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But the Minister in a statement personally signed by her , in Abuja, emphasised her, “unwavering dedication to upholding due diligence and the rule of law, recognising that justice and fairness are the fundamental principles upon which equitable societies are built.” ADVOCATING CHILD LABOUR The female politician had also faced severe backlash for her comments at the Anambra Investment Summit 2023, where she advocated for the use of school children as workers to manufacture essentials such as toothpicks, sanitary pads, cotton buds, and matchboxes.
During the first event tagged “Unveiling the Power of Women and Food Security,” held without the ministry’s approval, the former minister said the organiser had been taken into custody by the Department of State Services (DSS) for alleged impersonation of the ministry.
In China, even young kids get involved in production.” Women and child rights activist, Betty Appiah, condemned the statement by the minister, saying it implies less value on children or the various child’s rights laws that Nigeria is signatory to.
“The minister’s attempt at media demonisation of marrying off of 100 poor and orphaned girls, who were largely traumatized for losing both parents to brutal and bloody banditry and insurgency, exposed her ignorance to the culture and traditions of the Muslim North.
“This elaborate media blitz, over the matter, MURIC observed, was deliberately done to sway public opinion against the marriage institution, and an attempt to vilify Sarkin-Daji, after demonstrating his genuine concern for the needs of members of his constituency,”Indabawa said.
At the event which took place on 7th September, 2023, she had been accused of promoting child labour and violating the rights of children, when she said,“I am pleading for us to look into more production of some of these things in our society.
The women activists had said they were gravely concerned about the minister’s utterances on the UNICAL sexual harassment case and the implications for the interest and protection of vulnerable women and children in Nigeria.
“After we wrote that we were cancelling, the president approved that we should cancel until further notice; she still went ahead to print this thing”, she said in a video posted on her X page.
Kennedy-Ohanenye’s tenure in the Federal Executive Council was marked by numerous challenges, making her perhaps the most controversial minister in the short time since the council’s formation under President Tinubu.
She did not state the specific amount the UN allegedly accessed on Nigeria’s behalf, or what the funds were meant for, but threatened to take legal action if the organization failed to provide an account of the funds or issue a public apology to Nigerians.
“They will get our pre-action letter that is to prepare that by 15th we are heading to court and I am promising Nigerians that by 15th you will hear the lawsuit number,”she said.
Here are some of the major controversies of Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye during her 14-month stay in office: THREAT TO SUE UN OVER DONOR FUNDS Barely two months after she assumed office, Kennedy-Ohanenye in October, 2023, threatened to sue the United Nations (UN) for allegedly mismanaging funds meant for Nigeria.
“We found the harsh and hasty decision taken by the Honourable Minister for Women Affairs over a matter that is entirely beyond the scope of her Ministry.
UNICAL SEXUAL HARASSMENT CASE In September, 2023, Kennedy-Ohanenye, after a backlash, tendered an apology over comments credited to her in a viral video concerning the sexual harassment scandal at the University of Calabar (UNICAL).
In the video, the then minister had said since the female students had admitted that they were not raped, it meant they were not sexually harassed.
“From 16th of October to November 15, if we don’t get those reports for Nigerians to see, we are heading to court..
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