Ebonyi Gets First Female SSG

EBONYI State governor, Francis Nwifuru has appointed Grace Umezurike as Secretary to the State Government (SSG).

Umezurike is the first female to be so appointed in the state.

In a statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary (CPS) Monday Uzor on Friday, 9 June, Nwifuru said the appointment would take immediate effect.

The new SSG will be sworn in on Tuesday, 13 June. 

Umezuruike is a professor of Philosophy and Religion at Ebonyi State University, Abakiliki.

She is the wife of David Umezurike, the former Commissioner for Health in the immediate past administration.

Although, Nigeria has a National Gender Policy (NGP), female representation in top political offices is still unimpressive.

The NGP was introduced to enhance women’s representation in governance and recommends that women fill up 35 per cent of appointive positions in the country for more inclusion in political, economic and social areas of decision-making.

It was also described by the immediate past president of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari as a road map for promoting the rights and equality of females, which would be implemented under his administration to hasten the mainstreaming of women.

The 35 per cent affirmative action was not implemented under Buhari and is yet to be achieved across the country.

However, Ebonyi State also got its first female deputy governor Patricia Obila following the 2023 governorship elections.

Obila was a two-term vice-chairman of Afikpo North Local Government Area (LGA) before she was selected as running mate by the governor. 

Source: The International Centre for Investigative Reporting (The ICIR)

Eighteen-Eleven Media