Maryam Ciroma

Born11 September 1954 (age 71)

Maryam Ciroma

Managing Director National Inland Waterways Authority, Lokoja, Nigeria
Federal Minister of Women Affairs
In office July 2005 – May 2007
Preceded by	Rita Akpan
Succeeded by	Saudatu Bungudu

Personal details
Born	(1954-09-11) 11 September 1954 (age 71) Nigeria, United Kingdom
Spouse	Adamu Ciroma
Alma mater	Ahmadu Bello University

Hajia Maryam Inna Ciroma (born 11 September 1954) was appointed Nigerian minister of Women Affairs in July 2005 to 2007 by President Olusegun Obasanjo.^[1] She was replaced by Saudatu Bungudu when President Umaru Yar'Adua swore in his cabinet in July 2007.^[2]^[3] She was succeeded by Saudatu Bungudu and Preceded by Rita Akpan.^[4]

Ciroma was born on 11 September 1954 in Borno State. She attended Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, graduating in 1978 with a degree in political science, and later obtained a postgraduate diploma in Public Administration. She worked as cadet editor, NTA Kaduna, before joining the federal civil service where she worked from 1980 to 1985. She then became Chairman/Chief Executive of Intis Investment Company.^[5]

She is the widow of Mallam Adamu Ciroma, a late Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and Minister of Finance who was chairman of the Obasanjo 2003 re-election campaign organization.^[6]^[7]

Political career

In 2003, Ciroma made a bid to become the People's Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Borno South Senatorial District. She was appointed Minister of State for Women Affairs in July 2005, replacing Rita Akpan.^[8] She retained this position in the major reshuffle of January 2007.^[9] In August 2005, she started a nationwide advocacy tour of the 36 states of the Nigerian Federation on matters relating to child's rights and discrimination against women.^[10] Before the 2007 elections, she called for a percentage of electoral positions to be reserved for women, decrying the marginalization of women in Nigerian politics.^[11]

During her time in office, the Federal Government approved the National Gender Policy in pursuance of gender equality and children welfare in the country.^[12] In January 2007 her ministry issued "National Guidelines and Standards of Practice for Orphans and Vulnerable Children".^[13] Speaking in May 2007 of the action plan spelled out in this report, Ciroma said "Without taking determined steps to address the specific needs of children, there will be no chance of meeting the Millennium Development Goals".^[14]

After leaving office, Ciroma became National Woman Leader of the PDP.^[15] Hajia Maryam Inna Ciroma also served as managing director: National Inland Waterways Authority, Lokoja, Kogi State Nigeria. She turned around Water Transportation in Nigeria and embarked on massive enlightenment programs about safety on Nigerian Waterways. In December 2014 she was recognized by the ECOWAS Students body of West African Students Union Parliament-WASUP with the WASUP Kwame Nkrumah Honor (www.wasuonline.org). The Nigerian Coordinator for WASUP Comr. Daniel Emeka Nwachukwu, described her as "a great women, leader and mentor and example of selfless service for both women and children rights, with positive effects on the youths" for her contributions to Nation Building.

She is a member of the national working group for the supporting the advance of gender equality (SAGE) initiative in Nigeria and attended a meeting hosted by president Muhammadu Buhari on March 23, 2021, to mark the international women's day in Nigeria.^[16]^[17] Maryam initiated a nationwide advocacy tour of the 36 states on matters relating to child rights and discrimination against women.^[18]

v t e Cabinet of President Olusegun Obasanjo 2003–2007
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 (merged into Environment Jan 2007)	Rahman Mimiko (June 2005–January 2007)
Information and National Orientation	Chukwuemeka Chikelu (July 2003–June 2005) Frank Nweke (June 2005–May 2007)
Industry (merged to Commerce & Industry Jan 2007)	Magaji Muhammed (–June 2005) Fidelis Tapgun (June 2005–January 2007)
Internal Affairs (Interior from January 2007)	Iyorchia Ayu (–June 2005) Magaji Muhammed (June 2005–June 2006) Oluyemi Adeniji (June 2006–May 2007)
Justice (Attorney General)	Akin Olujimi (–June 2005) Bayo Ojo (June 2005–May 2007)
Labour	Hassan Muhammed Lawal (July 2003–May 2007)
National Planning Commission	Abdallah Wali (Jan 2007–May 2007)
Police Affairs (merged into Interior in Jan 2007)	Broderick Bozimo (July 2003–January 2007)
Power and Steel	Liyel Imoke (July 2003–January 2007)
Science and Technology	Isoun Turner (July 2003–May 2007)
Solid Minerals (later Mines & Steel)	Odion Ugbesia (–June 2005) Obiageli Ezekwesili (June 2005–) Leslye Obiora (Jan 2007–May 2007)
Sports	Musa Mohammed (July 2003–July 2005) Saidu Samaila Sambawa (July 2005–June 2006) Bala Bawa Ka'oje (June 2006–May 2007)
Tourism, Culture and National Orientation	Femi Fani-Kayode (2006) Babalola Borishade (2006–May 2007)
Transport	Precious Sekibo (July 2003–January 2007) Cornelius Adebayo (Jan 2007–May 2007)
Water Resources (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

Political career

Skills

References

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