Betta Edu Biography – Age, Career, Controversy and Net worth
Betta Edu, a name now frequently mentioned in Nigerian households, is not just a politician but also a respected physician and public health specialist.
Age
Born on October 27, 1986, in Abi Local Government Area, Cross River State, Edu’s journey in healthcare and public service is notable.
Career
She earned her medical degree from the University of Calabar and later pursued a Master’s in Public Health from the prestigious London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, followed by a Ph.D. in Public Health from Texila American University.
Edu’s career took off in 2015 when she became the youngest Special Adviser on Community and Primary Healthcare in Cross River State. Her rapid ascent in the public health sector included leading the state’s COVID-19 Task Force and being the National Chairman of the Nigeria Health Commissioners Forum.
In 2019, she was appointed as the Commissioner for Health in Cross River State, a position she held until 2022.
Political Journey
Edu’s political journey has been equally impressive. Joining the All Progressives Congress (APC) in March 2022, she became the party’s youngest National Women Leader. Her dedication to public health, poverty alleviation, and women’s empowerment has been a cornerstone of her career.
In 2023, Edu’s efforts were recognized when she was appointed Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. Her appointment marked her as the first female minister from Cross River State and the youngest minister in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic.
Accolades and Recognition
Throughout her career, Betta Edu has received numerous accolades, including the Nigeria Quintessential Woman Award (2020) and the Award of Excellence in Gender Inclusion (2023) from the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs. These awards acknowledge her significant contributions to empowering women, children, and vulnerable groups in Nigeria.
Betta Edu’s story is one of resilience and dedication. As she navigates the current controversy, her past achievements and unwavering commitment to public service remain a beacon of inspiration, especially for women and girls aspiring to impact their communities.
Her role in addressing poverty and humanitarian issues continues to be a critical element of Nigeria’s socio-economic landscape.
Family
Betta Edu has done well in shielding her family from the media spotlight. However, she is married and has two children.
Edu’s husband was her friend from school days.
Controversy
Allegedly mismanaged COVID-19 situation in Cross River state
Betta Edu’s management of the COVID-19 pandemic in Cross River state came under scrutiny when the state Chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) accused the government of deceit in how it handles coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the state.
Similarly, the former State Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Cross River State central, Chief Cletus Obun, called for sack of Dr Betta Edu, and other key officials in the health ministry for allegedly compromising the health of the people of the state.
Obun accused the state government of abandoning his wife, Mrs Glory Obun, a laboratory scientist in the state government-owned Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH) when she tested positive for COVID-19. He alleged further that when she was referred to the UCTH Isolation centre, she was rejected and asked to go away since the place was not functional instead of proffering other protocols to keep away from mingling with the public.
Apologised for supporting the #EndSARS protest
Betta Edu was one of the active voices during the #EndSARS protest in which Nigerian youths were calling for the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad unit (SARS) and end to police brutality across the nation.
She would later delete all of the anti-APC tweets and apologise for supporting the protest during her contest for the position of the party’s National Women Leader.
Her statement at the time reads in part, “I am aware of the fact that some of my previous actions as a member of the opposition party, notably my stance during the nationwide ENDSARS protests that gripped the nation in the year 2020, have generated confusion and caused some to question both my loyalty to the APC and my fitness to serve in its leadership structure.
“While I admire the courage and devotion of our party members whose scrutiny of my profile unearthed past comments and positions, I wish to set the records straight and offer a contextual understanding of these isolated comments at issue today by stating clearly and fully the motivations that guided my actions during what was a pivotal moment in the country’s recent history.
“When the ENDSARS protest first broke out in the year 2020 as a civil agitation against the very real problem of police brutality, like most Nigerians, I was sympathetic to the cause, more so because I have equally been subjected to a most traumatic experience by policemen who violated the ethics of their profession and my basic rights as a Nigerian.
“I do acknowledge that a few of my spur-of-the-moment tweets and impulsive reactions to reports at the climax of the event may have been indelicate and distorted my true position on things. I am human, a mom, and thus given to emotions.
“However, I want to reassure and appeal to my progressive comrades who are expressing concern not to reduce my intentions and nuanced political views in the past to a couple of badly-worded tweets.”
As a minister, Betta Edu, paid N585 million into an individual, Oniyelu Bridget Mojisola’s account
After a leaked memo showed Betta Edu, the Accountant General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, to transfer public fund – N585.2 million – into a private account of an official in her ministry, Oniyelu Bridget Mojisola, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordered a comprehensive inquiry into the scandal.
Disclaimer
The information in this article was curated from online sources. TSB News or its editorial team cannot independently verify all details.