Women’s political participation in Nigeria is unprecedented. Nigerian women who have made their mark in politics and industry and amassed fortune deserve recognition.
These powerful women have overcome gender hurdles to succeed in politics and business, and they have helped Nigeria progress and inspired aspiring female leaders.
This article will profile wealthy Nigerian women politicians.
Oluremi Tinubu
Oluremi Tinubu, the wife of Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, has been a senator representing Lagos Central since 2011 and is the longest-serving senator from Lagos State with three terms. She has contributed to Nigerian politics despite her husband’s wealth.
She became the first lady of Lagos State after her husband, Bola Tinubu, was elected governor, and she became a senator representing Lagos Central. Oluremi was one of nearly 100 8th assembly senators elected in 2015. Six women. She was nominated for the 2019 Eko Excellence Awards alongside Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Tony Elumelu, and other notables.
Oluremi Tinubu’s story illustrates Nigeria’s politics-wealth nexus. She’s one of Nigeria’s most successful women politicians, and her success and wealth demonstrate Nigerian women’s political potential.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
One of the wealthiest Nigerian women politicians, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, is noted for her economics, financial acumen, and political engagement. Finance and international institution work made Okonjo-Iweala wealthy.
She led many reforms and shaped Nigeria’s economic policies as Minister of Finance. Her banking job and worldwide organisation leadership made her wealthy. Ngozi Okonjo-contributions Iweala’s to Nigerian politics and global economics have earned her acclaim, much beyond financial success.
Okonjo-Iweala has been named one of the 50 Greatest Global Leaders, the Top 100 Most Important Persons, and the Top 100 Most Powerful Women. She is the first woman and African to manage the World Trade Organization.
Binta Masi Garba
Nigerian politician, businesswoman, and administrator Binta Masi Garba. She was the first lawmaker to represent two Federals in 2009.
After working as an ad officer for New Nigeria Newspapers, Garba entered politics in 1998 in Kaduna. She became a feminist after being denied a promotion owing to gender inequity. She then ran for the Federal House of Representatives Kaduna South Federal Constituency.
Cameroon’s first Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) Vice President was her. She is the only female Senator-Elect in all 19 Northern States of Nigeria in 2015 and the only female delegate from Adamawa State to the National Conference in Abuja.
Abike Dabiri
Abike Kafayat Oluwatoyin Dabiri-Erewa, former Lagos State Federal House of Representatives member from Ikorodu Constituency. She chaired the House Committee on Media & Publicity and the Diaspora Affairs Committee.
Abike Dabiri, named Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora in 2015, became Chairman/CEO of Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission in 2018. Nigeria’s Diaspora Commission Chairman/CEO is her.
Oby Ezekwesili
Nigerian politician, economist, humanitarian, and activist Obiageli Ezekwesili. She co-founded and directed Transparency International and was vice president for Africa at the World Bank. She founded FixPolitics Initiative, the School of Politics Policy and Governance (SPPG), and Human Capital Africa as Nigeria’s two-time Federal Minister of Solid Minerals and later Minister of Education.
Anambra-born Ezekwesili is a chartered accountant, public analyst, and senior economic counsellor. She was the World Bank’s Africa region vice president and a senior fellow at YALE Jackson School of Global Affairs.
