. To be awarded Friday, Nov. 3
Uju Kennedy Ohaneye, Minister of Women’s Affairs, has emerged the winner of an online poll conducted by Ireland based newspaper, The Street Journal.
The energetic minister came tops in the poll which had four other ministers contending for the ‘Super Minister’ of the month award.
She polled 190,848 votes (45.74%) to emerge the clear winner with Senator Dave Umahi, a former governor of Ebonyi State, now Minister for Works, trailing closely behind by polling 171,137 votes (41.02%).
Other ministers who Kennedy contested against are Dr Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation who came a distant third. She polled 22,505 votes (5.39%).
Following closely is Dr Doris Uzoka Anete, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment of Nigeria who polled 11,518 votes (2.76%). Trailing behind the four is Bunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister for Interior who polled 21,204 votes (5.08%).
No doubt, Kennedy polled the highest number of votes for being the minister with the most drive since President Bola Tinubu inaugurated his cabinet and for demonstrating exemplary dedication to the cause of women and the girl child by ensuring that the rights of women and children are not trampled upon.
This can be seen in the way she swiftly tackled the case of the female one-chance victim who wasn’t given prompt medical attention at the Maitama General Hospital, Abuja, leading to her death.
She has also been seen to demonstrate humility and a listening ear, two virtues that have become very rare among government officials.
This she displayed when she unknowingly incurred the wrath of some civil groups over the manner she handled the issue of embattled Professor Cyril Ndifon who was suspended by the University of Calabar for repeatedly harassing female law student sexually. Kennedy wasted no time to offer her sincerest apology to those she may have offended.
For this and many more reasons, did she emerge winner of the poll.
The Street Journal will be honouring her at a televised event slated for Friday, November 3, at the ministry’s office complex in Abuja. She will be presented with an award as the Super Minister for the Month of October.
Reacting to the result of the poll, the publisher of The Street Journal newspaper, Mogaji Bowale Arisekola, congratulated the minister for emerging winner of the inaugural online poll which, he said, was put together as his own contribution to national development and as a means of spurring the ministers to be outstanding in their duties and not just remain sitting ducks.
“The poll is credible, cannot be manipulated or influenced. The poll has been designed in such a way that one cannot vote more than once, and one can see how the votes are cast. So, voters can be rest assured that their votes will count,” he said.
“Voting for this month will commence in two weeks, November 15, to be precise when the contending ministers will be unveiled,” he added.
