Posted by LERE OJEDOKUN, ERASMUS ALANEME, Abuja on
PRESIDENT Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday scored women holding top government positions high in the fight against corruption, saying they had done better than their male counterparts.
•Says Obasanjo, swears-in new Education Minister
PRESIDENT Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday scored women holding top government positions high in the fight against corruption, saying they had done better than their male counterparts.
The president who spoke at the swearing-in of Mrs Chinwe Nora Obaji as new Minister of Education in Abuja was optimistic that she would also live up to expectation.
"Normally, women are a little bit better in the area of (anti) corruption. And I believe that by virtue of your experience and standing, you will be part of the foot soldiers that will fight corruption," Obasanjo said.
Fifty-four-year-old Mrs Obaji, who took the oaths of office, allegiance and secrecy before President Olusegun Obasanjo, was promptly assigned the substantive Minister of Education.
She replaced the former Minister Prof. Fabian Osuji, also from Imo State, who was sacked last February by the president for allegedly facilitating the N55 million bribe to some members of the National Assembly in order to get the ministry's budget approved by the legislators.
The brief but impressive swearing-in ceremony which took place at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) Chambers, Presidential Villa, Abuja, was witnessed by Vice president Atiku Abubakar, Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Ufot Ekaette Ministers, Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HOSF), Alhaji Yayale Ahmed and top presidency aides.
Commending her impressive credentials, the President pointed out that Mrs Obaji could stand out even where others have failed.
President Obasanjo added that the new minister, when asked which ministry she would like to be assigned, chose Agriculture and Housing as first and second respectively, but he had to give her the education ministry.
"Let me on behalf of all of us welcome you to the council of Ministers. When this morning I briefly met you, which normally I do not do, I said to you, "if I say everything is open, what ministry would you like to go? You did say ‘Ministry of Agriculture' because your training and practice is agriculture.
"But as a minister what really matters is general experience and character. It may interest you for me to say there is no vacancy in the Ministry of Agriculture. Then you mentioned Ministry of Housing. I asked you ‘why this choice?' and you said with the policy of providing accommodation for Nigerians, you believe you can do something in this light.
"I did quickly correct your idea of government housing policy which is to provide conducive environment for the private sector to be the main provider. In your third choice of Ministry of Education, you did say that you are apprehensive of going to the Education Ministry. But what happened to your predecessor when you get there may not necessarily get to you because you do not have to lobby anybody to get your projects approved.
"As you will see as we go along, there is really no magic other than the interest of Nigeria and the policy of government being honestly and sincerely implemented.
Mrs Obaji formally resumed duties at exactly 1.41 pm, few minutes after she was sworn in by the president.
She drove into the Ministry's headquarters located at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja in company of the Minister of State for Education, Hajja Bintu Ibrahim - Musa, Clading in local fabric with black handbag and black shoe to match.
As part of her first duty, the new Minister met with the Minister of State and the acting permanent secretary of the ministry, Alhaji A. Gulma who is the director of finance and account.
Born on January 19, 1951, at Mgbidi, Imo State, Mrs Obaji attended various primary schools in the old Eastern Region between 1957 and 1962 after which she was admitted to Queen's College, Lagos, in 1963 but had to leave in 1966 due to the civil war (1967 - 70).
She completed her secondary education at Owerri Girls Secondary School and later Queen's School, Enugu, where she obtained Grade One in the West African School Certificate Examination (WASCE) in 1979.
In 1971, Obaji entered the University of Nigeria, Nzukka (UNN) where she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science. She also obtained a Master of Science in Animal Nutrition from the Federal University of Technology (FUTO) Owerri in 1996.
Mrs Obaji did her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme at the Plateau State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources between 1975 and 1976 and later worked with the state government until 1976.
She also worked briefly in Imo State as a farm manager before moving to Michael Opara College of Agriculture, Umuagwo in 1980 where she served variously as lecture; head of department of animal production; director, School of Animal Production and Fisheries; and member, governing council.
She was until her new appointment a resource person for the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) accreditation team.
She is a member, Nigerian Farmers Association, Nigerian Association of Animal Scientists and World Poultry Association