Betty Jocelyne Okagua - Apiafi (born 19 February 1962) is a Nigerian politician, economist, retired
banker
A bank is a financial institution that accepts Deposit account, deposits from the public and creates a demand deposit while simultaneously making loans. Lending activities can be directly performed by the bank or indirectly through capital m ...
and educationist.
Apiafi was elected to the
Nigerian Senate
The Senate is the upper chamber of Nigeria's bicameral legislature, the National Assembly of Nigeria. The National Assembly (popularly referred to as NASS) is the nation's highest legislature, whose power is to make laws, is summarized in chapt ...
for
Rivers West Rivers West senatorial district is one of the three senatorial districts in Rivers State, Nigeria. It is currently represented by Betty Okagua Apiafi.
District profile
The district covers the local government areas of Abua–Odual, Ahoada East, Aho ...
Senatorial District in 2019. She has also served as a
House of Representatives
House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entitles. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often c ...
Member for Abua/Odual-Ahoada East Federal Constituency of Rivers State since 2007. She is a member of the
People's Democratic Party People's Democratic Party or ''variant thereof'', could refer to:
* People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan
*People's Democratic Party (Belize)
*People's Democratic Party (Bhutan)
*People's Democratic Party (Chile)
* People's Democratic Party (Dom ...
(PDP).
Early life and education
Betty Jocelyne Okagua - Apiafi was born on 19 February 1962. She earned a bachelor's degree in
Economics
Economics () is the social science that studies the Production (economics), production, distribution (economics), distribution, and Consumption (economics), consumption of goods and services.
Economics focuses on the behaviour and intera ...
from the
University of Port Harcourt
The University of Port Harcourt is located in Choba in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, Nigeria. It was established in 1975 as University College, Port Harcourt and was given university status in 1977. The University of Port Harcourt was rank ...
and a master's degree from the
Rivers State University of Science and Technology
Rivers State University (RVSU or RSU), formerly Rivers State University of Science and Technology (UST or RSUST), is a university located in the Diobu (Mile III) area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
As of 2021, the vice chancello ...
.
House of Representatives
During her tenures at the House of Representatives (2007-2019), Apiafi was a strong advocate for women affairs, education and bank sector reforms. Other women elected included
Folake Olunloyo
Folake Olunloyo-Oshinowo is a Nigerian politician and former member of the House of Representatives.
Career
Olunloyo-Oshinowo was educated at St Anne's Grammar school and the International School in Ibadan before attending Obafemi Awolowo Univer ...
,
Maimunat Adaji
Hajiya Maimuna Usman Adaji or Maimunat Adaji (c.1957 – 2019) was a Nigerian politician. She was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2003. She was elected again in 2011 for the All Nigeria Peoples Party.
Life
She was an educatio ...
,
Martha Bodunrin
Martha Bodunrin (born 1952) is a Nigerian politician. She was a member of the People's Democratic Party and the House of Representatives
Life
Bodunrin was born in 1952. She qualified as a teacher in 1971.
She joined the People's Democratic P ...
,
Suleiman Oba Nimota
Suleiman Oba Nimota is a Nigerian politician. She is a member of the People's Democratic Party. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 2011.
Life
Nimota was born in 1963. She studied Islamic Studies and is a graduate in education mana ...
Beni Lar
Beni Lar born (August 12, 1967) is a politician of the People's Democratic Party from Plateau State, Nigeria. She's a member of the Nigeria Federal House of Representatives from Langtang North, Langtang South federal Constituency of Plateau St ...
,
Lynda Chuba-Ikpeazu
Lynda Chuba-Ikpeazu, also known as Lynda Chuba (born 22 June 1966), is a Nigerian politician who gained popularity as the first ever MBGN winner in 1986.Olubimi Etteh. She sponsored several bills and undertook several assignments.
Committee memberships
Apiafi chaired several committees during her tenures in the House of Representatives between the years 2007 to 2019. They include:
1. Chairman House Committee on Health
2. Deputy Chairman House Committee on Diaspora
3. Member House Committee on Agriculture
4. Member House Committee On Niger Delta Development Commission
5. Member House Committee on Banking and Currency
6. Member House Committee on Electoral Matters
7. Member House Committee on National Security
8. Member House Committee on Women Affairs
9. Member House Committee on Women in Parliament
10. Member House Committee on Aviation
House assignments
In 2011, Hon. Betty Apiafi was among a select number of Nigerian Parliamentarians to successfully amend the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria which was assented to by the then President of Nigeria which was assented to by the then President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
She was also a member of the PAN African Parliament 2007–2015, leader of Delegation House of Representatives to PAN African Parliament 2011- 2015.
Senate
Betty Apiafi was elected into the Nigerian Senate of the 9th Assembly in 2019 under the People's Democratic Party. She currently represents the Rivers West Senatorial District. She is the first female member of the Nigerian House of Representative and Member of the Senate from Rivers state.
Committee memberships
1. Chairman Committee on Women Affairs
2. Member Committee on Health
3. Member Committee on Legislative Compliance
3. Member Committee on Rules and Business
4. Member Committee on Petroleum (Upstream)
5. Member Committee on Interior
6. Member Committee on Environment
7. Member Committee on SDG
8. Member Committee on Banking and Other Financial Institutions
9. Member Committee on Ferma