Josephine Anenih

Nigerian feminist and politician

Iyom Josephine Anenih

Federal Minister of Women Affairs
Incumbent
Assumed office 6 April 2010
Preceded by	Salamatu Hussaini Suleiman

Personal details
Born	(1948-07-06) 6 July 1948 (age 75) Sokoto, Nigeria
Political party	People's Democratic Party
Alma mater	University of Ife, University of Benin

Iyom Josephine Anenih (born 6 July 1948)^[1]^[2] is a Nigerian politician who was appointed Minister of Women Affairs on 6 April 2010, when Acting President Goodluck Jonathan announced his new cabinet.^[3]

Biography

Born in Sokoto in 1948, she moved frequently as her father, a civil servant with the Public Works Department, served postings in States all over Nigeria. She was born and into a Christian family. She completed her secondary education at Queen's College, Lagos.^[4] Studying Law, she received a B.Ed, LLB, and B.L. from the University of Ife (1974/75) and the University of Benin.

Her husband, Tony Anenih (1933–2018) was appointed Minister of Works in 1999 in President Olusegun Obasanjo's first cabinet.^[5]

She was the chairperson of the Federation of Women Lawyers from 1994 to 2000, and was the first National Woman Leader of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) from 1999 to 2005.^[3] In April 2002, she said that implementation of the Sharia legal system in Kano State had ensured the promotion of women's rights as dictated by Islam.^[6] She was a Special Adviser on Women Affairs to President Obasanjo until 2006.^[7]

She was one of the founder of the Women Foundation Nigeria (WFN), an organization that helps Nigerian women in exchanging views on global women's issues and to help empower women in politics. She is a member of the Gender Electoral and Constitutional Memoranda Committee, which aims to incorporate women's perspectives in Nigeria's Electoral Laws and reforms.^[8]

References

^ "ANENIH, Barr Josephine Nwogo". Nov 11, 2016. Retrieved Sep 8, 2020.
^ "Dad flogged me the day a visitor gave me a coin at Xmas – Josephine Anenih". onlinenigeria. Apr 4, 2010. Retrieved Sep 8, 2020.
^ ^a ^b "Ministers - the Profiles". ThisDay. 7 April 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-14.
^ Ayo-Lawal Gbenoba. "I was so tiny in school that my friends served punishments on my behalf - Josephine Anenih, Former PDP Woman Leader". Tribune. Archived from the original on 2011-07-24. Retrieved 2010-04-14.
^ "Profiles of ministerial nominees". Peoples Daily. Archived from the original on 2021-06-16. Retrieved 2010-04-14.
^ "Josephine Anenih Commends Sharia in Kano State". Daily Trust. 23 April 2002. Retrieved 2010-04-14.
^ Ademola Adeyemo (28 March 2010). "New Ministers - Would They Perform Miracles?". ThisDay. Retrieved 2010-04-14.
^ "Expert Profiles". The International Knowledge Network of Women in Politics. Archived from the original on 2010-02-26. Retrieved 2010-04-14.

Cabinet of President Goodluck Jonathan

The Cabinet of President Goodluck Jonathan which was formed during his time as Acting President, on 6 April 2010, is shown below. Ministers of State are not shown.

Agriculture