Margaret Icheen (born 26 June 1957) is a politician, an educationist and administrator, she was the first female speaker of a state House of Assembly in Nigeria and in Africa, Delegate to the National Political Reform Conference (CONFAB), Chairman Benue Football Association, Federal Character Commissioner, The Executive member of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF).[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Hon Margaret Icheen | |
|---|---|
| Born | 26 June 1957 Vandeikya Local Government Area |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Other names | Mwuese |
| Alma mater | University of Calabar, institute of Christian Studies, Mkar, College of Education Katsina-Ala Government Teachers College, Keffi, St. Williams Primary School, Keffi |
| Political party | People's Democratic Party |
| Other political affiliations | Social Democratic Party |
Early life and education
editIcheen is from Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State. She attended two primary schools, Our lady of Apostles Primary School Kaduna 1963 to 1965 and St Williams Primary School Keffi, 1966 to 1969, her secondary school at Gye Commercial College in Jos from 1970 to 1974. She then proceeded to Government Teachers College, Keffi, between 1975 and 1977. She furthered her education at the College of Education, Katsina-Ala, (An Affiliate of the University of Jos), from 1982 to 1985, to University of Calabar, and to the Institute of Christian Studies, Mkar from 1988- to 1990.[7]
Career
editIcheen started her career as a teacher in a Primary School, at the Local Government Education Authority, LGEA, Adikpo from 1977 to 1981, and later became the Pay Mistress of the said school. She was also a Principal at the Women Education Centre until 1993.[8]
Political career
editHer Political career started in 1994 as the chairman (Ward Delegate) National Constitutional Conference in Adikpo under the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Going further Icheen won the seat of Member Benue State House of Assembly 1993. She was the first woman to be elected as a speaker and in the house of Assembly in Benue state under the umbrella of People's Democratic Party (PDP) in fourth republic. In 2003 She resigned from her role as the Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly. She was a Member of the Benue State Constitution Electoral Review Committee, North Central Speakers Forum, and also the National Coordinator, North Central/FCT, Women Participation in Politics in 2002.[9][10]
Paper presentation
editAs an edutionist, icheen National Union of Teachers, NUT. Icheen also attended both National and International conferences to represent Nigeria and PDP. Her first conference was the Benue State Delegate to the National Political Reform Conference in 2005. She was a Participant at the Commonwealth Parliamentary AssociationConferences held in Westminster, Abbey, London,The African-Caribbean and Pacific Countries Conference held in Abuja, National Assembly Workshop on Espirit DeCorps and Strategies in Legislative Governance, all in 2000. Others were: Women in Leadership Training, San Francisco, USA, African Parliamentary Conference and UNICEF Mission in Nouakchott, Mauritania, United States Orientation and Networking Trip of the Legislative Strengthening Programme in Jackson, Mississippi, USA, in 2001.[11]
Awards
edit- John F. Kennedy, Fellow Doctorate Award
- African-American International Research Institute, Kennedy University College, USA.
- International Woman of the Year 2000, by the United Kingdom Human Rights Organization.
- Ambassador for PeaceAward, Inter-religious and International Federation for World Peace.
- WinningTeam Certificate of Excellence in Leadership by PDP
- Women of Honour Award, Apples of Gold International.
- Merit Award for Outstanding performance in Politics.
- Club Recognition, by Rotary International Club of Makurdi.
- Excellent Award in Leadership by National Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ.
- Justice of Knowledge, by Faculty of Law, BenueState University, Makurdi.
- Sheroes Award in sport[12]
References
edit- ^ Ngobua, David (2022-10-15). "Margaret Icheen: My mission is for all northern states to own female football clubs". Daily Trust. Retrieved 2023-02-19.
- ^ Agbo, Catherine (2021-10-10). "REVEALED: Top women in politics who are now missing". 21st CENTURY CHRONICLE. Retrieved 2023-02-19.
- ^ "Margaret Icheen desires to have formidable female clubs in the North". Nigeriasoccernet. Retrieved 2023-02-19.
- ^ thevoicenewspaper (2021-03-01). "Margaret Icheen at The VoiceSports forum says: Remove politics from Sports". The Voice Newspaper. Retrieved 2023-02-19.
- ^ "Margaret Icheen Archives". Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development. Retrieved 2023-02-19.
- ^ "Court of Appeal Gives Go Ahead for NFF's AGA in Benin City – THISDAYLIVE". www.thisdaylive.com. Retrieved 2023-02-19.
- ^ "ICHEEN, Hon. Maragaret Nwuese". Biographical Legacy and Research Foundation. 2017-02-28. Retrieved 2023-02-24.
- ^ Edet, Hope (2017-02-28). "ICHEEN, Hon. Maragaret Nwuese". Biographical Legacy and Research Foundation. Retrieved 2023-02-19.
- ^ "Margaret Icheen - Daily Trust - Latest News in Nigeria and the World". Daily Trust. Retrieved 2023-02-19.
- ^ "Margaret Icheen Archives". Premium Times Nigeria. Retrieved 2023-02-19.
- ^ Edet, Hope (2017-02-28). "ICHEEN, Hon. Maragaret Nwuese". Biographical Legacy and Research Foundation. Retrieved 2023-02-19.
- ^ Adejo (2022-11-10). "Amusan, Icheen, others bag Sheroes award in sports". FRCN HQ. Retrieved 2023-02-19.