Leader hails inclusion of women in ministerial list, appeals for more

By Ekuson Nw’Ogbunka
Abuja

The president of a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), that trains and empowers the less privileged in the society: the Takem Empowerment Initiatives (TEIs), Chief (Mrs) Rachael Adewumi has commended Mr President for including about seven women out of the 28 ministerial nominees he has made so far.

Adewumi who doubles as the woman leader of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTs), an umbrella body of all the traders in the FCT and Nigeria in general, has hailed President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to that effect at a telephone interview she granted our correspondent Friday.

Tinubu has last Thursday presented to the 10th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, about 28 ministerial nominees and about seven women were equally nominated in the list.

In other to carefully do justice to the list, the 10th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, under the leadership of the former governor of Akwa – Ibom state, Sen Godswill Akpabio had to suspend their recess.

Making her point, Amb Adewumi therefore said that she has observed with happiness that Mr President wants to run all inclusive government, even as she reiterated the need to involve more women in the government. Admitting that, no matter how, okra planted in the farm can never be taller than its planter, meaning that a wife can’t be a boss to her husband, but she quickly added that women as wives and mothers, who manage the families, among others very well, have such talent from God and would do more if given the opportunity.

Assuring the present government of the willing and ability of the women to deliver while in office, Dr Rachael Adewumi therefore advised the women to ensure that they live up to expectation as usual, saying that women have never failed to deliver in any position given to them.

Hailing the senators for suspending their recess for selfless service to Nigerians, Adewumi also assured the legislators of the women’s ability to deliver effectively, adding that women are known for prudence.

She went further to add that most NGOs and similar organisation that are still viable and contributing immensely to national development globally were under the management of women, including the TEIs. She informed that about 75% of the women, including widows trained by her NGO, the TEIs were doing wonderfully well, by fending for their families. Children of many, according to her have since graduated from higher institutions.

Most women who are doing petty trading in the streets, by using tables, according to her had since relocated to the markets, while many others who prefer to remain in the street, have since rented shops, adding that they had been renewing their shops and are still doing their businesses effectively.

If these women were able to prosper with the meagre amount they got from our NGO, she went on, the women, if given more appointments would contribute immensely to the success of the country.

Among some women she enumerated, who really performed wonderfully well and some who are still doing well, according to her were the present Director General (DG), World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr Ngozi Omonjo – Iweala; the immediate past Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen; former senator representing Anambra North, Sen Magrey Okadigbo and; the DG, NAFDAC, Prof Moji Adeyeye.

Others, she went on were former minister of information and DG NAFDAC, who according to her introduced reformations in NAFDAC, Prof Dora Akunyili; former minister of education, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, the present senator representing FCT, Ireti Kingibe, the member representing Orumba North/South, Hon Chinwe Nnabuife; former Speaker, House of Reps, Hon Patricia Ette; Sens Patricia Akwashika, Iyabo Obasanjo and; Gbemisola Saraki, among others. “Those of them who have left office and those who are still in office, according to her have and are still doing well, “the woman leader concluded.