Betta Edu Biography
Betta C. Edu (born October 27, 1986) is a Nigerian politician and All Progressive Congress national women leader. She served as Cross River State Commissioner for Health until 2022, when she resigned. In addition, she served as the National Chairman of the Nigeria Health Commissioners Forum. She is currently one of the twenty-eight ministerial nominees.
Betta Edu’s Education and Background
Betta is from Cross River State’s Abi Local Government Area. She graduated from the Federal Government Girls College, Calabar, in 2001, and received her first degree in medicine and surgery from the University of Calabar in 2009.
She holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Health for Developing Countries from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, a Master of Public Health in Developing Countries from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and a Doctor of Public Health from Texila American University.
Betta Edu Political Career
In 2015, Edu was appointed as the youngest Special Adviser to Cross River State Executive Governor Benedict Ayade on Community and Primary Healthcare.
She was appointed chairman of the Cross River State COVID-19 Taskforce in 2020. She was appointed National Chairman of the Nigeria Health Commissioners Forum in August of that year.
Edu is a member of the African Institute of Public Health Professionals and the Royal School of Public Health.
Betta Edu became the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s youngest national woman leader in March 2022.
Betta, as APC National Women’s Leader during the campaign for the 2023 Nigerian General Elections, promised women 35 percent affirmative action from President Bola Tinubu.
Betta Edu received a vote of confidence from the state Women Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) across all 36 states in Nigeria, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in July 2023. They did so while visiting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Also in July 2023, the Federal Government of Nigeria, in collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, awarded Betta Edu the Award of Excellence in Leadership for gender inclusion and women empowerment through the Maryam Babangida National Centre For Women Development, which is led by DG Asabe Vilita Bashir. This is in recognition of her dedication to empowering women, children, and other vulnerable groups in Nigeria.
Betta Edu was nominated for minister by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in July 2023, as the Nigerian Senate unveiled the 28 nominees for ministerial appointment. Making her the first female minister from Cross River State and the youngest minister in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic’s Federal Executive Council.
Awards
Nigeria Quintessential Woman Award, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development (2020)
Award of Excellence, National Youth Council of Nigeria (2020)
Medical Expert of the Year (2020)
Award of excellence in Gender inclusion, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs (2023)
