Hailing from Abi Local Government Area in Cross River State, Betta Edu’s educational journey began with the completion of her secondary education in 2001 at the Federal Government Girls College, Calabar. Her academic pursuits led her to the University of Calabar, where she obtained her first degree in medicine and surgery in 2009.

Edu’s commitment to public health and development led her to pursue further education. She holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Health for Developing Countries from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, a master’s degree in Public Health in Developing Countries from the same institution, and a Doctor of Public Health from Texila American University.

In 2020, she assumed the role of chairman of the Cross River State COVID-19 Taskforce. This pivotal position underscored her ability to lead and manage critical healthcare initiatives.

Her contributions and leadership were further recognized when the state Women Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) across all 36 states in Nigeria, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), passed a vote of confidence on Betta Edu. They expressed their support during a visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja in July 2023.

In the same month, the Federal Government of Nigeria, in collaboration with the Maryam Babangida National Center For Women Development and the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, awarded Betta Edu the prestigious Award of Excellence in Leadership for her dedication to championing the cause of empowering women, children, and other vulnerable groups in Nigeria.

July 2023 marked another significant moment in Betta Edu’s political journey. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu nominated her for a ministerial position as the Nigerian Senate unveiled 28 nominees for ministerial appointment. This historic nomination made 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.

In August 2023, Betta Edu was sworn in as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. Her remarkable journey from a local community in Cross River State to a national figure highlights her dedication to public service, women’s rights, and her commitment to making a positive impact in the lives of Nigerians. Her story is a testament to the potential of dedicated and driven individuals in the political landscape of Nigeria.

Confusion, frustration and exhaustion
Anger enveloping our emotions
Ensuring ordinary Nigerians become helpless
Because of someone’s desire for revenge

A health facility would only accept cash
A woman had to die, there is no cash
A dead person could not be buried
A white shroud required, also need cash

A marriage could not be solemnized
Dowry must be paid in cash
There is no cash, old or newly designed
What a tragedy for the couple and family?

Small businesses have closed
People have to walk for lack of cash
even with money at bank, one is cashless
One cannot withdraw one’s own money

Don’t talk about our relatives in rural areas
Life is made unbearable and maddening
The political leaders don’t care about us
Yet they want us to give them our votes

Ordinary Nigerians have all become collaterals
Because the old shark want to punish his enemies
At the expense of all of us who have not offended him
Today, we are the collateral damage of the old shark

February 9, 2023
10:35pm
© Yusuf M. Adamu

This kingdom is doomed
its old king is deaf
also totally blind
his council too is deaf & blind
they choose not to see
the cracks on the wall
they refuse to hear the cries
of the people that gave them legitimacy

They are busy listening to an
obnoxious music of power
their eyes only see a false rainbow
while their perceived power
is gradually being consumed
by the arrogance of borrowed time
of momentary control
as they get consumed by their wickedness.

© Yusuf M. Adamu, 2022
September 23, 2022