Uju Kennedy‑Ohanenye’s journey from a 2023 APC presidential aspirant to her dismissal in the October 2024 cabinet reshuffle was anything but quiet.
While she entered office with a focus on women’s economic inclusion, her leadership style was defined by high-profile confrontations and unconventional proposals.
A Timeline of Controversies: Kennedy‑Ohanenye’s term was punctuated by several events that sparked national debate:
The "Friday Work" Proposal: In late 2023, she faced backlash for suggesting schoolchildren be released on Fridays to engage in "production," a move critics labeled as state-sanctioned child labor.
Ultimatum to the UN: She gained international attention by accusing the United Nations of financial opacity and threatening to sue the organization if they did not provide detailed accounts of funds raised in Nigeria’s name.
The Niger State Mass Wedding: She initially blocked a mass wedding of 100 girls on human rights grounds, only to reverse her stance after concluding the participants were consenting adults.
UNICAL Misstep: She was forced to apologize after a leaked recording surfaced in which she appeared to intimidate female students testifying in a sexual harassment case against a university professor.
Summary of Exit: Appointed in August 2023, Kennedy‑Ohanenye was one of five ministers relieved of their duties by President Tinubu. She leaves behind a complicated legacy—one of a minister who felt she had to fund the government herself while simultaneously battling the very civil service she was appointed to lead.
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