- Chinwe Obaji
-
Chinwe Obaji Federal Minister of Education In office
June 2005 – June 2006Preceded by Fabian Osuji Succeeded by Obiageli Ezekwesili Personal details Political party People's Democratic Party (PDP) Chinwe Obaji is a higher education lecturer, teacher and education administrator who was appointed to head Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Education in June 2005 as Senior Minister, and was succeeded a year later by Obiageli Ezekwesili.[1]
Contents
Background
Chinwe Obaji was born in Ezinihitte-Mbaise in Imo State. From 1980 she was a lecturer and administrator at Michael Okpara College of Agriculture, Umuagwo, Imo State in Nigeria.[2]
Ministerial position
Chinwe Obaji, as Education Minister, tried to resuscitate the Inspectorate Division of the Federal Ministry of Education. She started the one-meal-a-day project in some pilot primary schools across the country.[1]
She directed that Universities should administer the Post University Matriculation Examination to candidate students in an effort by bypass the inefficiency of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB). Notably, in support of her directive, President Olusegun Obasanjo called for enhanced support by all Nigerians for the post-JAMB screening.[3] However, there was controversy over the fees charged by universities for the test.[4] In an October 2005 meeting between the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC) and Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, it was unanimously agreed to peg the test fee at N1,000.[5] Answering questions in the House of Representative in November 2005, Chinwe Obaji said that any university that collected more than N1,000 from candidates seeking admission after the post JAMB screening had done so in violation of her directive.[6] The House of Representations later cancelled the directive.[7]
In April 2006, Chinwe Obaji detailed reforms to the design of the basic education system to ensure that every Nigerian child at least has access to basic education. The government set up a system of reprimanding parents who do not register their children for school, and started to recruit 40,000 teachers for rural communities.[8] She stated that the Universal Basic Education (UBE) program aimed at enhancing "unhindered access to quality basic education to the children, especially to the girl-child".[9]
Subsequent positions
In a cabinet reshuffle in June 2006, Chinwe Obaji was replaced by Obiageli Ezekwesili.[10] Obaji was later probed by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) over alleged corruption.[11]
Dr Chinwe Obaji was appointed Professor of International Education at the Voorhees College in the USA starting in 2007.[12]
References
- ^ a b Rotimi Lawrence Oyekanmi (May 28, 2009). "Education: 10 ministers, 10 years of democracy". The Guardian. http://www.nigerianmuse.com/20090603012051zg/nigeriawatch/education/education-10-ministers-10-years-of-democracy. Retrieved 2009-10-12.
- ^ Ben Duru (Saturday, July 22, 2006). "Kema Chikwe and Imo Government House". Ikeibe.com. http://cache.zoominfo.com/CachedPage/?archive_id=0&page_id=1822714513&page_url=//www.ikeibe.com/kema.htm&page_last_updated=7/28/2007+3:16:50+PM&firstName=Chinwe&lastName=Obaji. Retrieved 2009-10-13.
- ^ Madu Onuorah (January 6, 2006). "HND graduates can now rise above Level 14". The Guardian. http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-4745.0.html. Retrieved 2009-10-12.
- ^ Odimegwu Onwumere (June 27, 2009). "Amaechi & The Open Fraud Called “Post-UME” Test". Modern Ghana News:. http://www.modernghana.com/print/224275/1/amaechi-the-open-fraud-called-post-ume-test.html. Retrieved 2009-10-12.
- ^ Emmanuel Edukugho (October 27, 2005). "As varsities win screening battle, Education minister says it's a unanimous decision". Vanguard. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Naija-news/message/3873. Retrieved 2009-10-13.
- ^ Donald Andoor (November 15, 2005). "Post Jamb Test: Fees Beyond N1,000 Illegal - Minister.". This Day. http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-138845508.html. Retrieved 2009-10-12.[dead link]
- ^ Atâyi-Babs Ezekiel Opaluwah (February 3, 2006). "CHINWE OBAJI'S LEGACY". NigeriaWorld. http://nigeriaworld.com/articles/2006/feb/033.html. Retrieved 2009-10-12.
- ^ "Universal Basic Education System Altered". Vanguard. April 27, 2006. http://www.wes.org/ewenr/06jun/africa.htm. Retrieved 2009-10-12.
- ^ Sr. Patricia EBEGBULEM (August 2006). "People on the Move: MIGRATION AND PROSTITUTION AMONG WOMEN FROM COUNTRIES OF ISLAMIC MAJORITY". Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People. http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/migrants/pom2006_101-suppl/rc_pc_migrants_pom101-suppl_migraz-ebegbulem.html. Retrieved 2009-10-12.
- ^ "Nigeria: President Swears in Five New Ministers, Reshuffles Cabinet". Nigeria First. 2006-06-22. http://allafrica.com/stories/200606220014.html. Retrieved 2006-07-16.
- ^ Adewole, Lanre (2006-06-29). "Obaji, ex-education minister, under probe - ICPC". Nigerian Tribune. Archived from the original on 2006-07-18. http://web.archive.org/web/20060718040946/http://www.tribune.com.ng/29062006/news/news3.html. Retrieved 2006-07-16.
- ^ Efem Nkanga (01/10/2007). "Obaji Preaches IT Education in Nigerian Universities". http://www.cipaco.org/spip.php?article1159. Retrieved 2009-10-12.
Vice President Atiku Abubakar (May 2003–May 2007)Agriculture (and Water Resources from Jan 2007) Adamu Bello (July 2003–May 2007)Aviation Isa Yuguda (July 2003–July 2005) • Babalola Borishade (July 2005–Nov 2006) • Femi Fani-Kayode (November 2006–May 2007)Commerce and Industry (initially Commerce) Idris Waziri (July 2003–June 2006) • Aliyu Modibbo Umar (Commerce July 2006–January 2007, Commerce and Industry January 2007–May 2007)Communications (later and Information) Cornelius Adebayo (July 2003–Aug 2006) • Obafemi Anibaba (Aug 2006–Jan 2007) • Frank Nweke (Jan 2007–May 2007)Defence Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (July 2003–2006) • Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi (2006–May 2007)Education Fabian Osuji (July 2003–Mar 2005) • Chinwe Obaji (June 2005–June 2006) • Obiageli Ezekwesili (June 2006–May 2007)Energy Edmund Daukoru (July 2003–May 2007)Environment (and Housing from Jan 2007) Bala Mande (–July 2005) • Iyorchia Ayu (June 2005–Dec 2005) • Helen Esuene (Jan 2006–May 2007)FCT Administration Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai (July 2003–May 2007)Finance Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (July 2003–July 2006) • Nnenadi Usman (July 2006–May 2007)Foreign Affairs Oluyemi Adeniji (July 2003–July 2006) • Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (July 2006–August 2006) • Joy Ogwu (August 2006–May 2007)Health Eyitayo Lambo (July 2003–May 2007)Housing
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(merged with Agriculture Jan 2007)Muktar Shagari (July 2003–January 2007)Women Affairs Rita Akpan (July 2003–June 2005) • Maryam Ciroma (June 2005–May 2007)Works and Housing Adeseye Ogunlewe (July 2003–March 2006) • Obafemi Anibaba (March 2006–Sep 2006) • Cornelius Adebayo (Sep 2006–Jan 2007)Youth Development Frank Nweke (April 2004–June 2005) • Musa Mohammed (July 2005–June 2006) • S. A. Jankanda (January 2007–May 2007)See also Cabinet of President Umaru Yar'Adua Categories:- Living people
- Education ministers of Nigeria
- People's Democratic Party (Nigeria) politicians
- Nigerian women in politics
- Nigerian politician stubs
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