By Balogun Kamilu Lekan
Biography
Abike Kafayat Oluwatoyin Dabiri-Erewa is a journalist, politician and the current Chairman and CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission.
Abike was born on 10 October 1962 in Jos Plateau State to late Alh. Sule Erogbogbo and lhaja Alimotu Erobogbo.
She was a former member of the Nigerian House of Representatives. Abike is known for her eloquence and brilliance as an outstanding politician.
Education
Abike attends the Maryland Private School, Maryland, Ikeja, for her elementary education before heading to St. Teresa’s College, Ibadan, for her secondary education.
She then obtained her first degree in English Language from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU) Ile – Ife.
Abike also has a PGD in mass communication and a master’s degree from the University of Lagos.
Career
Dabiri-Erewa spent fifteen years working for the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), anchoring the weekly NTA News line program and developing an interest in social justice.
She retired from the media house to drift into partisan politics in 2003, where she would represent Ikorodu Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives for twelve years.
While in this capacity, Abike served as the Chair of the House Committee on Media from 2003 to 2007,
She was also a board member of Lagos State Broadcasting Corporation Vision 2010 from 2010 to 2011.
Abike stood vehemently against the unconstitutional third-term bid of former president Olusegun Obasanjo.
She also served as the chairman of the House Committee on Diaspora Affairs.
In 2015, she was appointed Senior Special Assistant for Diaspora and Foreign Affairs by President Muhammadu Buhari.
She was officially installed as the Chairman and CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission in May 2019. A position she holds to date
Marriage
Abike was formerly married to Dr Kola Dabiri before they divorced. She is currently married to Mr Segun Dabiri-Erewa.
Net worth
NewsWireNGR cannot independently verify Abike’s net worth.
Achievements
She has received several awards, some of which include
- Officer of the Order of the Niger.
- Nigerian In Diaspora Organization Globe Awards
- This Day 50 Women At 50 Achievers Award.
- Award of Excellence in the Pursuit of Social Justice for all.
- Nigerian Media Merit Award (NMMA)
- NMMA Best Presenter of the year
- Nigerian Women Award as the Most Promising Young Woman
- Young Women Achiever’s Award
- City People Women Award
- UNICEF Child-friendly Award
- Best female representative of the year
- Jewel of the Future Award
- Ikorodu Oga Role Model Award
- Female politician of the year
- Thisday Newspaper Award
- Partner for education and learning(PEEL) Positive Role Model Award
- Grand Commander of Great Ife.
- Distinguished Alumni Award for excellence, Obafemi Awolowo University
- Top 250 most influential women in the world.
Controversy
Abike Dabiri-Erewa was caught up in a controversy when she tweeted about schoolboys kidnapped in Kankara, Katsina State.
In the now-deleted tweet, Abike’s account announced that over 300 schoolboys kidnapped by Boko Haram had been released.
At the time of the tweet, the boys are still in captivity.
She was criticized by netizens who believed she was trying to politicise the issue.
Abike apologized for the tweet claiming that her account was hacked.
She tweeted, “Please don’t credit any post on Katsina boys to my twitter handle. I lost control of my handle in the last couple of minutes, along with my Instagram. I have recovered and changed my password.”
Disclaimer
The information in this article was curated from online sources. NewsWireNGR or its editorial team cannot independently verify all details.
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