Minister of Women Affairs & Social Development
In the divine, mysterious business of life, some are born to bless others and in a bid to fulfill that divine mandate, they go to any level, defying all the odds and denying themselves of certain pleasures of life in the process. Perhaps, Hajia Zainab Abu Maina, MFR, the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development is one of such people.
The amiable and politically savvy Hajia Maina was born on the 7th day of August , 1948 in Niger State, but hails from Mubi North of Adamawa State.
By dint of hardwork, she rose to the height of political relevance as the only female member of the PDP Board of Trustees and a strong voice to reckon with in the political emancipation of the Nigerian women, a cause she has championed since youth.
Hajia Zainab, a teacher by training and profession is known for her versatile nature. She has held various positions of influence and made scores of political achievements. They include: Executive Secretary, Adamawa State Women Commission in 1994 to 1997; National President of the famous National Council for Women Societies (NCWS), Nigeria between 1997 and 2001; She was international Converner, Home Economics and Consumer Affairs International Council for Women (ICW), Bangkok, Thailand in 1993; Executive Director, Women Affair (Jonathan/Sambo Presidential Campaign Council) and currently a key serving member of PDP Board of Trustees and a member of PDP Elders’ Committee.
Her commitment to womanhood got her to be the Founder/President Women for Peace Initiative (WOPI), Nigeria, a platform found an expression in the International Non-Governmental Oganisation(INOG)London, UK for which she is an Ambassador. She is also member, West African Civil Society Forum (WACSOF)as well as World Association of NGOs (WANGO) of Trustees Member, Women in Logistics and Transport (WILAT-Nigeria).
Her achievement today as the only nation’s Minister of Women Affairs with a grip of her ministry as typified by more number of women in appointive and elective positions as well as large budgetary vote under President Goodluck Jonathan, is a testimony of good and effective exposure through conferences and sound educational background as well as tenacity of purpose and hunger for legacy. All these are wonderful variables for good leadership which she delivers today. She has attended Conference on End of the Decade for Women, Nairobi, Kenya, in 1995 and Forth World Conference on Women, Beijing, China in 1995. She is a product of Kaduna Polytechnic where she got an HND on Public Administration and post-graduate degree on the same discipline, after an earlier training as a teacher at Women Teachers College, Birnin Kebbi.
Hajia Zainab expectedly has numerous international and local awards and honour in recognition of her immense contribution to society. They include Jean Haris Awards by Rotary International Amazon Women Award for contribution towards the Development of Womanhood; Fellow, African Business Schools, FABS.
A mother with grand children, she has proven to be a rare breed and a pride to womanhood and as such as she is a member of 2013 Class of MMS Plus’Woman of Fortune Hall of Fame.
Ladies and Gentlemen, we present to you Hall of Famer Zealous Zainab.
