Hajiya Zainab Maina, FCIA, MFR (born 7 August 1948) was the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. She was appointed in July 2011.^[1][2]

Education and personal life

Zainab Maina hails from Adamawa State in North-East Nigeria. She was educated at Kaduna Polytechnic where she obtained a Diploma in Administration and Higher National Diploma in Catering and Hotel Management. In addition, she also obtained a certificate in Secretarial Studies from the Federal Training Centre Kaduna and the Centre for Development & Population, Washington DC, USA where she received a Certificate in Institution Building Activities. She is married to Alhaji Umar Joji Maina, the Dan-maliki of Mubi in Adamawa State and they have children.

Political and governmental career

Prior to her ministerial appointment in July 2011, Zainab Maina was:

• Board Chairman, National Commission for Nomadic Education, Kaduna (2009–2011);
• Board Chairman, Garki Microfinance Bank (1998);
• Board Chairman, NCWS, Garki Microfinance Bank, Abuja (1997);
• Deputy Chairman, Police Community Relations Committee FCT Command (1998-Date);
• Member, Vision 2010 Committee (1997);
• Board Member, National Programme on Immunization (1998–2000);
• Board Member, Adamawa State Primary Schools Board (1991–1994);
• Board Member, Family Economic Advancement Programme (FEAP) (1997–2000).

She was the National President – National Council for Women Societies (NCWS), Nigeria (1997-2001). In the ruling party in Nigeria, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Zainab Maina holds sway as part of the think-tank as Member, PDP Elders Committee; Member, PDP Board of Trustees; executive director, Women Affairs of the Jonathan/Sambo Presidential Campaign (2010); Member, PDP Presidential Electoral/Screening Committee (2010); National Women Representative, PDP Presidential Campaign Council (2007); Delegate, National Political Reform Conference (NPRC)-2005; Women Representative, PDP Reconciliation Committee on theExecutive/Legislative Impasse(2002); International Convener, Home Economics and Consumer Affairs International Council of Women (ICW) Bangkok, Thailand (1993).^[2]

Non-governmental work

• Founder and President, Women for Peace Initiative (WOPI) Nigeria
• Patron, Young Muslim Women Association, Nigeria
• Sub-Regional Coordinator- Anglophone Africa, International Council for Women
• Member, World Association of NGOs (WANGO)
• Member, West African Civil Society Forum (WACSOF)
• INGO Ambassador, International Non-Governmental Organization(London, UK)

Awards and honours

• National Award of Excellence towards Women Development Abuja, Nigeria
• Jean Harris Award – Rotary International
• Winner of the Distinguished Eagle Achievement Award Newark, New Jersey, USA
• Amazon Women Award for Contribution towards the Development of Womanhood, Lagos, Nigeria.
• Africa Youth Congress Award on the authority of the Senate Headquarters, Banjul, the Gambia
• Merit Award by the Mayor of Atlanta, USA
• Meritorious Certificate for Loyal and Devoted Services to Development by the Nawar-U-Deen Society of Nigeria
• Certificate of Recognition – University of Kansas, Lawrence, USA
• Quintessence Award for Remarkable Contribution to Humanity by media in support of Humanity (MISH)
• Ambassador for peace by the Universal Peace Federation and the Inter-Religious and International federation for world peace
• Honorary citizen of Kansas City, USA
• Fellow, African Business School – FABS
• Fellow Chartered Institute of Administration – FCIA
• Member of the Order of the Federal Republic – MFR

References