Thursday, May 3, 2007

Great Women!

Lets mention few of the great women we have both within and outside and say very few things about them.

Margret Thatcher: She is one of the great women we have in this world! She read law and specialises in tax, she is the first and only woman to become a Prime Minister in UK on 4th May 1979. She was a fighter and was nick named 'iron lady' by the Soviet union ministry newspaper even though she was brought up in a liberal home. She fought poverty, she foought for children education, she fought environmental issues, she fought for political stability, she reduced inflation, she made her point and view known and indeed she was known. A Great Woman indeed!

Mother Teresa: What a great mother she was! she was a nun, a roman catholic and founded the missionaries of charity, she preached the needs of people. She commissioned The Missionary Charity in 1950 where she took care and loved those who were not catered for. She provided help for the poorest of the poor in many countries in different continents in the world. She was recognised and commended in the world and as a result was given numerous prizes and awards. May her soul rest in perfect peace (Amen).

Wangari Maathai: She is a Kenyan who is an environmental and political activist, she is the first African woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. She was nick named "Tree Woman" when she founded the Green Belt Movement which is a grassroots environmental non-governmental organisation to help prevent soil erosion by growing up to 30 million trees all over kenya. She was imprisoned several times and attacked violently because she fought for multi-party in other to avoid political corruption and tribal politics. Though divorced due to her strong will this great woman made different impacts in Kenya which is recognised till today.

Nadine Gordimer: A South African playwright and Novelist. A very good friend of her country's former president Nelson Mandela. She won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1991. She writes mostly on moral and racial issues and as a result was active in the anti-apartheid movements joining the African National Congress when it was banned. She fought racism in her country and was part of other political issues. She was one of those who supported the release of Nelson Mandela and made friends with his Attorneys. She was the first person Nelson Mandela requested to see immediately after his release. she is recently active in the HIV/AIDS issues. Isn't she great?

President Ellen SirLeaf Johnson: The Current president of Liberia and the first elected black woman head of state in the world. She won the election with votes of almost 20% margin. she has occupied different governmental and top positions including Director of the UN Development Programme Regional Bureau for Africa. She is a great woman who has been able to prove that women can rule even at the topmost level and do it well.

Prof. Dora Akunyili: Our own Prof. Dora Akunyili is the Director General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). She is an active member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria and also a member of the learned societies such as the New York Academy of Science, International Union of Pharmacology, and International Pharmaceutical Federation. She has helped in reducing the importation and production of bad or fake drugs and food in th country. She regularised and supervised the production process and manufacturing of edible and other consumable goods of all kinds in the country as a resul this Great woman has received over two hunded and sixty (260) awards so far. She is a medical practitioner and a visionary leader.

Chief Dr. (Mrs.) Cecilia Ibru: She holds a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) Degree in Sociology from North East London University and a Masters of Philosophy from the London school of Oriental and African studies. She commenced her career at the IBRU Organisation in 1978 where she held various positions. In 1990, she joined Oceanic Bank as General Manager, Admin and Personnel later becoming Executive Director, Finance and Administration. Cecilia Ibru became the bank's Managing Director/CEO in 1997. She is chairperson, Sub-committee of the Bankers' Committee on Small and Medium Investment Equity Scheme (SMIEIS) Member, Presidential Consultative Committee on SMIEIS, Member World Economic Forum. She is a Fellow Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria and Fellow Nigeria Institute of Management.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala:is a fellow at the Brookings Institution. She is the former Finance Minister of Nigeria and Foreign Minister of Nigeria, the first woman to hold both of these positions. She served as finance minister from July 2003 until her appointment as foreign minister in June 2006. She resigned as Nigeria's Foreign Minister on August 3, 2006. She left office at the end of August 2006, after less than three months as foreign minister. She is currently being considered as a possible replacement for embattled World Bank President. In 2003, she was awarded the Euromarket Forum Award for Vision and Courage. What a great woman!

To mention but a few!!
Do have a great weekend all you great women out there!

Be Happy!!

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