“There cannot be true democracy
unless women’s voices are heard” Hillary Rodham Clinton
Like In many African countries, political participation has been an exclusive preserve of the men folk.
However, with the impact of globalization in the sphere of information and communication, Nigeria can be said to have gone through a renaissance. More than ever, women are now actively participating in politics.
In no particular order, here are 10 influential women in Nigerian politics in 2015.
1. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari
One of Nigeria's most beautiful first ladies, Aisha Buhari is a consummate politician and an advocate of
Women and Girl-child education.
Aisha Buhari has shown her political sagacity on many occasions by helping women politicians raise funds for campaigns.
2. Oluremi Tinubu:
Two-term Senator for the Lagos Central senatorial district under the
Platform of Action Congress of Nigeria(ACN).
The former first lady of Lagos State has been honoured both locally and internationally in recognition of her achievements and contributions to societal development.
3. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Okonjo-Iweala served two-terms as Nigeria’s finance minister under ex presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan.
The former Managing Director of The World Bank Group was listed 33rd in the world’s 50 greatest leaders (2015) by the American magazine, Fortune.
4. Diezani Alison-Madueke
Nigeria’s immediate past Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke was one of the most
influential officials of the President Goodluck Jonathan's administration.
Diezani Alison-Madueke was always caught up in one controversy or
another. However, she is Nigeria’s first female Oil Minister, the first female OPEC president and also the first woman to be elected President of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF). She is certainly not a neophyte in oil politics.
5. Hon. Binta Masi Garba
Binta Masi Garba is the first politician to be elected for three consecutive terms in the House of Representatives from two different states, Kaduna (1999-2007) and Adamawa (2007-11).
She demonstrated her political acumen when she emerged the first and only female state party chairman shortly after the merger of the opposition parties that eventually gave birth to the APC.
To her credit, she defeated the incumbent governor Bala James Ngilari, who contested against her in the Adamawa north senatorial election, thus becoming the only female senator-elect from the entire 19 northern states in the 2015 general election.
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