The Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, has taken decisive action against an event titled “Unveiling the Power of Women and Food Security,” which she claims was held without the ministry’s approval.
The minister disclosed that the event’s organizer has been taken into custody by the Department of State Services (DSS) for allegedly impersonating the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs.
The incident occurred in Abuja on Thursday when Kennedy-Ohanenye received information about the unauthorized use of the ministry’s name.
In a video posted on her X (formerly Twitter) page, she explained the circumstances surrounding her intervention.
“It got to my notice earlier today that some group of people were using the name of the ministry for some unscrupulous activities. Upon getting this information, I stormed the alleged fraudulent event conducted in the Ministry’s name,” she said.
The minister further elaborated on the situation, stating, “There is an impersonating thing going on here. The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs did not plan this. The lady, I have arrested her. Right now, she is with the Department of State Service (DSS).”
Kennedy-Ohanenye expressed her dismay at the organizer’s actions, especially after the ministry had officially canceled the event with presidential approval. Despite this, the organizer reportedly proceeded with the event under the ministry’s banner, which the minister classified as fraudulent.
“This is impersonation. As far as this thing was given out there, that makes it a fraud. So, that is why I am standing here to explain this to everyone. She has been arrested,” Kennedy-Ohanenye said.
She criticized the organizer, identified as Mela-Chiyoma Pat Limited, for not using her own name instead of misrepresenting the ministry.
“She should have organized herself, used her name to make an invitation, and used her name to do this and not to use the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs,” the minister added.
Kennedy-Ohanenye made it clear that she could not allow the program to continue, citing the severity of the impersonation.
“I can’t allow this programme to move on. I am sorry about it because this is pure impersonation, and the president is not happy about it,” she stated emphatically.
In her closing remarks, the minister emphasized the importance of not taking governmental institutions for granted. “You don’t do this. You don’t take the ministry for granted,” she concluded.