Traditional rulers urge Tinubu to reappoint ex-minister Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye
The National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider the former Minister of Women Affairs, Barr. Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, for continued national service,
- From Jide Orintunsin - Abuja
The National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider the former Minister of Women Affairs, Barr. Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, for continued national service, citing her “uncommon capacity” to advance the administration’s development objectives.
The appeal, contained in a letter dated March 24, 2026, was signed by the Chairman of the Coordinating Committee of the Council and Etsu Nupe, Alhaji (Dr.) Yahaya Abubakar, and addressed to President Tinubu.
In the two-page letter, the Council described Kennedy-Ohanenye as a “willing tool” for national progress, noting that her tenure redefined the impact of the Ministry of Women Affairs.
The Etsu Nupe highlighted her track record from 2023 to 2025 as justification for her return to executive service.
The Royal Fathers recalled that under her leadership, the Ministry shifted from “traditional seminar-based approaches” to direct, sustainable empowerment programs for Nigerian women and children, achieving measurable impact across the country.
"Her unique determination and capacity to handle sensitive national assignments make her an asset that should be further harnessed for the development of our dear nation," the Etsu Nupe stated in the recommendation.
The Council specifically highlighted her collaborative spirit with traditional institutions, which they claim led to "tremendous results" in rural sensitization and the economic ease of doing business for women at the grassroots level.
Read Also: Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye and mass weddings
Under her leadership, the Council credited the former Minister with several landmark achievements that have left a lasting imprint on the social landscape.
Chiefly among the former Minister's achievements, the royal fathers noted include the establishment of the Gender-Based Violence Mobile Court, which the Council noted successfully reduced incidences of abuse to a minimum.
They also cited the establishment of the "Integrity Brigade" initiative, which united students and university administrators in a synchronized fight against sexual harassment on campuses.
The traditional rulers also applauded the former minister for effectively engaging with them to formally abolish Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) across several Kingdoms, Emirates, and Chiefdoms.
The recommendation also pointed to the Minister’s forward-thinking approach to the digital economy. Through a strategic partnership with the National Council, POS machines were distributed across all 36 states and the FCT, bridging the digital divide for rural women.
The Council’s message to President Tinubu remained clear: Kennedy-Ohanenye’s proven ability to work in tandem with traditional structures makes her uniquely qualified to complement the President’s "Renewed Hope" agenda.
