‘Madam Due Process’: The Public Life of Obiageli Ezekwesili

Abstract

The Nigerian political sphere dominated by males has often viewed the emergence of amazons like Obiageli Ezekwesili as a break from the norm. The more women are marginalized, the louder and more aggressive female spokespersons become. The post-colonial period in Nigeria has witnessed the rise of many of such women on the political scene. This paper attempts to analyse the public life of Obiageli Ezekwesili with a bid to provide insights into the lifestyle of the exemplary woman and analyse the major forces that spurred her interest in politics. Existing literature on Nigerian women in politics tend to focus on women during the colonial period. However, this paper takes a different approach by identifying and analysing the work life of a contemporary woman. The paper provides a biography rich enough to inspire Nigerian women to aspire for political positions  and become change  agents. It presents  an overview of the early life, educational background, and career of the subject, highlighting the key forces that shaped and ensured her active participation in Nigerian politics. It  also identifies, evaluates and reviews, through the lens of Ezekwesili’s life, the achievements and obstacles women face in the political sphere in Nigeria and other parts of Africa. The study employs the use of official reports, documentaries, journal and newspaper articles and books.