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Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye (born 23 December 1973)[1] is a Nigerian lawyer, entrepreneur, politician, and film producer. She contested for the first female candidate for the presidency in Nigeria under the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2023 general elections but later stepped down for Bola Tinubu. She was appointed by President Bola Tinubu as the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development on 21 August 2023 a position she held until 23 October 2024.[2][3][4][5]
Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye | |
|---|---|
| Born | 23 December 1973 |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Occupation(s) | Lawyer, entrepreneur, politician, film producer |
| Known for | First woman to run for the presidency in Nigeria under the All Progressives Congress (APC) |
| Political party | All Progressives Congress |
Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye was born in Nigeria on 23 December 1973. She earned her Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1996 and was admitted to the Nigerian Bar in 1997.[6] She holds a Master of Laws degree from the University of Abuja obtained in 2002.[6]
Kennedy-Ohanenye practices law and is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association.[7] She is also involved in real estate and the education sector.[6] As the CEO of Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye & Co, she provides legal services to individuals and corporations. She also serves as the founder and head of Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye Academy, a private educational institution.[8]
She is actively engaged in the film industry within Nollywood as a producer. Her production portfolio includes titles such as Mama Onboard, The Senator, The Governor, and The President. She is also the president of the Association of Nollywood Producers (ANP).[9]
Kennedy-Ohanenye became a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015.[10][11][12] She declared her candidacy for the Nigerian presidency during the 2023 general elections, making history as the first woman to do so under the APC. Her campaign emphasized women's empowerment, economic development, security, and anti-corruption.[13][14] She opted to step down from the presidential race and publicly endorsed Bola Tinubu, the former governor of Lagos State.[15]
On 21 August 2023, she was appointed as the Minister of Women Affairs by President Bola Tinubu, succeeding Pauline Tallen, who resigned for health reasons.[16] The presidential swearing-in ceremony took place at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye became the third woman to hold this position after Aisha Alhassan and Pauline Tallen.[citation needed]
As the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye pledged to focus on eradicating gender-based violence (GBV) and enhancing women's economic empowerment (WEE) in Nigeria.[17] She also advocated for increased female representation in leadership roles and the implementation of the National Gender Policy.[18][19]
Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye is married to Kennedy Ohanenye, a businessman and philanthropist. The couple has four children together.[20][21]
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