UNVEILING THE ANAMBRA POLITICAL AMAZONS (Part 1)

(from top to bottom): Dame Virgy Etiaba, Iyom Josephine Anenih, Hon (Mrs) Uche Lilian Ekwunife, Sen. Joy Emordi, Sen Margery Okadigbo, Princess Chinwe Nwaebili, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah

Over the years women have been relegated to the background in issues of overall development especially in developing nations like Nigeria. Be that as it may, historical evidences are available to prove that the Nigerian women have for long been playing crucial role in political life of the country and this has contributed in no small measure in shaping the political system of the nation. 

Today, women are participating more actively in political issues than ever before. Despite the difficulties faced by women in politics, they continue with their political ambitions, contributing enormously to the political development of Nigeria.

Here are some of the Anambra political amazons in no particular order who have made undeniable impacts in the nation’s political landscape;

  Dame Virgy Etiaba

Mama Anambra as she is fondly called everywhere she  goes is a woman who made an undeniable impact in Nigeria’s political landscape when she was sworn in as the first female governor in the Country.  A seasoned educationist and author, Mama Anambra has become a role model for Nigerian women having proved that women can be entrusted with sensitive leadership positions. She is the first female Deputy Governor in the South East and the first female Governor in Nigeria. As a philanthropist and educationist, she was chosen as the running mate of His Excellency, Mr. Peter Obi in 2003.

 

She was later sworn in as the Governor of Anambra State, making her the first female Governor in Nigeria following the impeachment of Governor Peter Obi. A several award winner, she has worn awards for Excellence and Professional Commitment to the uplightment of educational standard in the country.

Her awards and honors also include the Rotary International Awards for Excellent Vocational Services and Prime Motivator of Sickle Cell Programmes in the South East awarded her by the Orient Sickle Cell Foundation. She is also known as the Heroine of Democracy and Icon of Democracy. A mother of 6 and grandmother of 13, she is a Knight of St Mary.

Virgy is a trailblazer, team player, great motivator and detribalized role model for Nigerian women. Born in Nnewi, Anambra State, her motherly disposition towards her state has earned her the name Mama Anambra.

 Iyom Josephine Anenih mni

She hails from Amawbia but is married to Edo strong Chief Tony Anenih popularly referred to as ‘Mr. Fix It’.  She attended Queen’s College, Lagos and Universities of Ife and Benin where she bagged B.Ed and LL.B respectively. She was the chairperson of the Federation of Women Lawyers from 1994 to 2000 and was the first National Woman Leader of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and served as a Special Adviser on Women Affairs to President Obasanjo  and was on 6^th of  April, 2010 appointed Nigeria’s Minister of Women by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR. She is a member of the Gender Electoral and Constitutional Memoranda Committee, which aims to incorporate women’s perspectives in Nigeria’s Electoral Laws. She also took a bolder step when she ran for the PDP gubernatorial primaries in 2013 in Anambra. Iyom, no doubt is a force to reckon with politically.

 Senator Margery Okadigbo

Until her husband passed away, very little was seen or heard about her. She is the Senator representing Anambra North Senatorial Zone. The verbosity, pomp and carriage of the late Oyi of Oyi, may not be immediately noticeable, but underlining her words are the same intellectual grit, grace and grasp of issues that were characteristics of the late Senator Wilberforce Okadigbo, her husband.

In fact, the Onitsha born lawyer could easily be taken as the feminine illustration of the articulation, eloquence and grammatical fecundity of her late husband. She made history as the first woman to sit on the same seat as her husband in the Senate.

Her road to the National Assembly was rather rough as she was enmeshed in a series of fiery legal battles over who was the validly nominated Senatorial Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party which culminated at the Supreme Court where the apex court affirmed her election.

Hon. (Mrs.) Uche Lilian Ekwunife

A resilient and ambitious banker-turned politician. Iyom as she is fondly called by her teeming admirers is a two-term member of the House of Representatives for Anaocha/Njikoka/Dunukofia and was one of the gubernatorial aspirants during the last governorship election in Anambra State.

Hon. Lilian holds a Bachelor Degree in Accounting, a Masters in Business Administration and Honorary Doctorate in Philosophy from University of California.

This consummate politician who also had an impactful outing in 2010 Anambra gubernatorial outing under the platform of the Progressive People Alliance (PPA) came second in the 2013 Anambra gubernatorial primaries in APGA. 

 Senator Joy Emodi, CON

A seasoned educationist, lawyer, lawmaker, grassroots politician and a woman with a heart of gold. The Dame of the Senate whom the President of the Senate prefers to call, ‘the Joy of the Senate’ needs no introduction. She made history being the first Igbo woman to be elected a Senator in South-eastern Nigeria. During her glorious time in the Senate, she chaired the Education Committee where she brought her wealth of experience, tenacity and purposefulness to bear in the discharge of her duties.  It was therefore no surprise that Professor Michael Omolewa, the former Permanent Delegate/Ambassador of Nigeria to UNESCO described her as ‘radiating the passion and genuine commitment to pushing forward the education agenda for development’.

Adadioramma has a long chain of honours, awards and recognitions from various local and international organizations.   

 Hon. Princess Chinwe Nwaebili

She is the current Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly. She is fondly called Ada-Ugo by fellow honourable members. She bears about a dozen traditional titles, such as Ada di Igbo Mma 1 of Obosi; Ada Ugo of Ogbaru; Ugo eji eje mba of Abagana, Mmili oma Agulu, among others.
The accountant turned legislator represents Ogbaru 11 Constituency in the House and has been honoured with the African Legislative Excellence Award by the Centre for Economic and Leadership Development (CELD) in 2013. 

 Princess Stella Oduah OON

Born into the Royal home of Igwe D.O Oduahof Akili-Ozizor in Ogbaru L.G.A.,she bestrides the business and political landscape like a colossus and surprisingly conquering new frontiers in her quest for excellence and public good.
As a very dynamic personality with eye for the ‘bigger picture’ she left NNPC to establish Sea Petroleum & Gas Company in 1992 which she has nurtured to become a conglomerate of over 12 companies and a giant in the downstream Oil and Gas sub-sector of the economy.
Until very recently she was the Minister of Aviation and it is pertinent that during her stay in office he totally upgraded most of the nation’s airports to meet with international standards.
Also she is a recipient of the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON). She is today the sole sponsor of the Joe Life Foundation; a cluster of charitable efforts that are today affecting lives across Nigeria.

(To be continued)