Women Politicians In Nigeria

"I am from Badagry in Ojo Division of Lagos State, which gave me the opportunity to serve my people as a politician.I studied English Education. I am a teacher by profession. Ironically, going into education was accidental. I never intended to be a teacher. I went to collect a form for a cousin of mine, and from there, my passion was fired and I just said why not try it out. I found out it was my calling especially when it comes to improving the lives of young people."

"You see people, you tell them "I'm doing this." They want to see it. That way we have been able to prove in this state, that "we want to do this." This is our budget. This is what we spend the budget on. So, you go around and you see the manifestation. You want to see a lot of roads that have been completed. You want to see a lot of changes that are taking place. You see schools that are being rebuilt, that are being rehabilitated. You see the books, you see the physical things."

"My husband supported me which made life easy for me while in office. My children were also grown up: My last child was already in the secondary school while the first two were in the university. We had a family meeting to agree on how we are going to balance it. I was in touch with my family all through. I was able to keep my home and was stable in the office as well."

"We need people to know what we are doing, so that we continue to get their support. We welcome ideas on how to even do it better than what we are doing. We are very lucky to have a leader that is young, dynamic, committed, and focused-it has really helped our government. The people of Lagos, they are very happy. As I said, they have not made a mistake in choosing him as a governor to lead-they have not made a mistake in choosing all of us to work with him, as well."

"Sure. You mean, when we were going around to say "vote us in, you will not be disappointed?" Yes. You know, even before you come in, like a democratic government there are things you want to tell your people that we're going to do or we're going to improve on, and these are the areas-. We continue to have free education and we even provide the quality, not just education. We make roads for you. We provide water for you. You will access free healthcare and you now see all these things that we said. We said it and we are doing it. After four years-within two years, you've seen all these things manifested."

"Thank you very much and I hope it will be useful for your studies."

"I will continue like my father did it till he breathed his last. Politics is not something you can quit once you get involved. I will continue to be of service to my people because I come from the riverine rural area that is always marginalised. It is only through political participation that their plight can be addressed and their voice heard."

"Well we came in, like I said, there were a lot of challenges, especially having to do with infrastructure of the schools. We knew what we wanted immediately. We felt to do this the funding in previous years was increased. In previous years a ratio about 50%."

"He knows that nothing can move me or take me away from him."

"No, not of the total budget. I mean, what is allocated to education in previous years, we have to add more to this. There was an increase, a large increase, to what is allocated to education. That has helped us in doing most of these things. But nevertheless, funding is still a challenge to us. Even with the increase, it is still very difficult for us to provide all those things we wanted. As a result of that we said, "we can't just fold our arms and say by the time we utilize what we have-." Let's find other ways of getting funding, because it is the greatest challenge. If you want quality things-you want the best things-it costs money."

"He really supported me. He even took it more seriously than I did. He served in the Navy and knowing the family I come from it wasn’t a big deal for him when I was called upon to serve. When the time came there was no way I could run away from it."

"The retinue of aides was for protocol sake and it is for a certain period of time. I still have my aides but on more humble and quiet side. It is natural for everybody to enjoy the glamour of office. Outside it, you still attract that respect; you still get honour from a lot of people. Remember that life and power are transient and the only thing that is stable and constant is change."

"I enjoy inner peace. When you are in Christ, everything is possible. I take each day as it comes. I am conscious of what I eat."

"Like I said, even the government has a ten-point agenda-infrastructure, education, water provision, and so on. It wasn't that difficult because for allocation of funds, to budget for it, you have to see, look at what comes in, what we can generate generally. You have to look into that and see how you want to allocate. You know these are social services. Healthcare is also there. People need-in that part of the world we also have to improve, provide a lot of healthcare for our people. So, that is one area that takes a large chunk of money as well, and education as well, is also a social service and needs a large chunk."

"Of course, I did. You know men would want to do that husband thing. He would say ‘Please, can you cook that my vegetable for me?’ He loves it so much. And I would cook it because the difference is in his wife’s hand. I did that once in a while, not all the time."

"It was not convenient especially when I had to work late into the night. Oftentimes, he came to my official residence and I visited my home regularly. My husband didn’t live with me in the government house because it wasn’t convenient for him."

"Not that it wasn't possible-not that people never knew that education is the necessary thing-but before, people they tended to believe that to get to the people in charge then, that it was not easy. Unlike now, that they can access people like me. They can access officers that are in charge, so that's a big difference. The openness of how we do things now has been a great change from what used to happen before. Even at the offices, there has been a sort of restructuring. That means that departments that are in charge as well, you reassess people."

"It is not very difficult to exclude the women and they do not exclude us; we get involved in as many things as we like to."

"I think that the needs of the people, that is, the majority of the people – healthcare, education, security, and water."

"I am also looking forward to making impact on the lives of women."

"The late Senator Rose Oko will always be remembered for her good works while alive."

"A Nigerian senator, Rose Oko, is dead."

"For seasoned female politician, Hon. Mrs. Eucharia Okwunna Azodo, her resume is intimidating. She has, at various times, held various positions both in the political party and public positions."

"Evangelist Dr. Ebiti is Queen Esther and Judge Deborah of our time. Coming with a 5 Point Agenda for Nigeria, which includes; restoring, Reviving, Reconstructing, Restructuring, and Revolutionizing Nigeria mentally."

"Only seven female Senators (7.63 per cent) and 19 Representatives (5.28 per cent) were elected in 2011 (7th Assembly) as opposed to nine senators and 25 Representatives that sailed through in 2007. Out of those elected in 2007, only three female senators and 11 Reps were re-elected in 2011. The women who shaped the federal legislature in the 7th Senate were Chris Anyanwu, Zainab Kure, Nkechi Nwaogu, Nenadi Usman, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu, Helen Esuene and Aisha Jummai Alhassan, who died in May this year in an Egyptian hospital at the age of 61. In the House of Representatives, the women were Hon. Abike Dabiri, Mulikat Adeola-Akande, Nkiru Onyeagocha, Uche Ekwunife, Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje, Olajumoke Okoya-Thomas, Beni Lar, Khadija Bukar Abba-Ibrahim, Elizabeth Ogbaga, Peace Uzoamaka Nnaji, Juliet Akano, Maimunat Adaji, Suleiman Oba Nimota, Folake Olunloyo, Martha Bodunrin, Betty Okogua-Apiafi, Rose Oko and Nkoyo Toyo among others."

"One of the major objectives of the water abstraction control scheme is to provide a platform for data gathering on the various groundwater abstraction facilities in the state, either existing ones or those to be drilled in the future."

"When the accounts of past public officers are to be given for posterity to judge, these individuals would make the list because of their contributions to the Nigerian project. However, long after they left public office, not much has been heard about them again."

"I promise to discharge my duty diligently and not to let our youth folks down."

"We must resolve to jointly exorcise the evil spirit behind this darkness."

"I was inaugurated as the Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development by His Excellency, @RealAARahman on Friday."

"I return all glory and adoration to Almighty God, I pray for His guidance in actualising the Kwara of our dream."

"Ahead of the 2023 general elections I make bold to say that Nigeria is indeed ready for a female President; a Phenomenal Woman, a quintessential diva. A Woman of Substance, with a heart of gold, who is no other than Evangelist Dr. Ebiti Ndok-Jegede, originally from Cross River State, but born and raised in Ibadan, Oyo State."

"Let us continue to work for a better Plateau."

"I also want to express my gratitude to our indefatigable governor for the confidence he reposed in me to serve as one of his cabinet members."

"I am deeply saddened by the attack on the Riyom Divisional Police Station, which tragically claimed the life of a Police officer. This act of violence is not only senseless but a painful reminder of the challenges we face in ensuring security across our state. My heart goes out to the family of the fallen officer and the entire Police Force. We must honor their sacrifices by working together to prevent such tragedies from happening again. I call on our security agencies to intensify efforts to bring those responsible to justice. I also urge community members to support these efforts by providing any useful information. Together, we can build a safer, more peaceful Plateau."

"12 years... It’s hard to believe it’s been that long. Your memory and legacy continue to inspire me every day. Prayed for the forgiveness of your sins and a place in Jannah for you my dearest father. And then listened to Yusufu Olatunji - couldn’t get into it before, but you liked it, so I love it. (If you know you know). May the souls of all our dearly departed continue to rest in peace."

"I am deeply saddened about the devastating fire outbreak that resulted in the loss of goods and properties of our market men and women at the Katako Market in Jos North, My heart goes out to all those affected by this tragic event. They are not alone during this difficult time, i stand with them in solidarity, especially that it falls within my constituency. Our administration led by our able Governor Caleb Mutfwang has taken immediate steps to address the situation and provide support to those affected as they navigate through this challenging period. Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected as we work towards recovery and rebuilding."

"Celebrating our freedom, embracing our diversity, and looking forward to a brighter future. May our nation continue to grow in unity, peace, and prosperity."

"Over the years, there have been huge gaps between where the sector needs to be and where it actually is due to lack of collaboration and synergy between the Federal and State Ministries of Transportation. To possibly bridge these gaps between the Federal and State levels, the Federal Ministry of Transportation saw the need to set up a Forum that will cover the existing gaps."

"Seriously I did not campaign for this position. I acted for a couple of months and election was conducted that confirmed me to seat at the helm of the forum such as this. What can I do on my own? Honestly it is a collective effort of all Transport Commissioners, a fall out of the last annual retreat."

"I encourage you women to continue to be strong and to strive to succeed in all you do because you hold the key to national development."

"I urge you to carry everyone along regardless of religion and ethnicity, strive to create inclusion in all you do and work together as one, encouraging each other to be better."

"I commend the initiative of the Women of Worth Global Group. This is a major milestone in promoting women and giving them hope in politics and all spheres of life."

"My inability to attend Sunday’s meeting with the wife of the president, Dame Patience Jonathan, over the abduction of schoolgirls in Chibok, was not to disrespect her office."

"Our vision is to build a strong, non-partisan, non-profit Institution that brings together all 36 appointed Commissioners and State Special Assistant/Advisers on Transportation to actively and effectively promote inclusiveness, good Governance, sustainable growth and development in the Transportation Sector."

"I introduced Buhari to politics."

"We have 24 local governments in Katsina state and past administrations did not judiciously apply part of loans they borrowed in the health care sector."

"All health personnel working in facilities across the 34 local districts of the state have been adequately informed of the development and trained on how to handle Lassa fever cases."

"An adult education programme will soon take off in the constituency. The programme is being initiated by her office in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Education to boost Adult Literacy in the constituency."

"I think what I owe Nigerians is to say that I didn’t do anything wrong. I didn’t break the law. The NYSC I did and finished. That is the much I can tell you. Everything I did was by the law."