NIGERIA: NAMES OF INFLUENTIAL WOMEN

UNCLAS ABUJA 000177 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR S/WE SASHA MEHRA, GERDA LANE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM PINR KWMN NI SUBJECT: NIGERIA: NAMES OF INFLUENTIAL WOMEN REF: STATE 202341 ¶1. Per reftel request, names follow of the six most influential women in Nigerian government and civil society. ¶2. PROFESSOR DORA AKUNYILI: Director General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). Ms. Akunyili, Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, is responsible for ensuring the safety and authenticity of prescription drugs and food items and has received several local and international awards for her work. She is considered a hero of sorts for her work fighting pirated medications. "Dr. Dora," as she is often called, is reportedly motivated in her fight by personal tragedy. Dr. Akunyili's younger sister reportedly died after taking a fake drug that was marketed as insulin. Contact information: National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Plot 2032, Olusegun Obasanjo Way, Zone 7, Wuse District, Abuja, FCT. Tel.: 234-9-524-0995/6, 524-1109. Mobile: 234-803-311-2282. ¶3. MRS. ESTHER NENADI USMAN: Honorable Minister of Finance. Mrs. Usman, current head of President Obasanjo's reform-focused Economic Team, hails from Kaduna State where she previously held several portfolios as State Cabinet member. Contact information: Ministry of Finance, Finance Building, Ahmadu Bello Way, Central Area, Abuja, FCT. Tel.: 234-9-234-6930, 234-0936. ¶4. MRS. OBIAGELI EZEKWESILI: Honorable Minister of Education. Mrs. Ezekwesili, a chartered accountant and management consultant by trade, has been instrumental in introducing effectiveness and transparency into government and nicknamed "Madame Due Process." She is regarded as President Obasanjo's last ditch effort to make good on his long-standing promise to reform the faltering education sector. Moreover, she is often cited by press and other contacts as being part of internal Villa deliberations with President Obasanjo on a full range of policy matters. She previously served as Minister of Solid Minerals. Contact information: New Federal Secretariat, Phase III, 1st Floor, Shehu Shagari Way, Maitama District, Abuja, FCT. Tel.: 234-9-523-0720, 523-7839. ¶5. JUSTICE ALOMA MARIAM MUKHTAR: Justice, Supreme Court of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Justice Mukhtar, the first female appointed to the position of Supreme Court Justice, also was the first female Judge of the High Court of Kano State. Contact information: Supreme Court of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Three Arms Zone, P.M.B. 308, Garki District, Abuja, FCT. Tel.: 234-9-670-1344. ¶6. MRS. NDI OKEREKE-ONYUIKE: Director General, Nigerian Stock Exchange. Mrs. Okereke-Onyuike serves as both head of the Nigerian Stock Exchange and Chairperson of Transcorp, which purchased the leading Nigerian telecommunications giant NITEL and the Hilton Hotel, Abuja. President Obasanjo holds significant shares in Transcorp. She is viewed as one of Nigeria's most prominent and influential women. Contact information: Stock Exchange House, (8th, 9th, and 11th Floors),2/4 Customs Street, P.O. Box 2457, Lagos. Tel.: 234-1-266-0287. Fax: 234-1-266-8724, 234-1-266-8281. ¶7. DR. JOY OGWU: Honorable Minister of Foreign Affairs. Dr. Ogwu, an University of Ibadan-trained Political Scientist, was selected by former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan to serve as Chair of the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR). She previously served as the Director General of the Nigerian Institute for International Affairs (NIIA),one of Nigeria's premier public sector foreign policy think tanks. Contact information: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maputo Street, off Abidjan Street, Zone 3, P.M.B. 130, Wuse District, Abuja, FCT. Tel.: 234-9-523-0185/9, 523-4467. Fax: 234-9-523-4467, 523-0361. ¶8. Embassy's point of contact for women's issues is Rabia Qureshi, who can be reached at QureshiRY@state.gov and 234-9-461-4225. CAMPBELL