Princess Atika Ajanah is the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Social Events. In this interview with ENE OSHABA, she shares her passion for amplifying women voices, a passion that led her to leave her banking job of several years to join partisan politics.
What is your schedule as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Social Events?
The role of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Social Events is multifaceted and pivotal in ensuring the effective coordination and execution of social engagements involving the President.
As the SSA, I coordinate events overseeing the planning, organisation, and execution of social events attended by the President. This includes events such as state banquets, official receptions, cultural celebrations, and other social gatherings.
I also manage protocol by ensuring adherence to protocol and etiquette standards during social events involving the President. I ensure that appropriate diplomatic protocols are followed and that events are conducted in a manner befitting the Office of the President.
The SSA equally serves as a liaison between the President and various stakeholders, including government officials, foreign dignitaries, civil society organisations, and the general public.
Community engagement is another key responsibility of my office. Social events provide opportunities for the President to engage with various segments of society, including youth groups, women’s organizations, religious leaders, and traditional rulers. I facilitate these interactions, promoting dialogue, understanding, and inclusivity, and all of these is geared towards the promotion of national unity.
Social events organised by the President’s office play a role in promoting national unity and cohesion and I am usually involved in planning events that celebrate Nigeria’s diverse cultural heritage and foster a sense of national pride and identity.
I play a vital role in enhancing the President’s social presence, promoting diplomatic relations, and fostering positive engagement with the Nigerian populace.
I am deeply honored and grateful for the opportunity to serve in this capacity and I am looking forward to contributing more to our nation’s vibrant social fabric and making meaningful moments come alive.
How has your position contributed to empowering women?
Like I have explained earlier, as the SSA to the President on Social Events my responsibility involves organising events attended by the President, and I make it a priority to include opportunities for women’s involvement. For instance, during events like Valentine’s Day, we actively engaged with women in various communities, such as IDP camps and orphanages, ensuring they are part of the initiatives.
Moreover, the President and his wife are staunch advocates of women’s empowerment, evident in initiatives like the Renewed Hope Agenda, which has seen tangible impacts like empowering female farmers and providing grants to women entrepreneurs, catalysing their businesses’ growth.
Reflecting on your journey, how did you transition from banking to politics?
Self-belief has been paramount in my journey. Transitioning from a banking career to politics was driven by a desire to have my voice heard. Through active participation and determination, I progressed from serving as SA to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to my current role as SSA to the President.
I encourage young women to cultivate self-confidence and pursue their aspirations relentlessly.
Despite common misconceptions, my journey has been supported by numerous women mentors and peers, this is against the narrative that women dont support each other, the importance of women uplifting one another cannot be overemphasised.
I always encourage younger women to believe in themselves and pursue their dreams relentlessly because the drive to achieve lies within oneself more than anyone else’s support.
Despite the misconception that women don’t support each other, I’ve personally experienced immense support from fellow women throughout my journey. Mentors like Eugenia Abu, Abike Dabiri, and Dr. Ramat Tijani Aliu, have played pivotal roles in guiding me, underscoring the significant contributions of women to each other’s success.
I actively seek opportunities to uplift other women and have benefited from the solidarity of female peers. In my observation, it’s often the actions of men that perpetuate discord among women. However, we are progressing towards stronger unity and support among women, transcending the barriers created by external factors.
Notwithstanding increased female participation in politics, women remain underrepresented in leadership positions. What’s your take on this?
The underrepresentation of women in leadership roles poses a significant obstacle to Nigeria’s progress. Lack of equitable legislative frameworks, exemplified by the failure to pass the equity bill, hinders women’s political advancement.
However, with the emergence of female-friendly leaders in key positions like the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives, there’s optimism for legislative reforms that promote gender equality.
Implementing measures like rotational positions and equal opportunities can level the playing field, fostering women’s political inclusion and driving national development.
Implementing laws that ensure equal opportunities for both men and women in politics is essential for fostering a level playing field. For instance, adopting measures like rotational positions, where one out of the three senators representing a state must be a woman regardless of political party affiliation, promotes gender parity. With such frameworks in place, the political landscape becomes more inclusive, allowing the most qualified women to emerge and contribute to Nigeria’s progress. This approach serves as a significant catalyst for advancing women’s representation and empowerment in the country.
What is your perspective on the rejection of the Gender Bills by the 9th Assembly?
While the rejection of the Gender Bills by the 9th Assembly was disappointing, I am optimistic that the current composition of the Senate and House of Representatives, with strong female representation, bodes well for their reconsideration.
Passing these Bills is imperative to ensure the fair representation of Nigerian women in politics, signaling a positive step towards gender parity and inclusive governance.
How crucial do you deem it to invest in women development?
Women empowerment transcends mere ministerial positions, as evidenced by their leadership in crucial agencies and community engagements.
Investing in women is paramount for accelerating progress, as they possess the innate ability to transform homes into vibrant centers of growth and prosperity. Recognising this, the President’s commitment to women’s empowerment, coupled with initiatives like the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), underscores the pivotal role women play in nation-building. Therefore, urging every individual to invest in women’s development is not just beneficial for gender equality but also instrumental in achieving national development goals.
Investing in women is paramount for accelerating progress and building a stronger nation. There’s a saying that when you invest in a man, you build an individual, but when you invest in a woman, you build a nation. This notion underscores the transformative power of women in driving societal development.
Women have a unique ability to turn a house into a home and multiply resources, making them indispensable contributors to national growth.
When we invest in women, whether through education, economic opportunities, or leadership roles, we unleash their potential to effect positive change on a broader scale.
Their resilience, resourcefulness, and ability to nurture not only benefit their families but also uplift entire communities.
Furthermore, it’s crucial to recognise that every man has a woman in his life, whether it’s a mother, sister, wife, or daughter. By investing in the women in their lives, men contribute to the collective advancement of society.
Empowering women not only benefits individuals but also fosters a more equitable and prosperous nation for all. Therefore, it’s imperative for every individual, regardless of gender, to support and invest in women development, as it is key to achieving our national goals and aspirations.
