploma (HND) from Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State, in 1991, and worked briefly with the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), FCT. She contested the 2019 National Assembly elections under the Young Progressives Party (YPP) and lost, scoring the second-highest votes.

Born in Orumba, Anambra State in 1971, she endeared herself to the people through pragmatic demonstration of some uncommon humane and urbane traits through community philanthropy and human development.

Her supporters who described her as an uncommon bridge builder across diverse socio-political persuasions believe she has a knack and penchant for listening which makes it easy for her to accommodate all shades of opinion and leaning.

▪️Blessing Onuh (Benue APC):

Blessing Onuh is the daughter of former Senate President, Senator David Mark. Before contesting the House of Representatives seat against her uncle Johnson Ashubi on the platform of the PDP for the Otukpo/Ohimini Constituency seat, she worked as Secretary Social Welfare Secretariat in the FCT Administration while her father was, President of the Senate. After losing the PDP ticket to her Uncle, she joined the APGA and contested against her uncle again in the general elections and won. Blessing later joined the APC while serving as a member of the House. She won reelection to the House.

Born in 1976, Onuh is a graduate of sociology from the University of Abuja where she is currently studying for her doctorate in gender studies. She has also served as Special Assistant to the Minister of State for Education and later as Special Assistant to the Minister of Inter-Governmental, Local Government and Special Duties. Married to Dr. Innocent Onuh, a medical practitioner from Obotu-Ugboju, Otukpo Local Government Area in 1999, she also served as Acting Chairman of the Federal Capital Territory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy.

Even though she dumped the PDP, on whose platform her father became leader of the legislature for eight years, she was quoted as saying: “My family remains my family and I love them all. But what you are witnessing today is a clarion call from my people who have stories to tell.” Her father has served as Military Governor of Niger State and later as Minister of Communication. During his time as Minister of Communication, he was widely quoted as saying that ‘telephone is not for the poor.

▪️Lilian Orogbu (Anambra LP):

A Professor of Business Administration at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Orogbu was elected on the platform of the Labour Party. She was the running mate to the governorship candidate of the APGA, Chukwuma Umeoji, in the 2022 governorship election in Anambra State. But they were replaced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with Chukwuma Soludo and his running mate Onyekachukwu Ibezim in obedience to a court order.

She has successfully supervised 19 postgraduate students, including four PhDs and has occupied editorial positions in several academic journals, including the Journal of Business and Finance Management Research and the Journal of Social Development.

▪️Blessing Amadi (Rivers PDP):

,,,,,Amadi who represents Port Harcourt II Federal Constituency of Rivers State is a trained lawyer who has worked as Director of Legal Services at the Rivers State University. Before contesting for the House of Representatives seat, she was the Treasurer of the People’s Democratic Party in Rivers State. She had to wait for a supplementary election that was boycotted by other parties before being declared the winner of the election. She has been appointed as the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Women’s Affairs and Social Development by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.