Since President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet ministers were sworn in, many anticipate their innovations. With the largest ministerial team in this democratic era, we focus on the youngest minister members, under 45
Betta Edu
Betta Edu, a doctor and politician, serves as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. She’s Cross River State’s first female minister and Nigeria’s youngest minister, set to turn 37 on October 27, 2023.
Her political journey began in 2015 when she became the youngest Special Adviser to Governor Benedict Ayade, focusing on Community and Primary Healthcare. In 2019, she became the Commissioner for Health in the state.
In March 2022, Edu became the youngest National Women Leader of the All Progressives Congress. She chaired the Cross River State COVID-19 Taskforce in 2020 and was later appointed as the National Chairman of the Nigeria Health Commissioners Forum.
She’s dedicated to improving women and children’s health, renovating and equipping primary health facilities in Cross River.
Edu holds multiple degrees, including a Bachelor’s in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Calabar, a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, a Master’s in Public Health in Developing Countries, and a Doctorate of Public Health.
She’s a Fellow of the Royal School of Public Health and the African Institute of Public Health Professionals. In July 2023, she received the Award of Excellence in Leadership for Gender Inclusion and Women Empowerment from the Federal Government.
Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo
Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, a 41-year-old engineer, entrepreneur, and politician, serves as the Minister of Interior. he represented Ondo State’s Akoko North East/Akoko North West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives from 2019 to 2023. Born on May 1, 1982.
Fondly known as BTO, he chaired the House Committee on the Niger Delta Development Commission. Re-elected for a second term, he resigned after his appointment by President Bola Tinubu on August 16, 2023.
During his time in the House of Representatives, Tunji-Ojo brought infrastructural development and empowerment programs to his constituency. He led a historic probe into the alleged mismanagement of over N80bn in the NDDC.
BTO became CEO of Matrix IT Solutions Limited at 24, consulted for the World Bank, government agencies, and worked with Nigeria Gas Company and more.
He holds a Bachelor’s in Electronics and Communication Engineering from the University of North London, graduating in 2005, and a Master’s in Digital Communication and Networking from the same institution. He also holds 18 ICT certifications, including certified ethical hacker training.
Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim
Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Nigeria’s first female Minister of State for Police Affairs, is a successful businesswoman and politician. Born on April 19, 1980.
She previously served as a special adviser on strategic communication to the Minister of State for Education and as a member of the Nasarawa State Economic Advisory Council.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim’s public service includes being the Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and later the Federal Commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI). During her time at NAPTIP, she expanded the agency’s reach, investigated cases, rescued victims, and achieved convictions.
At NCFRMI, she initiated projects like ‘Project Educate All’ and ‘Project Skill Up’ to provide education and skills training for displaced persons. She also launched programs such as ‘Project Total Health,’ ‘Project Zero Hunger,’ ‘Project Light Up,’ and ‘Project Resettlement Cities’ to aid reintegration, rehabilitation, and self-reliance.
Imaan holds a degree in Sociology from the University of Abuja, as well as MBA and MA in Management degrees from Webster University, USA. She’s a Fellow of the Security Institute and pursuing a Doctoral Security and Strategic Studies program at the Nigeria Defence Academy.
Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim is also the Co-Founder and President of The Beehive Initiative (now BumbleeBee Civic Initiative), which mentors and supports politically inclined women and promotes grassroots civic awareness.
She previously held the role of Senior Sales Director at Mary Kay, a cosmetics and skincare company. Imaan is married and has three children.
Hannatu Musa-Musawa
Hannatu Musa-Musawa, the Minister of Art, Culture, and Creative Economy, played key roles within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the lead-up to the 2023 presidential election. She served as the secretary of the presidential aspirants’ screening committee and held positions in the APC Presidential Campaign Council, including deputy spokesperson and deputy director of public affairs. She also served as the Secretary General of the Katsina Campaign Council.
In June 2023, shortly after President Tinubu’s inauguration, Musawa was appointed as his Special Adviser on Culture and Entertainment Economy.
She holds a Law degree from the University of Buckingham, UK, and Master’s degrees in Legal Aspects of Marine Affairs from the University of Cardiff, Wales, and in Oil and Gas Law from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland.
Musawa is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and has worked as a litigation lawyer and legal advisor to private companies. She established her firm, Hanney Musawa and Associates.
Her involvement in politics dates back to the 2003 and 2007 general elections. She was part of the legal team for the 2003 Presidential Election Petition between Muhammadu Buhari and Olusegun Obasanjo. In 2011, she contested a seat in the House of Representatives.
Hailing from Katsina State, Musawa is the daughter of the late politician, Musa Musawa.
Shuaibu Audu
Shuaibu Audu, the Minister of Steel Development, is an investment banker and politician. He is the son of the late Abubakar Audu, Kogi State’s first civilian governor from 1992 to 1993. Born on November 6, 1980.
Before his ministerial appointment, he vied for the gubernatorial ticket in Kogi State but lost in the April 2023 primary elections to Ahmed Ododo.
Before entering politics, he served as the CEO of Stanbic IBTC Investment and had a 20-year career in banking.
Audu holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Economics from the University of Leicester, UK (2001), a Master’s degree in International Securities, Investment, and Banking from Henley Business School, University of Reading, and another Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Oxford, UK (2013).
He is married and has children.
Joseph Utsev
He’s an academic, politician, philanthropist, entrepreneur, and administrator. Utsev served as Deputy Director and later Director in the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development at the Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi. He facilitated the establishment of seven workshops, benefiting student entrepreneurship training and generating revenue for the institution.
In 2017, Utsev became the Benue State Commissioner for Water Resources and Environment, contributing to the Idye Basin Phase II drainage project’s design and construction, supported by the Federal Government.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari appointed him as the Executive Director of Engineering, Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority Makurdi in 2020. During his tenure, he supervised the construction of dams, bridges, roads, boreholes, and drainage systems.
Utsev holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering from the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi (2004). He earned a Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering and a Doctorate in Water Resources from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Doris Uzoka-Anite
As the Group Treasurer at Zenith Bank, she managed foreign exchange trades exceeding $4 billion and supervised transactions worth N10 trillion. Her outstanding performance earned her numerous awards for her efficiency, contributing to a 200% increase in the bank’s profits in just two years and boosting its position in the financial market.
As Imo State’s Commissioner of Finance, she significantly improved revenue generation by implementing advanced tax administration systems and leveraging technology for efficiency and transparency. Her contributions extended to education, talent management, and technology, promoting educational technology and leading successful World Bank-funded projects.
Uzoka-Anite holds a degree in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Benin and double MBAs from the London School of Economics and New York University Stern School of Business. She’s certified in Fintech, Algorithmic Trading, Advanced Risk, Portfolio Management, and has undergone training at prestigious institutions like Goldman Sachs, Citibank, and the London Academy of Trading. She is also a certified financial analyst.
She is a member of CFA Society Global, the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Banking, Institute of Credit Administration, and Corporate Administration of Nigeria. She’s also a member of the Federal Accountability and Allocation and Financial Market Dealers Association of Nigerian Banks.
Awaiting Swear-in
Jamila Bio Ibrahim
Born on February 7, 1986, Jamila Jummai Bio Ibrahim’s father, Ibrahim Isa Bio, was a former Nigerian minister. She attended NEPA Staff School in New-Busse, Borgu LGA, Niger state, and then Federal Government Girls’ College, Bwari, Abuja. She graduated in 2002.
In 2010, she earned a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (M.B.B.S) from the University of Ilorin, followed by a six-month course on health management and leadership at the University of Washington.
In 2017, she founded the Yon Seno Foundation, an NGO, and became a member of the think-tank of the national policy summit. She volunteered for the presidential committee on the north-east initiative (PCNI) for two years, assessing health facilities in Maiduguri and serving on the subcommittee on health, women’s affairs, population, and environment.
In 2019, she was appointed the senior special assistant to the governor on sustainable development goals (SDGs) in Kwara. She also served as Kwara’s focal person for the National Human Capital Development Programme and AUDA-NEPAD. She was involved in the Kwara state “tractorisation” program and became the national vice president of the All Progressives Congress Young Women Forum (APC-PYWF) in June 2021.
For the 2023 elections, she joined the APC presidential campaign committee on sustainable development.
Jamila Ibrahim is passionate about polo and serves as a non-executive director of the Emirates Equestrian Club in Ilorin.
Ayodele Olawande
Olawande is an experienced grassroots youth leader in politics, having previously worked in the office of Ife Adebayo, special assistant on innovation to former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.
He attended Christ School, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti state, for secondary education and later studied at the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti. Olawande pursued higher education at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo state.
After a period in business ventures, he ventured into politics, founding the Action Youth Movement (AYM) and serving as the ICT director for Ondo APC.
Olawande currently serves as the coordinator of the All Progressive Youth Forum (APYF) in Ondo and holds a general administrative role at The Way Project.
