In Enugu, women are occupying top positions in the government. It is one of the few states in Nigeria that has a female Deputy Governor as of 2021, some would say she is just a rubber stamp and that is their own point of view. She is the second citizen of the state and it counts for something, if not a lot.
But when compared with Anambra State, Enugu State might look like child’s play. Here is our list of the top female politicians in Enugu State in no particular order.
Cecilia Ezeilo
Her excellency, Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo made history as the first female Deputy Governor of Enugu state in 2015. She is the fore testament that women are really breaking the doors in politics.
Cecilia Ezeilo is a lawyer by profession. Before her emergence in the world of politics, she worked in the Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS) as a program producer and presenter. Lolo Cecilia Ezeilo was married to Igwe Barr.
Malachy Ezeilo (Ezeanyanwu), was the Traditional Ruler of Ozom Aguobu Owa in Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State and a one-time Commissioner for Works and Housing in the old Anambra State and Chairman Rural Electrification Board under Governor Chief Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo. It is said she rose to fame on the back of her late husband’s reputation.
She joined active politics in 2011, following her election into the Enugu State House of Assembly as a member representing Ezeagu Constituency. While serving as a member of the house, Lolo Cecilia was not just a floor member, she was the Deputy Chief Whip and House Committee Chairman on Judiciary, Ethics, and Privilege where she made an impact and effected positive changes.
She adopted the Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanism (ADRM) as a faster and better means of resolving public disputes arising from numerous public petitions sent to her committee.
Lolo Cecilia Ezeilo was re-elected for a second term as a member representing her constituency as a result of her efficiency and performance. Shortly after her re-election, the Honorable was handpicked by Rt. Hon Ifeanyichukwu Ugwuanyi as a running mate for the 2015 Governorship election.
She has been described by the Governor as a Gift to the people of Enugu State. Her Excellency is dedicated to her motto, which says that “what so ever you wish that men do for you, do so unto them, for the seed you sow you shall reap” a philosophy that has portrayed her as the human face of administration acting as a mother and a woman.
Peace Uzoamaka Nnaji
Peace Uzoamaka Nnaji the current Commissioner for Gender Affairs and Social Development in Enugu State is one of the notable female politicians in Enugu State.
Her first political outing was in 2007 when she was elected to the Nigerian House of Representatives as a member representing Nkanu East/Nkanu West. She was one of 11 women elected in 2007 who was re-elected in 2011 when the house of representatives was majorly comprised of males.
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Vanguard listed Nnaji amongst the “Women who will shape the Seventh National Assembly” where she explained how she wants to exploit her legislative experience to attract more projects to her constituency and [shape] events in the House”
After her second term in office, she was appointed by the His Excellency Ifeanyichukwu Ugwuanyi as the Commissioner for Gender Affairs and Social Development for Enugu State.
Peace Uzoamaka Nnaji was born on 28 December 1952 in Enugu State, she had her Diploma in Social Work from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka
Top Five Female Politicians In Anambra State
Stella Ngwu
Rt. Hon. Stella Ngwu is one of the veteran female politicians in Enugu State.
An indigene of Ukehe, Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area of Enugu State, Hon Stella Uchenna Obiageli Ngwu was born on July 9th, 1958.
In 2011, under the umbrella of the People’s Democratic Party, Stella was elected into the House of Representatives to represent Igbo-Etiti/Uzo-Uwani Constituency. In 2015, she secured the ticket for a second term and won the seat in the House of Representatives.
In October 2016 she was sacked by the Federal Court in Abuja following a pre-suit that queried the process that led to her emergence as winner of the primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, conducted in the state in December 2014.
In re-election that was held in 2017, Hon. Stella valiantly reclaimed her seat.
While she was serving, her legislative interests include Youth & Women Empowerment, and Child & Women Rights. She is also a member of the Women Affairs and Social Development.
Jane Eneh
Hon. Jane Eneh has moved through the ranks to become the Chief Whip of the Enugu State House of Assembly.
Hon. Jane Eneh is an indigene of Agbudu in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State. She holds a B.Ed in Accounting Education from Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT).
She is a teacher and passionate politician dedicated to her people, Eneh stands as one of the most courageous and ambitious female politicians in Enugu State. Before she became active in politics, she started as a Personal Assistant to the Chairman, Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board (ENSUBEB), she rose to become the Woman Leader of the Enugu West PDP Senatorial Zone.
Her zeal and passion saw her rise to become Commissioner, Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC), and subsequently to the position of Acting Chairman of the Commission.
In a unanimous vote in the 2015 elections, Hon. Eneh emerged as the Representative of the Awgu North Constituency in the State House of Assembly.
Due to Hon. Eneh’s boldness and fearlessness, she was re-elected for a second term in office and also emerged as Chief Whip of the State House of Assembly, Enugu in 2019.
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Hon. Jane Eneh co-sponsored a motion on the floor of the House calling on the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, to intensify security to curtail the incessant kidnapping and gruesome killings of Ndi Enugu by herdsmen.
Ethel Oyibo Ugwuanyi
Ethel Oyibo Ugwuanyi has been on the political scene for a long time now. She has gradually stepped up the ladder over the years, Hon. Ugwuanyi served as the Ward Organizing Secretary PDP Umuozzi IV in 1999, Female Ward Coordinator PDP 1999-2002, Member State Executive PDP, Enugu 2002-2004, Supervisor for Health Igbo Eze North East Dev. Council 2004-2005, Vice-Chairman Igbo Eze North East Dev. Council 2006-2007, Board Member United Palm Produce Ltd. 2009-Date, State Woman Leader, Rebuild Nigeria Initiative 2012.
In 2015, she was elected as a member representing Igboeze North I constituency Representative at the State Legislature. During her first tenure, she was appointed the deputy Chief Whip Enugu State House of Assembly 2015, Chairman House Committee on Transport Enugu State House of Assembly 2015.
In 2019, her constituency re-elected her position as she retains her position as the Chief Whip in the State House.
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