Traditional Rulers write Tinubu, seek recall of Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye

2026-03-26 - 16:23

By Omeiza Ajayi The National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to re-engage the former Minister of Women Affairs, Barr. Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, citing her “uncommon capacity” to deliver on the administration’s Renewed Hope agenda. In a recommendation dated March 24, 2026, the Council described the former minister as a “willing tool” for national development whose unique determination remains a vital asset to the country. The document, signed by the Etsu Nupe and Chairman of the Coordinating Committee of the National Council of Traditional Rulers, HRH Alh. (Dr.) Yahaya Abubakar, emphasized that her track record during her 2023–2025 tenure warrants a continued role in the present administration. The traditional rulers noted that Kennedy-Ohanenye’s leadership marked a departure from “traditional seminar-based approaches,” shifting the Ministry of Women Affairs toward direct, sustainable empowerment for women and children at the grassroots. The Council highlighted several landmark achievements that had a direct impact on the security and dignity of women across the federation. Chief among these was the introduction of the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Mobile Court, which the monarchs credited with significantly reducing the incidence of abuse through swift judicial intervention. Furthermore, the “Integrity Brigade” initiative was lauded for successfully uniting students and university administrators in a coordinated front against sexual harassment on campuses nationwide. In what the Council described as “tremendous results,” the former minister’s passionate engagement with traditional institutions led to the formal abolition of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in several Kingdoms, Emirates, and Chiefdoms. This grassroots synergy, according to the Council, also facilitated the distribution of POS machines across the 36 states and the FCT, bringing rural women into the digital economy and improving the ease of doing business in local communities. Addressing President Tinubu, the traditional rulers maintained that Kennedy-Ohanenye is uniquely qualified to complement the administration’s efforts in rural sensitization and economic empowerment.