Monarchs urge Tinubu to consider ex-women affairs minister for national assignments

From Fred Itua, Abuja

National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria has thrown its weight behind the former Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye.

In a letter addressed to President Bola Tinubu and signed by Yahaya Abubakar, Etsu Nupe and Chairman of the Coordinating Committee of the National Council of Traditional Rulers, the Council highlighted the Minister’s capacity and capability to successfully handle national assignments.

IT emphasised that her unique determination makes her a ‘willing tool’ that should be harnessed further for the development of Nigeria.

“During her tenure from August 2023 to 2025, she was credited with shifting the ministry’s focus from traditional seminar-based approaches to direct, sustainable empowerment for women and children.

“Other key achievements noted by the traditional rulers include, combating gender-based violence. She also tackled campus harassment. “Most importantly, her passionate engagement with the Council led to tremendous results in the fight against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), with the practice being abolished in several Kingdoms, Emirates, and Chiefdoms.

“Finally, the former minister was a proponent of digital empowerment, a collaboration with the National Council to distribute POS machines across all 36 states and the FCT, enabling rural women to participate in digital commerce,” the letter read.

“Our core message to President Bola Tinubu is a call for the former Minister to continue her work in a way that complements the President’s administration. Having worked closely with traditional institutions to push for rural sensitisation and economic ease of doing business, the Council maintains that her track record proves she is uniquely qualified to continue contributing to the nation’s progress,” the traditional rulers noted.