Council of Traditional Rulers Writes Tinubu, Requests Recall of Kennedy-Ohanenye as Minister

The National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria has asked President Bola Tinubu to re-engage former Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, citing her record in office and capacity to support ongoing government programmes.

In a recommendation dated March 24, 2026, the Council described Kennedy-Ohanenye as a committed public servant whose contributions align with the administration’s policy direction.

The document was signed by the Etsu Nupe and Chairman of the Council’s Coordinating Committee, Yahaya Abubakar. It noted that her performance during her tenure from 2023 to 2025 justifies consideration for a continued role.

According to the Council, her leadership shifted the Ministry of Women Affairs from a largely seminar-driven model to programmes focused on direct support for women and children, particularly at the grassroots level.

The traditional rulers pointed to several initiatives introduced during her time in office. These include the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Mobile Court, which they said improved response to abuse cases through faster judicial processes.

They also referenced the “Integrity Brigade,” an initiative designed to address sexual harassment in tertiary institutions by fostering collaboration between students and school authorities.

The Council further credited her engagement with traditional institutions for progress in efforts to end female genital mutilation in multiple communities across the country.

In addition, it highlighted the distribution of point-of-sale (POS) machines nationwide, which it said expanded financial access for rural women and supported small-scale economic activity.

The Council maintained that Kennedy-Ohanenye’s experience in community engagement and social programmes positions her to contribute to current efforts in public awareness and economic inclusion.