5 Notable Female Role Models from Akwa Ibom

Akwa Ibom is situated in the South-South region in Nigeria. Created in 1987, it is known as the Land of Promise. Over the years, the state has produced achievers in various fields. NRTC takes a look at some notable female role models from the state.

Mayen Adetiba

Engr. Adetiba is the first female graduate of Engineering in the entire South-South region in Nigeria. She is also the first female president, Association of Consulting Engineers in Nigeria. Born on April 17, 1951, Adetiba’s parents are both from Ibeno in Akwa Ibom State.

She is also an actress who has some works to her credit. In 1969, she featured in Kongi’s Harvest, a play directed by Wole Soyinka. One of her children, Kemi Adetiba, is a prolific filmmaker.

Adetiba graduated with a B.Sc. from the Prestigious Columbia University School of Engineering, United States of America in 1975. She has a Master of Engineering Civil (MEC) from Cornell University School of Engineering, New York, both Ivy League Universities in 1976.

Margaret Obi

Margaret Obi is the wife of the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi. She is a former First Lady of Anambra State and has been married to Obi since 1992. The mother of two is also a women’s right activist.

She saw to the creation of family courts in the state’s Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Social Development. The aim was to deal with issues involving the abuse of children and the violation of women’s rights; especially widows ensuring they inherit their deceased husband’s properties.

As the presidential elections draw close, Obi’s wife has been very supportive of her husband’s campaign. She and her team successfully organised townhall meetings with women across the 36 states in the country, including the Federal Capital Territory.

Emem Isong

Isong is a prolific filmmaker whose works speak for her. She is a graduate of Theater Arts from the University of Calabar, Cross Rivers State. Some of her works include Knocking on Heaven’s Door, Silver Lining, Reloaded, Games Men Play, Behind Closed Doors, among others.

Her contributions to the industry have not gone unnoticed as she has got some recognition for her works. In 2011, she won Best Movie Producer at the Eloy Awards for I’ll Take My Chances, among others.

Dorothy Ufot

Ufot is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria from Akwa Ibom State. She was called to the bar in 1989. She is the founding partner of Dorothy Ufot & Co., a leading Nigerian full-service law firm where she heads the international arbitration and litigation departments of the firm.

Since 2016, she has been a member of the Court of Arbitration of the Casablanca International Mediation and Arbitration Centre (CIMAC), Morocco. In 2000, she became a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators London.

She is a graduate of Political Science, University of Calabar, Cross River State (1983). Thereafter, she obtained an LL.B degree from the University of Lagos in 1988.

She has also got some recognition for her works. In 2020, she was awarded the African Arbitrator of the Year by the African Arbitration Association. This was for her contributions in Arbitration and Commercial Law. Also, she is recognised as a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, United Kingdom.

Kate Henshaw

Henshaw is a popular actress born on born 19 July 1971. In July 2014, she officially declared interest to run for political office to represent the Calabar Municipal/Odukpani Federal constituency under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party. However, she lost the ticket. In December 2015, she was appointed as Special Adviser, Liaison Lagos, by the Governor of Cross River State, Ben Ayade.

Her works in Nollywood has not gone unnoticed. In 2008, she won the Africa Movie Academy Award (AMAA) for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in the movie Stronger than Pain. In 2011, Henshaw was honored by the Nigerian federal government as a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR).