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Ireti Kingibe Biography

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Ireti Kingibe is a Nigerian politician, businesswoman, and philanthropist. She is the daughter of the late Sir Abubakar Kingibe, former Governor of Kaduna State and the first female Commissioner of Education in the state. Born in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria, Ireti Kingibe attended the University of Lagos where she studied Political Science. She is the founder of the Ireti Kingibe Foundation, an organization which works to empower women and girls in her home state. Ireti Kingibe has served in various roles in politics, including as a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and as a Senator for Kaduna Central. She is an advocate for women’s rights and has spoken up for the rights of minorities in Nigeria.

Ireti Kingibe is a Nigerian entrepreneur, philanthropist, and political figure. She is best known for her groundbreaking achievements and contributions to the political and economic landscape of Nigeria. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, in 1965, Kingibe studied economics at the University of Ibadan and then went on to pursue a degree in business administration at the University of Lagos. She has held several prominent positions in the Nigerian government, including the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Minister of State for Finance, and Director General of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council.

Kingibe began her political career in 1993 when she was appointed as the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, where she championed the rights of women and children in Nigeria. She also established the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development to advocate for women’s rights and worked to increase the number of women in government. In addition, she launched the National Economic Empowerment Programme (NEEDS) to promote economic growth and development.

As Minister of State for Finance, Kingibe was responsible for overseeing the Nigerian economy, promoting fiscal discipline, and advocating for improved economic management. She also initiated the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, which was designed to facilitate investment in the country. Following her tenure as Minister of State for Finance, Kingibe was appointed as Director General of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council, where she worked to attract foreign direct investment in the country.

Kingibe is an avid philanthropist and has donated to numerous charities, including the Ireti Kingibe Foundation, which supports Nigerian women and children in poverty. She also serves on several boards, including the African Institute for Economic Development and Planning. In 2018, she was awarded the Nigerian National Order of Merit for her tremendous contributions to the economic and political development of Nigeria.

Ireti Kingibe, born in Kano, Nigeria, is a highly educated woman. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from the University of Lagos and a Master of Arts degree in International Studies from the same university. Kingibe also holds a Master of Science degree in International Relations from London School of Economics and Political Science.

Kingibe is an avid learner and has continued to expand her knowledge by enrolling in several short courses in the areas of public policy, human rights, and development. She has also attended several seminars and conferences around the world, including the Women’s Leadership Institute in Geneva, Switzerland. She also has a Certificate in Human Rights from the University of Geneva, and a Certificate in Conflict Resolution from the United Nations Institute for Training and Research.

Ireti Kingibe is an example of a highly educated individual who has taken her education and used it to become a successful leader and public figure. Her educational background and commitment to learning has served her well throughout her career and is a testament to her dedication and hard work.

Ireti Kingibe is a Nigerian lawyer, politician, and former diplomat who has distinguished herself in her various roles in both the public and private sectors. After her graduation from the University of Lagos in 1981, she obtained her Law Degree and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1985. She began her career working as a lawyer and rose to become a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). She has also served as a judge of the Federal High Court and was appointed as a minister of Foreign Affairs in the Sani Abacha regime.

In addition to her legal career, Kingibe has held various positions in both the public and private sectors. She has served as chairperson of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), a member of the Senate of Nigeria, and a Special Adviser to the President on Foreign Affairs. She has also held positions in several companies, including the National Insurance Corporation of Nigeria and the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA).

Kingibe has also been involved in several diplomatic missions, including serving as Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United Nations and as the country’s representative to the UN’s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). She is a member of the International Institute for Strategic Studies and a patron of the African Women Lawyers Association. Through her various roles, she has made a positive impact on Nigeria’s development and international relations.

Meet Ireti Heebah Kingibe, an Engineer-turned-politician and FCT

Business Ventures

Ireti Kingibe’s business ventures have been quite impressive. From her early days as a budding entrepreneur in Nigeria to her recent success in the US, Ireti’s business career has been a testament to her ambition and drive. From her time as an executive with the multinational oil company, Chevron, to her current role as an international business consultant, Ireti has achieved professional success at every turn. Her most notable venture is the establishment of a business accelerator in the US, which has helped countless small businesses develop and grow. She has also been involved in a number of philanthropic initiatives, including leading a mentorship program in Nigeria to help young entrepreneurs get started. Ireti’s business acumen and accomplishments are truly inspiring, and she is certainly a role model for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Philanthropy

Ireti Kingibe is a renowned philanthropist and has dedicated her life to giving back to her community. She is an advocate for underprivileged children and is passionate about helping them get access to education and other resources. She has founded a number of charities, both in Nigeria and abroad, to support these initiatives. Her passion for helping others has also seen her contribute to numerous other philanthropic causes, such as providing healthcare and medical services to those in need. Kingibe is a true humanitarian and her efforts have not gone unnoticed. Her work has been recognized by several high-profile organizations, including the United Nations and the African Union. Kingibe’s philanthropic efforts have made a real difference in the lives of many and are a testament to her commitment to making the world a better place for all.

Personal Life

Ireti Kingibe is a Nigerian entrepreneur, philanthropist, and businesswoman from the city of Lagos. She is the founder of Kingibe Ventures, a multi-sectoral business conglomerate, and the co-founder of the Ireti Kingibe Foundation, an organization focused on providing aid and resources to disadvantaged communities. She is also the author of the inspirational book, ‘The Power of One’. Born in 1982, Ireti Kingibe is the daughter of two entrepreneurs and is the third of five children.

Ireti is a strong advocate for women’s rights, especially in her home country of Nigeria. She is a firm believer in the power of education and has dedicated her life to promoting equality and social justice. She is an active member of several organizations, including the United Nations, the World Economic Forum, and the African Union. She also serves on the board of the Nigerian Women’s Fund.

Ireti Kingibe is an inspiring figure and a role model to young women everywhere. She is an example of what is possible when you follow your dreams and strive for success. Her story is proof that, with dedication and determination, anything is achievable.

FAQs About the Ireti Kingibe Biography

Q1: Who is Ireti Kingibe? A1: Ireti Kingibe is a Nigerian journalist, media entrepreneur, and public relations specialist. She is the founder and CEO of the media and communications consultancy firm, Ireti Kingibe and Company.

Q2: What does Ireti Kingibe do? A2: Ireti Kingibe specializes in strategic communications, public relations, media relations, crisis communications, and reputation management. She is also involved in political and social advocacy campaigns.

Q3: What awards has Ireti Kingibe won? A3: Ireti Kingibe has won a number of awards including the National Council for Women Societies (NCWS) Female Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2011 and the Nigerian Media Merit Award (NMMA) Best Female Media Professional of the Year in 2012.

Ireti Kingibe is a Nigerian businesswoman, politician, and philanthropist who has worked tirelessly to promote the development of her country. She is an active advocate for gender equality, women’s economic empowerment, and other issues of social justice. Her career in politics has been marked by her commitment to democracy and her use of her platform to empower the marginalized. In addition to her political activism, she has also been a successful businesswoman and a generous philanthropist. She is an inspiring example of how one person can make a difference and help create a better future for all.

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Facty News

Ireti Kingibe Biography, Wiki, Age, Husband, Parents, Ethnicity, Net Worth, Education & More

Photo of Sarika Mathur

Ireti Kingibe (born: 2 June 1954; Age: 68 years ) is a Nigerian politician, civil engineer, philanthropist, social media star, internet celebrity, media face, and politician’s ex-wife from Abuja, Nigeria. Ireti is famous in the country as the ex-wife of famous Nigerian politician Baba Gana Kingibe.

As per my research, Ireti got into the limelight by joining the Labour Party in 2022. Apart from this, Ireti was also chosen as the Federal Capital Territory’s senate candidate in the 2020 Nigerian elections. According to the sources, Kingibe name also selected as the chairperson of the Leadership Newspapers Group but later she resigned because she wanted to pursue her politician profession in 2014.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ireti Kingibe (@iretikin)

Let me tell you that she has also served in the position of senator multiple times. In addition to this, she also becomes the candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party in 2003 for the Federal Capital Territory but unfortunately, she lost the elections because of minimum votes.

Google News

About Ireti Kingibe

Later, she worked as a former member of the Peoples Democratic Party but she does not go beyond the primaries in 2006 and 2011. After that, in 2015, she joined the All Progressives Congress and this time she also did not go beyond the primary stage later in 2018, she again ran for the sensational seat.

About Ireti Kingibe

As of now, she joined the Labour Party as the Federal Capital Territory and becomes the sensational candidate for the 2023 Nigerian general elections. Read this full article to know about Ireti Kingibe’s wiki, age, net worth, career, husband, kids, parents, siblings, lifestyle, height, weight, and many other things.

Ireti Kingibe Biography, Zodiac & Wiki

Ireti is a politician who was born in Nigeria to her parents. As per the sources, her real birth name is Ireti Heebah. According to the sources, this politician came to this world on 2 June and cuts a beautiful cake on her birthday every year with her family members.

Ireti Kingibe wiki

In addition to this, Ireti’s birth year is 1954 and as per her birth details, she is currently 68 years old (as of 2022). In addition to this, Ireti believes in the Islam religion like her father. According to her birth details, Ireti took birth with the star sign Gemini.

Education & Academics

Let me tell you that Ireti is a well-educated and intelligent lady. As per the sources, she enrolled at Emotan Preparatory School in Benin City to complete her primary education. Later, she also joined Queen’s College to grab her higher secondary education.

Ireti Kingibe education

After that, she moved to Lagos, United States for her further studies and took admitted to Washington Irving High School in 1970 to complete her graduation. Apart from this, she also joined the University of Minnesota to complete her post-graduation in Civil Engineering.

Hidden Facts & Quick Facts

Read Also:- TIANA WILSON WIKI, BIOGRAPHY, FAMILY, AGE, HEIGHT, NET WORTH

Family/Ethnicity/Nationality

Ireti was Nigerian to a Christian mother and a Muslim father. After searching a lot, I came to know that her father’s name is Abdulkadri Lanval and he belongs to Fulani and Yoruba ancestry and is also a retired former politician. On the other hand, her mother’s name is still unavailable on the internet but she belongs to the Asaba and Bonny ancestry.

Ireti Kingibe with friends

Being a native of Nigeria, Ireti holds the nationality of Nigerian by birth. In addition to this, this politician belongs to a Black ethnical family background. According to the sources, her sister-in-law is a famous politician and First Lady named Ajoke Mohammed. More about Ireti’s family background is currently unavailable on the internet.

Parents, Brother & Sister

Ireti kingibe husband/kids.

Ireti has previously married a famous politician, civil servant, and diplomat named Baba Gana Kingibe who is currently working for the All Progressives Congress Party since 2015. According to the sources, Ireti and her husband Baba got married in 2018 in a private wedding ceremony which is attended by their family members and close relatives.

Ireti Kingibe's husband Baba Gana Kingibe

Let me tell you that this Nigerian couple was blessed with three kids including one daughter and two sons. Well, Ireti’s kids’ names are currently unavailable on the internet. According to the sources, Ireti and Baba are not together because they got divorced in 2022.

An old image of Ireti Kingibe with her son

Marriage/Spouse/Son/Daughter

Ireti Kingibe height

Height, Weight & More

Political career.

After completing her education, Ireti started working in Minnesota in the private sector as a worker. Apart from this, she also served at many places like Bradley Precast Concrete Inc, the Minnesota Department of Transportation, and others. Later, in 1981-1982 she overtook a water project of the Nigerian Air Force base in Ikeja, Lagos at the headquarters.

Ireti Kingibe is a politician

After that, Ireti also worked for a construction company in Kaduna till 1985. According to the sources, she also becomes the candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party for the Federal Capital Territory in 2003 but unfortunately lost the elections due to fewer votes. Moreover, Kingibe also served in the position of senator multiple times.

Ireti Kingibe is a candidate of 2023 Nigerian elections

Later, in 2006, she joined Peoples Democratic Party as a member but did not go beyond the primary stage. After withdrawing from this political party, she becomes a member of the All Progressives Congress in 2015 but likewise, she did not go beyond the primary stage.

Ireti Kingibe's Twitter profile

Let me tell you that she joined Labour Party in 2022 as a Federal Capital Territory senatorial candidate and participated in the 2023 Nigerian general elections.

See Also:- LARRY POTASH AGE – WIKI, HEIGHT, WIFE, FAMILY, BIOGRAPHY, NET WORTH & FACTS

How rich is Ireti Kingibe?

Ireti is a well-known Nigerian politician who is doing very well in her career. As per the sources, she earns a good amount of income through various sources such as politics, civil engineering, and philanthropist as well as she also generates a good income through her social media profiles.

Ireti Kingibe net worth

Well, Ireti has never revealed the exact income figures but as per the sources, her estimated net worth is around 10 Million Dollars (approx) as of 2023.

8 Interesting Facts About Ireti Kingibe

  • Ireti is the ex-wife of a famous Nigerian politician and diplomat named Baba Gana Kingibe.
  • This politician is very fluent in English, Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba.
  • Kingibe completed her graduation and post-graduation in the United States of America.
  • This Nigerian politician is quite active on social media like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Ireti Kingibe's Instagram profile

  • Ireti was born to a Muslim father and a Christian mother.
  • Kingibe is a construction engineer and philanthropist by profession.
  • This politician has 1369 followers on her official Instagram profile as of February 2023.
  • Her father Abdulkadri Lanval is also a famous retired politician.

Social Media, Wikipedia & IG

Who is ireti kingibe.

Ireti Kingibe an a Nigerian politician, civil engineer, philanthropist, social media star, internet celebrity, media face, and politician’s ex-wife.

Why is Ireti Kingibe famous?

Ireti is famous for joining the Labour Party in 2022 and becoming the candidate for the 2023 Nigerian general elections.

Who is Ireti Kingibe’s husband?

Ireti has previously married to Baba Gana Kingibe but later they got divorced in 2022.

What is Ireti Kingibe’s age?

Ireti is currently 68 years old (as of 2022).

What is Ireti Kingibe’s net worth?

Ireti’s net worth is around 10 Million Dollars (approx) as of 2023.

Where is Ireti Kingibe from?

Ireti is from Abuja, Nigeria.

Images Via:-

  • instagram.com/iretikin/

Photo of Sarika Mathur

Sarika Mathur

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Ireti Kingibe

‘Women get it done’: Ireti Kingibe, Abuja’s new senator, plans for progressive Nigeria

Up and coming politician will focus on wealth redistribution, female representation and healthcare

Ireti Kingibe is not the usual Nigerian politician. Four years ago, the engineer wife of a former minister was considering leaving the country for the US or Britain, or at least going on a cruise.

The self-declared idealist was “profoundly disappointed” with how Africa’s most populous country was being run. “I told everybody I was done with politics and went indoors,” she said in an interview.

Not long after, Kingibe’s phone started buzzing; minor parties were impressed by her independent spirit. In 2022, she joined the Labour party, led by the outsider presidential candidate Peter Obi, and then in last month’s elections the 68-year-old was the surprise winner in the race to become senator for the capital, Abuja.

In a move practically unheard of in Nigeria, Kingibe has pledged to donate her salary to an “emergency” fund to support her policies, which are focused on redistributing wealth in the city and its poor rural environs.

People cast their votes during the general election in Abuja, Nigeria on 25 February 2023.

“I see so much wrong,” she said. “I see so much that can be improved on, and I also see that most of the people that have been in the National Assembly … They are more concerned about how much money they’re going to make as opposed to what can be done for the people.”

Nigeria faces rampant financial insecurity and a crisis-riddled economy, while corruption is endemic. After the underwhelming eight-year presidency of Muhammadu Buhari, the country has elected as its next leader the ruling party’s candidate Bola Tinubu, 70, a wealthy political veteran and former governor of Lagos.

Though he fell well short of power, Obi mounted the first serious challenge to Nigeria’s two major parties since the return of civil rule more than two decades ago. He upset the odds to win the most votes in Abuja, the capital, and Lagos, Nigeria’s mammoth melting pot.

In the Abuja senatorial race, Kingibe unseated the incumbent, Philip Aduda, who had held the capital for 12 years, taking more than double his votes. She became the first female senator of the city in 20 years.

Women with protests signs march outside against legislative bias in Abuja, Nigeria

Her plans include providing water to poorer parts of Abuja, accessing federal funds for health and education and supporting farmers, of which there are many in the capital territory that makes up her constituency.

“[My values are] integrity, fairness, the more privileged should look out for the less privileged,” she said. “I keep saying society is judged by how more privileged members treat the less privileged.”

Those politics are unusually progressive in oil-rich Nigeria – and certainly to the left of Obi, who focused his presidential run on good governance. Her success in Abuja suggests things may be changing, if slowly.

One metric that is only going backwards, however, is female representation. Nigeria elected just 18 women to its 469-seat parliament in last month’s election, down from 21 in the last general election in 2019. The number of women in the senate is falling from eight to three.

Those figures leave Nigeria 180th out of 186 countries ranked by the Inter-Parliamentary Union for female parliamentary representation, and last in Africa.

Abosede George-Ogan, founder of Nigeria’s Women in Leadership Advancement Network, said political parties had female quotas enshrined in their constitutions but none paid attention to them. According to her, it takes about 5bn naira (about £9m) to run for governor, for example. “How many women have N5bn?” she said.

Another “very serious deterrent” for women is violence, Kingibe said. Politicians are regular targets; Obi’s candidate for governor of Enugu state was shot dead last month. Two female local candidates on a recent discussion programme described having been shot.

George-Ogan said there was also a wider perception in patriarchal Nigeria that women are “carers and nurturers”, not leaders. In media interviews they are often asked about family, children and the home, while men are asked about the economy.

A woman shows her hands in chains while another holds a placard during a protest against legislative bias against women, in Abuja, Nigeria 8 March 2022.

For Kingibe and George-Ogan, the only solution is legislation. Women staged protests last year after parliament rejected a constitutional amendment that would have reserved special seats for them in national and state assemblies. Some have proposed a 30% minimum quota in parliament.

Nigerian banks imposed a similar rule for their boards a decade ago. Women now occupy almost a quarter of directorship positions among the 30 biggest companies on stock exchange.

For now, Kingibe said she would try to make a difference in politics by actively pushing for more female councillors and chair people in the Labour party. She also wants to set up a national lobby for women across parties and among activists.

It is crucial that Nigeria has female leaders, campaigners say, not just because countries with more diverse leadership tend to do better.

“It is very evident that men and women lead differently,” George-Ogan said. “Often by virtue of being male they tend to think about the hard stuff: infrastructure, expansion stuff. Women think about human indicators: about healthcare, education.”

Those are the neglected areas where Nigerians are suffering most. Nigeria accounts for about one in seven global maternal deaths, for example.

There may be other advantages to having women in charge. “I find that when I have things to distribute I tend to do them more through the women,” Kingibe said. “They tend to be totally committed and get it done. The men tend to get more distracted more easily.”

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Ireti Heebah Kingibe

Senate Representative for The Federal Capital Territory (FCT)

Ireti Heebah Kingibe.

REPRESENTATIVE OF THE FCT SENATORIAL DISTRICT.

Early Life & Career.

Ireti, was born and raised in a culturally diverse home to a Yoruba-Fulani Muslim father and a Delta Ibo-Bonny Christian Mother. She speaks Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo fluently.

Ireti's started her education at Emotan Preparatory School, where she had her elementary education before heading to Queen’s College in Lagos and Washington Irving High School for her secondary education. She then headed to the University of Minnesota, where she bagged a degree in Civil Engineering.

Ireti began her career as a Quality Control Engineer with Bradley Precast Concrete Inc. from 1978 to 1979. She then moved on to work with the Minnesota Department of Transportation Design unit, where she also worked as an engineer from 1979 and 1991.She returned to Nigeria for her one-year mandatory service year between 1981 and1982. She was posted to work as a project Supervisor with the Nigerian Air Force base in Ikeja, Lagos.

In 1982 she got to work with the New Nigeria Construction Company, Kaduna as a planning engineer. In 1985, she left New Nigeria Construction Company to work as a consultant for Belsam Limited. Ireti then became the regional engineer for Lodigiani Nigeria Limited Lagos between 1990 and 1994.

She remained active in the private sector as a senior Partner with Kelnic Associates, Abuja, and has been a major supporter of many philanthropic endeavors

biography of ireti kingibe

Ireti's Political Journey.

Ireti entered partisan politics in 1990 when she joined the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP). She was appointed as the Adviser to the party’s national chairman. She has since been on a purposeful quest for elective office, fueled by her conviction that Nigeria can become a first class nation, providing continuous energy, personal security, quality education, disciplined institutions and affordable healthcare to all her citizens.

She joined Labour Party in 2022 and became the FCT senatorial candidate for the 2023general elections. Before the elections, she pledged her basic salary (if she should win) to a special fund to tackle infrastructural deficits in the rural communities within the nation's capital.

On Tuesday, 28 February 2023, Sanni Saka, INEC returning officer, announced the result that confirmed Kingibe as the winner of the senatorial seat in Abuja. The electoral commission announced that she received 202,175 votes across the five area councils where results were declared to emerge the winner.

On Tuesday, 13 June, 2023, Ireti was was among the 109 senators sworn into office as a member of the 10th National Assembly of the Republic of Nigeria.

biography of ireti kingibe

Ireti Makes History.

Since the beginning of Nigeria's democratic leadership history, the FCT has only had one female senator.

Ireti's record win for the seat of FCT Senator happened just few days before the 2023 International Women’s Day (IWD). The Engineer-turned-politician is the second (2nd) female ever to be elected into the office of the Senator for the FCT, and she is one of three women who were elected into the 10th Nigerian Senate.

The Senatorial seat is the highest elective office in the FCT and the senator works closely with the Minister of FCT to represent the people and also take care of the FCT infrastructure.

Message from Ireti.

I strongly believe that embracing our diversity is key to securing peace, unity and sustainable development in Nigeria.

We must no longer be defined as a failed state, battling with intellectual and human capital drain, decaying and non-functioning institutions that we are today.

I am driven by my deeply held belief that a sustainably prosperous future for this country is attainable, and my strong commitment to participating in ushering our great nation into an era of good governance, transparent, competent, responsive, capable, accountable and inclusive leadership, shared prosperity and peaceful progress.

I have lived in the FCT since 1988 and I am committed to Advocate for, Accelerate and Administer Strategic Community-based Development Impact Programs across 17 development sectors, in line with the Goals for Sustainable Development for my constituency.

As I have accepted this call to service, I need your support to ensure that we “Grow a better and Greater Abuja” that embodies Security, Gender equality, Improved Healthcare, Quality Education, Green and Circular Economy, Infrastructure Development, Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Transport.

I am asking you to join me in delivering this message and actualizing this vision for a more inclusively prosperous and sustainable future, where no one is left behind.

biography of ireti kingibe

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Meet Ireti Heebah Kingibe, an Engineer-turned-politician and FCT’s Senator-elect

Ruth Okwumbu-Imafidon

Hajiya Ireti Heebah Kingibe

Just recently, Hajiya Ireti Heebah Kingibe was declared the winner of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT Abuja) senatorial election, thus making her the second female senator-elect of the FCT. The 69-year-old civil engineer will replace the multiple-term Senator Philip Aduda at the Red Chamber.  

If you think her surname sounds familiar, you are right. She was married to Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe, the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (2007-2008), Minister of Foreign Affairs (1993 – 1995), Minister of Internal Affairs (1995 – 1997), and Minister of Power and Steel (1997 – 1998). He was also running mate to Chief Moshood Abiola in the annulled 1993 presidential election.  

Birth and education  

Ireti was born on June 2, 1954, in what one might call a colourful and rich cultural ‘Nigerian’ family. Her father, Abdulkadri Lanval is of Fulani and Yoruba ancestry, while her mother traces her roots to Asaba and Bonny. She had as her elder sister, Ajoke Mohammed, the wife of former Nigeria head of state, Murtala Muhammed. 

As a young girl, Ireti attended Emotan Preparatory School, where she had her elementary education. She then started her secondary education at Queen’s College in Lagos and concluded it at Washington Irving High School. 

The next stop would be the University of Minnesota where she bagged a degree in Civil Engineering in the 1970s. Even now, Engineering is one of the few professions dominated by males, so one can only imagine how much of a rarity it was at the time, to have a female child study Civil Engineering.  

Her professional career  

Ms Kingibe started her career in 1978 as a Quality Control engineer with Bradley Precast Concrete Inc. She left in 1979 and joined the Minnesota Department of Transportation Design unit as an engineer. She stayed at this job till she took a break in 1981 to return to Nigeria for the one-year mandatory national service. She worked as a Project Supervisor with the Directorate of works, Nigerian Air Force base in Ikeja, Lagos till 1982.  

From the 1980s till 1990, Ireti Kingibe worked with the New Nigeria Construction Company, Kaduna as a planning engineer; and later as a consultant for Belsam Limited. By 1990, she joined Lodigiani Nigeria Limited, Lagos as a regional engineer.  

She is a Senior Partner with Kelnic Associates, an Architectural firm in the FCT Abuja.  

Her foray into politics

Ireti Kingibe has had a political career that spans over three decades. She joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in 1990, and at some point, served as the Adviser to the party’s national chairman. Like several other Nigerian politicians, she had to take a break from the political space during the military era that lasted till 1998. When the country returned to civilian rule, she resumed her political career by joining one of the newly formed political parties – ANPP.  

She first contested the FCT senatorial election in 2003 on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party ANPP (now defunct). She joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2006, and the All Progressive Congress (APC) in 2014. Kingibe was to have contested in 2015 on the platform of APC, but she did not go through with it.  

She joined Labour Party in 2022 and contested in the just concluded general elections on February 25, 2023, as the FCT senatorial candidate. During the campaigns, she pledged that if she should win, she would donate her basic salary to a special fund to tackle infrastructural deficits in the rural communities within the nation’s capital. Some said her mixed cultural background made her the perfect candidate to represent the interest of all concerned, particularly minorities. 

On Tuesday, 28 February 2023, The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Ireti Kingibe the winner of the Federal Capital Territory as announced by the returning officer Sanni Saka, amid protests from other party agents. She received her Certificate of Return from the commission some days after and was congratulated by Mr Peter Obi, Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party.  

He had tweeted via his official handle; “A very hearty congratulations to Senator-elect Mrs @ireti_kingibe; the second elected female senator for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. Her election is in keeping with our commitment to women and youth.” 

biography of ireti kingibe

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Ruth Okwumbu has a MSc. and BSc. in Mass Communication from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and Delta state university respectively. Prior to her role as analyst at Nairametrics, she had a progressive six year writing career. As a Business Analyst with Narametrics, she focuses on profiles of top business executives, founders, startups and the drama surrounding their successes and challenges. You may contact her via [email protected]

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Bravo Nairametrix! Your writings are always deep and well researched. I like the write-up on Sen Ireti Kingibe because information about her background has been scanty before now

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Well deserved position. May Almighty, Subuanahu Wata’allah, give you more wisdom and knowledge to execute your programme.

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Congratulations on your well deserved victory. We are looking forward to productive and people oriented delivery of democracy dividends. You are the face we can trust.

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Ireti Kingibe Speaks On Her Victory

Meet Ireti Kingibe, The Incoming Senator Of The FCT + 15 Things You Should Know About Her

  • February 27, 2023
  • Hajiya Habeebah Ireti , hajiya ireti kingibe biography , ireti kingibe 2023 elections , ireti kingibe age , ireti kingibe baba gana kingibe , ireti kingibe biography , ireti kingibe education , ireti kingibe ex-husband , ireti kingibe labour party , ireti kingibe marriage , ireti kingibe new fct senator , ireti kingibe political career , ireti kingibe profile

ireti kingibe

One woman on the lips of everyone during the 2023 elections is non-other than Hajiya Ireti Kingibe.

Ireti is a frontline philanthropist and outstanding advocate of women’s empowerment in the country.

She won her polling unit representing Labour Party in Saturday’s senatorial election in the FCT, defeating the incumbent by a wide margin.

Kingibe garnered 202,175 votes to defeat Philip Aduda of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who had occupied the seat since 2011.

Aduda polled 100,544 votes to come second in the race while Angulu Dobi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) placed third with 78,905 votes

It is no surprise to see her emerge as the winner. In an interview in January 2023, she spoke of her optimism about clinching the position.

biography of ireti kingibe

Here are 15 facts to know about this quintessential woman.

1. Her full names are Hajiya Habeebah Ireti and she was born on June 2, 1954.

2. with ties to delta and bonny, s he was born to a muslim father, who is half yoruba and half fulani, and a christian mother.  she is also the younger sister to ajoke mohammed, the wife of former nigeria head of state, murtala muhammed., 3. she started her education at emotan preparatory school, where she had her elementary education before heading to queen’s college in lagos and washington irving high school for her secondary education., 4. she bagged a degree in civil engineering from the university of minnesota., 5. ireti worked as a quality control engineer with bradley precast concrete inc. from 1978 to 1979 after graduation., 6. she left to join the minnesota department of transportation design unit, where she worked as an engineer between 1979 and 1991.,  7. ireti worked as a project supervisor with the directorate of works, nigerian air force base in ikeja, lagos, between 1981 and 1982 on her return to nigeria for her nysc., 8. she worked with the new nigeria construction company, kaduna, in 1982 as a planning engineer. she then left in 1985 to work as a consultant for belsam limited., 9. between 1990 to 1994, kingibe worked as a regional engineer for lodigiani nigeria limited, lagos., 10. ireti joined partisan politics in 1990 when she joined the defunct social democratic party(sdp). she was appointed as the adviser to the party’s national chairman., 11. she was the candidate for the all nigeria people’s party for the fct senatorial election in 2003., 12. ireti defected to the pdp in 2006 before leaving to join the all progressive congress(apc) in 2014., 13. she ran for office in 2015 under the banner of the all progressives congress (apc), but she ultimately dropped her candidacy., 14. in 2022, she joined labour party in 2022 and became the fct senatorial candidate for the 2023 nigerian general elections., 15. ireti was formerly married to baba gana kingibe, the former secretary to the government of the federation..

ALSO READ: Meet The 5 Women Who Won Senatorial Seats In Nigeria’s 2023 Elections

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biography of ireti kingibe

Ireti Kingibe: A Trailblazer in Nigerian Politics and the Senate

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“I see so much wrong; I see so much that can be improved on; and I also see that most of the people that have been in the National Assembly are more concerned about how much money they’re going to make as opposed to what can be done for the people.” These were the exact words of Ireti Heebah Kingibe, the first FCT female Senator.

Ireti Kingibe is not your typical politician from Nigeria; she is a major mouthpiece of the people whose voices need to be heard.

As an elected member of the senate representing the FCT in the 2023 Nigerian Senate elections under the Labour Party, born on June 2, 1954, Ireti is a Nigerian civil engineer and politician.

Four years ago, the former minister’s engineer wife was thinking about relocating to the US or Great Britain, or at the very least, taking a vacation due to the self-declared idealist nature of how Nigerian politics was being run. “I told everybody I was done with politics and went indoors,” she said.

It was not long before Kingibe’s phone began to ring frequently as curious bystanders expressed interest in her sense of independence and resilience. She joined the Labour Party in 2022 under the leadership of presidential candidate Peter Obi, and in the elections recently, she emerged as the unexpected victor in the contest to represent Abuja, the nation’s capital, as a senator.

Career and Political Journey of Ireti Heebah Kingibe

Between 1978 and 1979, Kingibe worked as a quality control engineer for Bradley Precast Concrete, Inc. From 1979 to 1991, she continued working as an engineer with the Minnesota Department of Transportation Design Section. Between 1981 and 1982, she spent her one-year required service year in Nigeria. She was sent to the Nigerian Air Force installation in Ikeja, Lagos, where she will be working as a project supervisor.

She was hired as a planning engineer by the New Nigeria Construction Company in Kaduna in 1982. She left the New Nigeria Building Company in 1985 to work as a consultant for Belsam Limited.

Between 1990 and 1994, Ireti worked for Lodigiani Nigeria Limited as the company’s regional engineer in Lagos.

She is currently employed by Kelnic Associates, Abuja, as a senior partner.

In 1990, Kingibe was appointed as an advisor to the national chairman of the now-defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP), which marked the beginning of her political career.

She ran as the All Nigeria People’s Party’s senate candidate for the FCT in 2003. In 2006, she joined the People’s Democratic Party. She did, however, join the All Progressive Congress (APC) in 2014 because she found the politics in the PDP to be too much for her. She applied to be a senator for the APC in 2015.

In Abuja, Kingibe joined the Labour Party in 2022, ran as its senatorial candidate in the 2023 elections in Nigeria, and unseated the incumbent, Philip Aduda , who had held the capital for 12 years, taking more than double his votes. She became the first female senator in the city in 20 years.

In August 2023, she was appointed to lead the 10th Senate’s committee on women’s issues. She is indeed a force to reckon with.

Kingibe had also pledged to donate her salary to an “emergency” fund to support her policies, which are focused on redistributing wealth in the city and its poor rural environs.

There were again plans to call for supplying water to Abuja’s poorer neighbourhoods, gaining access to government funding for healthcare and education, and assisting farmers—many of whom reside in the capital territory that serves as her constituency.

“My values are integrity, fairness, and that the more privileged should look out for the less privileged,” she declared. “I always say that the way society’s more privileged members treat its less privileged members defines society.”

Kingibe had assured and vowed to use her expanded authority to handle issues affecting FCT inhabitants in a cooperative manner while upholding an open-door policy to interact with them and gain their vital input.

Expressing her willingness to work, the engineer-turned-politician revealed that she will work with everybody, irrespective of party, to enhance the living standards of the people in the FCT and its environment. Also outlining her vision, Kingibe is committed to focusing on key areas of infrastructure development, education, healthcare, gender inclusion, and job creation in the nation’s capital.

Recently, at a media briefing in Abuja, Kingibe said aside from the highbrow areas in the FCT, there is “zero development” in Abuja, especially in the suburbs. “I’m running because I see a great lapse and lacuna in representation in the FCT, “I’ve lived in the FCT since 1988 and I’ve watched FCT grow from a place where people lived in life camps to a point where people developed, and FCT was number one and everybody looked at it to be the model and pilot.

“If you look at the FCT, if you remove Maitama, Asokoro, Wuse 2, CBD, and the airport road, there’s nothing. The development rate is zero. You can’t go to Nyanya and see decent roads. In 2023, there is no water and no light.

“One of the things I’m passionate about is violence against women. I’ll be creating what I call ‘ Ireti Marshals, who are going to be in the wards.

“In your community, if there is a problem, we’ll get to hear it from the marshals. I’m working on it, and I’m going to fund it to ensure that violence against women is mitigated and eradicated.”

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IMAGES

  1. Ireti Kingibe: Biography, Education, Professional and Political Career

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  2. Ireti Kingibe Biography, Age, Career and Net Worth

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  3. Ireti Kingibe Biography, Wiki, Age, Husband, Parents, Ethnicity, Net

    biography of ireti kingibe

  4. Ireti Kingibe Biography, Age, Career and Net Worth

    biography of ireti kingibe

  5. Ireti Kingibe biography, net worth, age, state of origin, career

    biography of ireti kingibe

  6. Ireti Kingibe Biography, Wiki, Age, Husband, Parents, Ethnicity, Net

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COMMENTS

  1. Ireti Kingibe - Wikipedia

    civil engineer. Ireti Heebah Kingibe (born 2 June 1954) is a Nigerian civil engineer and politician. She was elected member of the senate representing the FCT in the 2023 Nigerian Senate elections under the Labour party. [1] [2] She is a younger sister of Ajoke Muhammed, the wife of former Nigerian head of state Murtala Muhammed.

  2. Ireti Kingibe Biography - Biographyans

    Ireti Kingibe is a Nigerian politician, businesswoman, and philanthropist. She is the daughter of the late Sir Abubakar Kingibe, former Governor of Kaduna State and the first female Commissioner of Education in the state. Born in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria, Ireti Kingibe attended the University of Lagos where she studied Political Science. She is the […]

  3. Ireti Kingibe Biography, Wiki, Age, Husband, Parents ...

    Ireti Kingibe (born: 2 June 1954; Age: 68 years) is a Nigerian politician, civil engineer, philanthropist, social media star, internet celebrity, media face, and politician’s ex-wife from Abuja, Nigeria. Ireti is famous in the country as the ex-wife of famous Nigerian politician Baba Gana Kingibe. WhatsApp Group Join Now.

  4. ‘Women get it done’: Ireti Kingibe, Abuja’s new senator ...

    Ireti Kingibe is not the usual Nigerian politician. Four years ago, the engineer wife of a former minister was considering leaving the country for the US or Britain, or at least going on a cruise. ...

  5. Ireti Kingibe – Ireti Heebah Kingibe

    Ireti began her career as a Quality Control Engineer with Bradley Precast Concrete Inc. from 1978 to 1979. She then moved on to work with the Minnesota Department of Transportation Design unit, where she also worked as an engineer from 1979 and 1991.She returned to Nigeria for her one-year mandatory service year between 1981 and1982.

  6. Ireti Kingibe Biography, Age, Wikipedia, Husband, State of ...

    Ireti Kingibe Biography. Ireti Kingibe is a Nigerian politician and civil engineer. She is currently aspiring for the FCT senatorial office for the 2023 Nigerian general elections under the Labour party platform. The female politician was born on June 2, 1954. Ireti is 69 years old as of 2023. Ireti is the younger sister to Ajoke Mohammed, the ...

  7. Meet Ireti Heebah Kingibe, an Engineer-turned-politician and ...

    Ireti Kingibe has had a political career that spans over three decades. She joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in 1990, and at some point, served as the Adviser to the party’s national chairman. Like several other Nigerian politicians, she had to take a break from the political space during the military era that lasted till 1998.

  8. Ireti Kingibe Biography | Profile | FabWoman

    A Biography on Ireti Hajiya Kingibe. One woman on the lips of everyone during the 2023 elections is non-other than Hajiya Ireti Kingibe. Ireti is a frontline philanthropist and outstanding advocate of women’s empowerment in the country.

  9. KINGIBE,Ireti Heebah – Biographical Legacy and Research ...

    Heebah. Hajia Habeebah Ireti, wife of Amb. Babagana Kingibe, a former Secretary to the Federal Government, is beautiful, bold and brainy. People in the FCT Abuja, repose so much confidence in her because of her unwavering commitment to their cause. At a time when people in the FCT needed someone who could bring to them the dividends of ...

  10. Ireti Kingibe: A Trailblazer in Nigerian Politics and the ...

    Ireti Kingibe is not your typical politician from Nigeria; she is a major mouthpiece of the people whose voices need to be heard. As an elected member of the senate representing the FCT in the 2023 Nigerian Senate elections under the Labour Party, born on June 2, 1954, Ireti is a Nigerian civil engineer and politician.