Princess Dr Joan Jummai Idonije

The Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development and friends of Princess Dr Joan Jummai Idonije celebrated her 60th birthday and retirement from civil service as Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics in Abuja on 3 September 2024. The event, themed “Accelerating Gender Equality: An Intergenerational Dialogue on Beijing+30 in Nigeria,” honed in on empowering and mentoring young women to sustain female representation in public service.

Panel of discussants

The First Lady of Kwara State Prof. Olufolake Abdulrazaq, chairperson of Nigeria’s Governors’ Spouses Forum who declared the programme opened stressed the merits of reaching out to women of substance for governmental guidance.  Asabe Vilita Bashir, Director General of the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development, praised the retiring director for her unwavering dedication to women’s rights development in the country, describing Idonije as a “fearless, passionate and committed advocate. Guest speakers including former Minister of Women Affairs, Josephine Anenih who emphasised the importance of mentorship, training, and networking opportunities for women in public service, urging established female leaders to provide guidance to younger generations. Dame Pauline Tallen former Minister of Women Affairs lauded the retiring director for her resourcefulness and urged her to create an accessible platform for young women to gain knowledge from her.

Cross section of participants

Erelu Bisi Fayemi former First Lady of Ekiti State highlighted the need for networking opportunities to facilitate connections and collaborations among women in public service. Former Minister of Environment and former Head of Civil Service, Amam Pepple echoed the need for empowerment, mentorship, and leaving lasting legacies in public service. Pepple said Dr Idonije has worked with different administrations and is leaving an indelible print as an active, vibrant and resourceful woman.

L-R Mahdi, Idonije, AbdulRazaq, Fayemi

During the event, Dr. Idonije launched a book “Matriarchs of Nigeria’s Public Service: Spotlight on Nigeria’s Female Permanent Secretaries” to support documentation around women permanent Secretaries and expressed gratitude to her supporters, paying tribute to the women who paved the way for her career and vowing to continue mentoring and helping women excel in public service.