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Headlining the runway of incompetency in President Bola Tinubu's cabinet is the Minister of Women’s Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye.

Tinubu's minister of women's affairs has shown early signs of incompetence [Editors Opinion] | Pulse Nigeria

Ima Elijah

<h3>While a few ministers have hit the ground running, a few have begun to showcase their disconnect and lack of understanding of how to effectively serve the Nigerian citizens with their new portfolios.</h3>

<p>Headlining the runway of incompetency in <strong>President Bola Tinubu</strong>'s cabinet is the Minister of Women Affairs, <strong>Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye</strong>. Coming from fiercely being the only female presidential candidate, Kennedy-Ohanenye has made her first major headlines as minister on the wrongest foot; advocacy for child labour.</p>

<p>Please take 59 seconds to watch this, then return to this text for a full analysis of everything that is wrong with this speech.</p>

<div class="embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye&#39;s speech at the Anambra Investment Summit, where she advocated for the reduction of school days &amp; the use of school children as workers to manufacture essentials such as toothpicks, sanitary pads &amp; cotton buds.<br><br>Share your… <a href="https://t.co/t3igYSYVQ7">pic.twitter.com/t3igYSYVQ7</a></p>&mdash; Igbo Archives (@igbodiaries) <a href="https://twitter.com/igbodiaries/status/1699754107030913448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 7, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

</div>

<h3>"Let us introduce Urban Development in schools"</h3>

<p>Kennedy-Ohanenye has suggested that children should learn how to produce essentials like toothpicks, sanitary pads, cotton buds etc.</p>

<p><strong>First, what is Urban Development?</strong></p>

<p>Urban development involves constructing buildings and infrastructure for residential, commercial, industrial, recreational, and public purposes on land, as opposed to using the land for agricultural activities like farming and grazing. Definitely not a subject for children. In attempt to make the excuse from the perspective of a possible vocabulary mix-up, the screams of incompetency only gets louder.</p>

<p>Another word that could have helped better convey this cringe-idea is 'skill acquisition'</p>

<h3><strong>"...Like China..."</strong></h3>

<p>Kennedy-Ohanenye further demonstrates large scale ignorance by sighting China as an example to buttress her point. Any world leader would know better to research before quoting China for positive points around children and labour. FYI, China had the worst PR for child labour between 2015-2020; perhaps Lockdown had a little blessing on the side. But over here, Kennedy-Ohanenye wants Nigeria on the bad-child-PR list by virtue of mere ignorance; yet again a demonstration of incompetence.</p>

<h3>"...Partner with Traders Union Association...they produce these things, they carry them into a market..."</h3>

<p>Again what business have "<em>children</em>" with market processes and money making?</p>

<p>Schools are for learning, and if Kennedy-Ohanenye really intended to just impact knowledge, why is there a plan for massive trade of classroom products? can we please LET CHILDREN BE CHILDREN.</p>

<h3>“This will not only create jobs but..."</h3>

<p>Yet another pointer that the minister really did not think her idea through well enough or at all. The word 'children' really has no business in the same conversation as the word 'jobs'. Children should be in school for the sole purpose of learning topics, and gaining skills at the elementary level they are in. In school they are being introduced into society; not builders of economy.</p>

<h3>"We will equally curtail the drug intake of our children..."</h3>

<p>If children are indeed part of the global narcotics crisis, to the point that they be given child labour as a distraction, then we need to shutdown the entire world.</p>

<p>At this point, it is also reasonable to suggest that perhaps the minister broadly refers to the range of toddlers to young adults as '<em>children</em>'; if so, this is an even bigger problem. She has no business with the youths based on her portfolio. Hence, if these plans are not for children, which the constitution clearly defines as "<em>any person under the age of 18,</em>" then the minister has an epileptic knowledge of her job.</p>

<p>At the same time, if these plans are for anyone under the age of 18, then the minister has positioned herself as a danger to our kids and should be called to order immediately!</p>

<p>Again, while the Minister of Women’s Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye has introduced herself to Nigerians with the soundtrack of incompetence, a few other ministers appointed by Tinubu have actually <a data-link-role-code="open_new_tab" href="https://www.pulse.ng/news/politics/tinubus-first-100-days-these-appointees-have-hit-the-ground-running/6bcde46">hit the ground running the right way</a>.</p>

<p><strong><em>*Pulse Editor's Opinion is the viewpoint of an editor at Pulse. It does not represent the opinion of the organisation Pulse.</em></strong></p>

During the Anambra State Investment Summit the Minister for Women Affairs Barr Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye spoke extensively on child labour; either by mistake or ignorance.

Tinubu's minister of women's affairs has shown early signs of incompetence [Editors Opinion]

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