Betta Edu Explained

Betta Edu
Office1:Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation
Term Start1:21 August 2023
Predecessor1:Sadiya Umar Farouq
Office2:National Women Leader of the All Progressives Congress
Term Start2:March 2022
Term End2:August 2023
Office3:Cross River State Commissioner for Health
Term Start3:December 2019
Term End3:March 2022
Birth Name:Betta Chimaobim Eke
Birth Date:27 October 1986
Birth Place:Lagos, Nigeria
Party:All Progressives Congress (2021–present)
Occupation:Politician
Alma Mater:University of Calabar

Betta Chimaobim Edu (born 27 October 1986) is a Nigerian medical doctor turned politician. She served as national women leader of All Progressive Congress.[1] She was Cross River State Commissioner for Health until her resignation in 2022.[2] She was also National Chairman of the Nigeria Health Commissioners Forum.[3] [4] [5]

Education

She completed her secondary education in 2001 at the Federal Government Girls College, Calabar and obtained her first degree in medicine and surgery from the University of Calabar in 2009. She has a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Health for Developing Countries from London School Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, a master's degree in Public Health in Developing Countries from London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and Doctor of Public Health from Texila American University.[6] [7]

Career

In 2015, Edu became the youngest person to be appointed Special Adviser to the Executive Governor of Cross River State Benedict Ayade on Community and Primary Healthcare.[8]

In 2020, she became chairman of the Cross River State COVID-19 Taskforce.[9] In August that year, she was appointed National Chairman of the Nigeria Health Commissioners Forum.[10] Edu is a Fellow of the Royal School of Public Health in and the African Institute of Public Health Professionals.[11] Betta Edu became the youngest national woman leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in March 2022.[12]

In July 2023, the state Women Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) across all 36 states in Nigeria including that of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) passed a vote of confidence on Betta Edu. They did this during their visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.[13] [14]

Also in July 2023, the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Maryam Babangida National Center For Women Development Headed by DG Asabe Vilita Bashir, in collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development awarded Betta Edu the Award of Excellence in Leadership for gender inclusion and women empowerment. This is in recognition of her commitment to championing the cause of empowering women, children, and other vulnerable groups in Nigeria.[15] [16] In July 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu nominated Betta Edu for minister as the Nigerian senate unveiled the 28 nominees for ministerial appointment.[17] [18] Making her the first female minister from Cross River State and the youngest minister at the Federal Executive Council of Nigeria in the Fourth Nigerian republic.[19] [20]

In August 2023, Betta was sworn in as minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation and the All progressives congress replaced her as National women leader.[21] [22] [23]

Controversies

₦585 million fraud

In 2020, Edu was accused of posting fake photos of ventilators.[24] The Cross River state chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association passed a vote of no confidence on Edu over accusations of professional misconduct in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.[25] Edu claims the vote of no confidence was political.[26] In 2022, during her campaign to become National Women Leader of the APC, Edu was accused of procedural misconduct.

On 8 January 2024, she was suspended from her position as the minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for allegedly diverting ₦585 million in ministry funds to a personal bank account.[27] [28] President Tinubu asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for a thorough investigation.[29]

The investigation that followed suggested a theft of public funds many times larger. In April 2024, the EFCC's chair, Olanipekun Olukayode, wrote, "As it is now, we are investigating over 50 bank accounts that we have traced money into." The approximate average amount in each of Edu's bank accounts that the EFCC had by then traced and seized seems to have been about ₦600 million, for a total, across her 50 or more accounts, of some ₦30 billion. According to a BBC publication the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had recovered an equivalent of $24million from accounts allegedly linked to Edu. As of the EFCC's April 2024 update, Edu has not been legally charged or fired from her position.[30]

Awards

References

  1. Web site: Betta Edu emerges youngest APC national women leader . 27 March 2022 .
  2. Web site: 2022-03-25 . Sources: Betta Edu faces disqualification from APC convention over section 84(2) . 2023-05-28 . TheCable . en-US.
  3. Web site: 1 August 2020 . Dr Betta Edu emerges as the National Chairman of Nigeria Commissioners for Health Forum . 28 May 2023 . Vanguard Nigera.
  4. Web site: Ekiti Health Commissioner Rallies Colleagues against Brain Drain - THISDAYLIVE . 2023-07-09 . www.thisdaylive.com . en.
  5. Web site: 2022-10-06 . Health commissioners hold forum on primary health care funding . 2023-07-09 . Businessday NG . en-US.
  6. News: Profile of Wike, El-Rufai, Umahi, Betta Edu and odas wey make Tinubu ministerial list . BBC News Pidgin . 2023-07-27.
  7. Web site: 2023-07-27 . Tinubu Appoints 36-Year-Old Harvard Certified Betta Edu, Others As Ministers – Independent Newspaper Nigeria . 2023-07-27 . en-GB.
  8. Web site: 2015-12-26 . Gov Ben Ayade Breaks Record Again, Appoints Youngest Special Adviser In Nigeria . 2023-05-28 . calitown . en-US.
  9. Web site: Abang . Mike . 2021-12-14 . Cross River has best COVID-19 response in Nigeria - Commissioner . 2022-10-15 . Businessday NG . en-US.
  10. Web site: Dr Betta Edu emerges as National Chairman of Nigeria Commissioners for Health Forum The Paradise News. 2022-01-05. theparadise.ng. en-US.
  11. Web site: 24 November 2022 . Betta Edu, others emerge Fellow African Institute of Public Health in Cairo Egypt . 28 May 2023 . Vanguard Nigeria.
  12. Web site: 2022-03-27 . Betta Edu emerges youngest APC national women leader. . 2022-04-04 . Punch Newspapers . en-US.
  13. Web site: Cyril . 2023-07-14 . 36 Women Leaders Pass "Vote of Confidence" on APC National Women Leader . 2023-07-17 . The Sun Nigeria . en.
  14. Web site: Online . Tribune . 2023-07-14 . Members pass 'vote of confidence' on APC national women leader . 2023-07-17 . Tribune Online . en-GB.
  15. Web site: Oyoyo . Igho . 2023-07-19 . APC National Women Leader, Betta Edu, Honoured With MBNCWD Merit Award . 2023-07-20 . en-US.
  16. Web site: Nigeria . Guardian . 2023-07-19 . FG honours APC National Women Leader, Edu with merit award . 2023-07-20 . The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News . en-US.
  17. News: Wike, El-Rufai, Umahi, Alake, odas make Tinubu ministerial list . BBC News Pidgin . 2023-07-27.
  18. Web site: Omogbolagun . Tope . 2023-07-27 . FULL LIST: Senate unveils Tinubu's 28 ministerial nominees . 2023-07-27 . Punch Newspapers . en-US.
  19. Web site: Cyril . 2023-07-27 . Dr. Betta Edu emerges first female Minister from Cross River and Youngest Minister in Nigeria . 2023-07-28 . The Sun Nigeria . en.
  20. Web site: 2023-07-27 . Tinubu appoints youngest minister in fourth Republic, 36-year-old Dr Betta Edu ThisNigeria . 2023-07-28 . thisnigeria.com . en-GB.
  21. Web site: 2023-08-22 . Humanitarian Minister assumes office, reassures Nigerians speedy results . 2023-08-26 . Tribune Online . en-GB.
  22. Web site: 2023-08-21 . Wale Edun, Keyamo, Betta Edu take oath of office as ministers . 2023-08-26 . TheCable . en-US.
  23. Web site: Folorunsho-Francis . Adebayo . 2023-08-23 . APC NWC replaces Kyari, Betta Edu with Dalori, Idele . 2023-08-26 . Punch Newspapers . en-US.
  24. Web site: 2020-03-27 . COVID-19: Why There Are No Ventilators At Isolation Center - Betta Edu . 2023-05-28 . CrossRiverWatch . en-US.
  25. Web site: 2020-07-06 . CROSS RIVER NMA WITHDRAWS SERVICES OVER STATE'S COVID-19 HANDLING . 2023-01-10 . Medical World Nigeria . en-US.
  26. Web site: 2020-05-25 . NMA Can't Pass Vote Of No Confidence On Me, C'River Commissioner . 2023-01-10 . Today's News Now . en-US.
  27. Web site: Tolu-Kolawole . Deborah . 2024-01-08 . BREAKING: Tinubu suspends Betta Edu over N585m scandal . 2024-01-08 . Punch Newspapers . en-US.
  28. Web site: Okafor . Chiamaka . 2024-01-08 . BREAKING: Humanitarian Ministry Scandal: Tinubu suspends Betta Edu . 2024-01-08 . Premium Times Nigeria . en-GB.
  29. News: 2024-01-08 . Betta Edu: Nigerian poverty minister suspended over money in personal bank account . 2024-01-08 . BBC News . en-GB.
  30. News: 2024-04-09 . Betta Edu probe: Nigeria recovers $24m in poverty minister investigation - EFCC . 2024-04-09 . BBC News . en-GB.
  31. Web site: 2020-07-25. Federal Ministry of Women Affairs Honors Dr. Betta Edu with award of excellence. 2022-01-04. Vanguard News. en-US.
  32. Web site: 2020-07-25. Cross River Health Commissioner, Betta Edu, to receive Award of Excellence. 2023-01-10. Premium Times. en-US.
  33. Web site: 19 August 2020 . Youth Day: National Youth Council of Nigeria Says Dr Betta Edu is "Hero Of COVID-19." . 28 May 2023 . Vanguard Nigeria.
  34. Web site: 2020-11-07. Cross River Health Commissioner, Betta Edu wins 2020 'medical expert of the Year' award. 2022-01-04. Vanguard News. en-US.
  35. Web site: 2023-07-19 . FG Honours Edu With Excellence In Gender Inclusion Award – Independent Newspaper Nigeria . 2023-07-20 . en-GB.