Early life and family

Eme Ufot Ekaette born 21 July 1945 hails from Nduo Eduo-Eket, in Akwa Ibom State. She is married to Obong Joseph Ufot-Ekaette since 1971.

Education

Eme had her early education at Banham Memorial School, Port Harcourt between 1952 and 1958. She attended Queen's College, Lagos between 1958-1963 and Queen's School, Enugu between 1964 and 1966. Ekaette obtained B.Pharm. (Hons) at

Obafemi Awolowo University Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) is a federal government-owned university that is located in the ancient city of Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. The university was founded in 1961 and classes commenced in October 1962 as the University of Ife ...

, Ife in 1970.

Profession

Pharmacist, Business woman, Politician, Former Lawmaker

Politics

She was elected Senator for the Akwa Ibom South constituency of

Akwa Ibom State Akwa Ibom State is a state in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria, bordered on the east by Cross River State, on the west by Rivers State and Abia State, and on the south by the Atlantic Ocean. The state takes its name from the Qua Iboe ...

Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...

, taking office on 29 May 2007. She is a member of the People's Democratic Party (PDP). After taking her seat in the Senate in June 2007, Ekaette was appointed to committees on Women and Youth, Local and Foreign Debts, Health and Environment. In a mid-term evaluation of Senators in May 2009, ThisDay noted that she had not sponsored any bills but had shown committed leadership to her Women Affairs Development Committee. Later she sponsored a bill on Indecent Dressing, which became known as the nudity bill. The proposed legislation would prescribe three months imprisonment for women who display their belly buttons, breasts or wear mini skirts in public places. The bill was presented by a Nigerian delegation to the

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmoniz ...

General Assembly, where it drew some criticism, and was a subject of considerable controversy in Nigeria.

Career

She became a Manager Pharmacy at NNPC, Chief Pharmacy at Military Hospital, managing director at Safi Pharm, board member of UBEC and a director of Union Bank. Her husband, Ufot Ekaette, was a senior civil servant who was appointed Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) on 29 May 1999 by President

Olusegun Obasanjo Chief Olusegun Matthew Okikiola Ogunboye Aremu Obasanjo, , ( ; yo, Olúṣẹ́gun Ọbásanjọ́ ; born 5 March 1937) is a Nigerian political and military leader who served as Nigeria's head of state from 1976 to 1979 and later as its presid ...

, and later served as Federal Minister of Niger Delta in the cabinet of President

Umaru Yar'Adua Umaru Musa Yar'Adua (16 August 19515 May 2010) was a Nigerian politician who, was the President of Nigeria from 2007 to 2010. He was declared the winner of the Nigerian presidential election held on 21 April 2007, and was sworn in on 29 May 20 ...

Honours and titles

She was honoured as Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR),2001 and Lady of St. Christopher. She also was honoured with a traditional title as Adiaha Ikpaisong Oruk Anam, 1991 and Obonganwan Akwa Ibom, 1991.

References

Living people 1945 births People from Akwa Ibom State Peoples Democratic Party members of the Senate (Nigeria) 21st-century Nigerian politicians 21st-century Nigerian women politicians Obafemi Awolowo University alumni Nigerian film actresses {{Nigeria-politician-stub