Tinubu’s ministerial nominees under 40

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday sent the long-awaited ministerial list to the Senate with some expected and surprise names making the cut.

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, read the names of the nominees on the floor of the Senate during Thursday’s plenary.

However, a critical look at the list of the 28 nominees showed that there were two women under the age of 40.

The women are Stella Okotete, the Executive Director, Business Development, Nigeria Export-Import (NEXIM) Bank and Dr Betta Edu, the National Women Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Stella Okotete

Okotete, who hails from Ekrerhavwen-Agbarho community in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, was born on April 20,1984.

She attended Federal Government Girls College, Benin City, Edo State, where she obtained her Senior Secondary School Certificate in 2000.

She proceeded to Rivers State College of Art and Science, Rumuola, Port Harcourt, where she obtained a Diploma in Law in 2002. Okotete also attended Benson Idahosa University, Benin City, where she bagged a Bachelor of Art in International Studies and Diplomacy in 2006 and a Certificate, Emerging Leaders from Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Boston, USA, in 2012. She has a Master’s degree in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution from National Open University of Nigeria and presently pursuing a Master’s degree in Public Administration.

Okotete is a Fellow, Institute of Corporate Administration (FICAD); Fellow, Institute of Management Consultant (IMC); Fellow, Institute of Chartered Economist of Nigeria (ICEN); Honorary Senior Member, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) and Member, Institute of Directors (IoD).

Her career is characterised by a rich blend of experience in both public and private sectors. She served as Councillor in Ughelli North Local Government from 2008 to 2011, and was the Chairman, House Committee on Education. Okotete also served as Special Adviser, Directorate Millennium Development Goals to former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State between November 2011 and May 2015.

She was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari as the Executive Director, Business Development, Nigeria Export-Import, (NEXIM) Bank on April 10, 2017. Her appointment was renewed for another five years in 2022.

She served as women representative on the APC Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee and APC National Presidential Convention Committee; Member, APC National Convention Planning Committee; Member, APC Women and Youth Presidential Campaign Team and Member of the women mobilisation of the APC Presidential Campaign Council among others. Okotete was also a member of President Bola Tinubu’s Presidential Transition Committee.