Women have always played key roles in societal development. From politics to science, business and education they have proven to be catalysts for change and force to reckon with.

For their strides and achievements, March 8 of every year has been chosen to celebrate the valour of womanhood.

As we mark this year’s Women’s International Day, Pulse celebrates five (5) women of substance who through sheer zeal, diligence and resilience have played significant roles in the education sector.

These women defied status-quo and have shown to the world that ‘what men can do, women can do as well, if not better’.

1 Oby Ezekwesili

Obiagelli Katryn Ezekwesili “Madam Due Process”, clearly needs no introduction as one who wears a cap with many feathers.

As Minister of Education, she championed a developmental reform of the restructuring and refocusing on education for all (EfA) in line with the Millennium Development Goals. She also launched the “Adopt-A-School” program, an initiative that fosters philanthropy by corporations, community groups and individuals towards education.

She is undoubtedly a woman of substance and well deserving of the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) of Nigeria.

2 Grace Alele Williams

In a country, where academic environments are largely dominated by men an time when cultism was a thing in Nigerian universities, Prof Grace Alele Williams defied the odd and became the first female Vice-Chancellor in 1985.

Williams proved to be of equal measure in the endeavour men are believed to be the main actors. In 1963, she became the first Nigerian woman to be awarded a doctorate degree.

Williams made her mark as a first-class academician and Professor of Mathematics Education at the University of Lagos.

She also proved herself as a skilled administrator when she became the Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin and served in that position for six productive years.

3. Prof. Rukayyah Rufai

When the time to profile men and women, who have genuinely contributed to the development of education sector in Nigeria comes, Professor Ruqayyah Ahmed Rufai's efforts will never go unmentioned.

In April 2010, President Goodluck Jonathan appointed Rufai as the Minister of Education after serving as the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology in Jigawa State.

Apart from taking charge of the education ministry at both state and Federal level, Rufai is one of the women who stood their ground to fight for the girl child education in Northern Nigeria.

Denying the girl child formal education is a common practice in the North and Rufai, who was born in Jigawa state, had PhD in Education from the West Virginia University, US, in 1991 once said she could not stand that practice.

Rufai is very passionate about being in the classroom, teaching and grooming the younger generation. This is evident in her response to journalists September 11, 2013.

When she was relieved of her job in the Ministry of Education with nine other Ministers, Rufai announced to the pressmen that having served as a Minister for three years, she would go back to the university to continue her teaching job.

4. Dr Omanhe Phillipa Idogho

Before June 2010, the Rector's seat in Nigerian Polytechnic seemed to be exclusively meant for men, even when competent male staffs of a polytechnic aren't qualified enough for the position, a male acting Rector is usually installed. That was the practice until Dr Omanhe Phillipa Idogho broke the jinx.

Idogho, popular for not taking nonsense from students and staff made a name for herself by sweeping the polytechnic clean of cultism.

On becoming the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Idogho introduced some policies to better the image of the institution which was already battered by students cult activities and lecturers ineptitude and negligence.

Before her intervention, many graduates of the Polytechnic for decades had graduated without being offered diploma certificates or statements of results.

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Idogho also changed the way teachers handle students’ examination scripts and ensured that results were released as soon as students complete the examination.

5. Professor Fatima Batul Mukhtar

Professor Fatima Batul Mukhtar is the current Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Dutse.

Mukhtar rose through the ranks in her teaching career in the university, starting as an Assistant Lecturer, to through senior lecturer to Head of Departments, to becoming a Dean of a Faculty, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and finally becoming the Vice Chancellor of a university in a region where women hardly rise to such level in academic environment.

Mukhtar is one woman who is not intimidated or feel threatened by the position she holds in academia. She walked her way to the top and deserves to be decorated for her achievement.

All these women are models, achievers and source of encouragement for thousands of other women who aspire to attain the best in their chosen fields. We really can not but celebrate women who made effort to break barriers and make the needed change in the society.

Happy International Women's Day.