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Summary
The Edo State cabinet has added Dr Elizabeth Onome Ebosele as its third female commissioner. The appointment again falls short of Governor Monday Okpebholo’s 35% female representation pledge. Members of the public are encouraged to sign the petition to demand greater gender inclusion in the state cabinet.
The Edo State cabinet has gained another female member following the confirmation of Dr Elizabeth Onome Ebosele as Commissioner by the Edo State House of Assembly. Her appointment in September 2025 brings the number of women in Governor Monday Okpebholo’s 31-member cabinet (27 Commissioners plus the Governor, Deputy Governor, Chief of Staff, and Secretary to the State Government) to three.
While the confirmation marks a slight step forward, it fails to meet the 35% female representation the governor promised during his campaign. The cabinet remains heavily male-dominated, with key leadership positions, including the Governor, Deputy Governor Dennis Idahosa, and Secretary to the State Government Umar Musa Ikhilor, all occupied by men.
As of January 2025, six commissioners were sworn in, with only one woman, Barr. Marie Olabisi Idaomi, serving as Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development. Eight additional commissioners were confirmed in August 2025, with Eugenia Abdallah being the only woman among them. Now, with Dr Ebosele’s inclusion, the number of women has increased to three.
The current figure still falls short of the 35% female representation promised by Governor Okpebholo during his campaign, as women’s representation in the Edo cabinet remains limited. The governor had pledged to ensure women’s inclusion and equitable participation in governance, a commitment essential to achieving a balanced and representative administration.
With over 500 signatories to the petition, AdvoKC and Naija Feminists Media are urging Nigerians to continue demanding that the state government fulfil its 35% gender inclusion pledge and ensure women’s full participation in decision-making spaces.
