National Assembly: Female Parliamentarians Making Waves in the House of Reps (2)

National Assembly: Female Parliamentarians Making Waves in the House of Reps (2)

This is the concluding part of our focus on the women in the National Assembly as part of the inclusivity reporting mandate by the Nigerian Democratic Report (NDR) under the European Union support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EUSDGN 11) project under Component 4: Support to the media with the International Press Centre as lead

This is the concluding part of our focus on the women in the National Assembly as part of the inclusivity reporting mandate by the Nigerian Democratic Report (NDR) under the European Union support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EUSDGN 11) project under Component 4: Support to the media with the International Press Centre as lead partner.

The House of Representatives comprises 360 members, out of which there are only 16 female members. The All Progressives Congress (APC) has the highest number of female parliamentarians, which is nine. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has four members in the House while the Labour Party (LP), Young Progressives Party (YPP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) have a member each.

In the first part, we featured eight female parliamentarians, and in this concluding part, we are featuring the remaining eight female parliamentarians.

It will be recalled that the European Union (EU) Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Samuela Isopi, once stated that the active participation of women in decision-making and politics remains important if Nigeria is to achieve equality, sustainable development, peace, and democracy. She noted that while women have the fundamental right to participate in political life, most of them still face a lot of social, cultural, and financial challenges.

The NDR review of the women making waves in the National Assembly has shown that it was a herculean task for some of the women to be elected because of discrimination from society, even from within the political parties they belong. But despite the odds, a lot of these women have managed to break the glass ceiling.

Hon. Maureen Chinwe Gwacham

Hon. Maureen Chinwe Gwacham

Hon. Maureen Chinwe Gwacham represents Oyi/Ayamelum Federal Constituency of Anambra state on the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) platform and is the Vice Chairperson of the House Committee on Legislative Compliance.

Hon. Gwacham as a grassroots politician has touched the lives of her constituents through the drilling of a borehole at Awkuzu, renovation of a school at Nkwella – Ezuneka, paying monthly stipend to over 50 men and women, Empowering over 100 persons with N100,000 cash for SMEs.

She moved a motion on the need for the Federal Government through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Disaster Management Apparatus to as a matter of urgency come to the aid of victims of the recent floodings ravaging Ogbunike, Nteje, Umunya and other towns.

Hon. Gwacham also co-sponsored:” Re-Construction and Dualisation of Onitsha – Otuocha – Omasi – Omor to Adani and Otukpo border of Enugu and Benue state respectively. She presented a joint motion for the Dualisation and re-construction of the 100 km of Magazine junction, Onitsha – 33 Otuocha – Anaku – Omor -Omasi (Anambra state border) – Adani (Enugu state border) – Otukpo (Benue state border).

Hon. Beni Lar

Hon. Beni Lar is a ranking member of the House of Representatives, having been elected for a record fifth term. She represents Langtang North/Langtang South Federal Constituency of Plateau State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Hon. Beni LarHon. Beni Lar

Hon. Lar, daughter of the second Republic governor of Plateau State, Chief Solomon Lar has been in the House for 16 years. She is currently Chairperson of the House Committee on Science, Research Institutions with Modification.

She is the Chairman of the House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee on International Boundary Dispute between Cameroon and Nigeria and played a role in appealing to Nigeria’s Armed Forces to resolve the dispute. The Ad-Hoc Committee on International Boundary Dispute, also held a crucial public hearing in Calabar, Cross River state, to investigate the looming boundary dispute between Nigeria and Cameroon.

The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on International Boundary Dispute, also visited Yola to investigate moves to cede Sina Kamale Area in Michika local government area to Cameroon.

She has a passion for human rights, environmental issues, poverty alleviation, economy and research.

Hon. Zainab Gimba

Hon. Zainab Gimba represents Bama/Ngale/Kala – Balge Federal Constituency in Borno state and came to the House on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). She is a second-term member of the House of Representatives. She is a member of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and advocates for representation and maintenance of gender equality.

Before coming to the House, she was an academic and a Senior Lecturer at the University of Maiduguri. She has a PhD in Public Administration and Policy Analysis from the University of Maiduguri. she had served as the Hon. Commissioner Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Youth Empowerment in Borno state between 2011 and 2014. She also served as the Hon. Commissioner Borno State Universal Basic Education Board from 2014 to 2015. She was appointed as the Hon. Commissioner Ministry of Water Resources Borno State in 2015 and served till 2018.

The Borno state federal legislator is a grassroots politician who believes in the empowerment of her constituents. Hon. Gimba is empowering her constituents through irrigation farming, tailoring and mud brick making. She has a passion for people especially Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) by empowering them with water pumps and sewing machines.

She is the only female legislator from Borno State.

Hon. Prof Obiageli Lilian Orugbu

Hon (Prof) Lilian Orogbu was a professor of Business Administration at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka before she was elected to the 10th House of Representatives from Awka North/Awka South Federal Constituency on the ticket of Labour Party (LP). She is one of only 16 women elected to the House of Representatives representing Awka North/Awka South Federal Constituency of Anambra state. She is the House Committee Chairperson on Corporate Social Responsibility.

Hon. Obiageli Lilian Orugbu

The federal legislator who promised to champion the swift passage of the Corporate Social Responsibility Bill 2024, empowered 200 widows and youths providing them with essential skills and resources to establish small-scale businesses in a collaborative initiative between the Federal College of Horticulture and Norton Initiation Services Ltd.

The Corporate Social Responsibility Bill seeks to achieve a multi-faceted goal, aiming to ensure that corporations contribute to the development of their host communities, improve essential services like schools, healthcare and infrastructure, plug revenue loopholes track donations and strike a balance between business prosperity and community well-being.

She has pushed for the recommittal of the Bill to establish the Federal University of Agriculture at Awba Ofemili in Awka North, to accelerate its passage. The Bill was initiated by my predecessor, Hon. Chinedu Onwuaso in the 9th Assembly. She is a member of the Pan-African Parliament.

As part of her achievements, she undertook to purchase UTME forms and subsequent award of full scholarships for best-performing indigent students in Awka North and South Federal Constituency. “This is part of my little effort in promoting education and human capital development”, she said.

Hon. Nnabuife Chinwe Clara
Hon. Nnabuife Chinwe Clara

Hon. Nnabuife Chinwe Clara represents Orumba North/Orumba South on the platform of the Young Progressives Party (YPP)and is currently the Vice Chairperson of the House Committee on Monitoring and Evaluation of Legislative Agenda. She was one of the members who sponsored the bill on Constitution Review to commence the alteration of the 1999 constitution to create room for state policing.

A grassroots politician, Hon.Nnabuife popularly called “Adaejiejemba” established a multi-million eye care medical outreach for Ndi Orumba. She is one of the group of 50 parliamentarians who wrote requesting President Tinubu to consider a political solution and release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra.

Hon. Nnabuife showcased her capabilities at the 2024 UN – organised Global Conference of Women Parliamentarians held in Doha, Qatar. The primary focus of the Conference was to address terrorism, emphasizing the implementation of effective counter-terrorism measures.

Hon.Fatima Talba

Hon Fatima Talba

Hon. Fatima Talba represents the Nangere/Potiskum Federal Constituency in Yobe State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). She is the Chairperson of, the House Committee on Women in Parliament.

Hon. Talba was first elected to represent the good people of Nangere/Potiskum Federal Constituency 20 years ago and was in the House of Representatives between 2003 and 2007. She is one of the 23-member committee of the House of Representatives appointed to study the proposed restructuring of Federal Government agencies in line with the Stephen Oronsaye report.

She is passionate about women and youths in her Constituency.

Hon. Boma Goodhead

Hon. Boma Goodhead

Hon. Boma Goodhead represents Akuku-Toru/Asari-Toru Federal Constituency in Rivers State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Hon. Goodhead is the Chairperson of, the House Committee on Local Content. On 31 January 2024, Hon. Goodhead spearheaded a peaceful protest in Solidarity with Governor Siminalayi Fubara in conjunction with another member of the House.

She is passionate about the economic development of the country, environmental issues, poverty alleviation, People with Disabilities (PwDs), Women and Youth.

Hon. Marie Enenimiete Ebikake
Hon. Marie Enenimiete Ebikake represents Brass/Nembe Federal Constituency in Bayelsa state. A former Brass Local Government Council Chairperson and former Commissioner for Transport in the government of Governor Seriake Dickson was elected to the House of Representatives on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Hon. Marie Enenimiete Ebikake

Hon. Ebikake is a member of the Bayelsa Elders Council and has promised to provide equitable, fair and effective representation for her Constituency. Marie Enenimiete Ebikake kicked off her political career when she was elected Chairman of Brass local Government area of Bayelsa State and the only female to have won such contest in the state. She was appointed Commissioner for Transport and later Commissional for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

She promised to contribute to law-making that will address the empowerment challenges of her constituents.

All the female parliamentarians in the House of Representatives have demonstrated unparalleled zeal in their legislative duties and good governance and are ready to champion the aspirations of their constituents.

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