Dear Mother,

In the history of Nigeria, this is a good era for women appointees. The president has done well in this regard. We have more female ministers and permanent secretaries/director generals now than we could have imagined in the past. And the states are taking cue. Good news.

This raises hope for higher women representation in governance and the boardroom in future, even as we keep our fingers crossed for the upcoming elections next year.

The latest cabinet changes swept the recently appointed minister of education, Mrs Nora Chinwe Obaji, away. We hear she was "sacked", some say she was "dropped". No matter. Only that if she was guilty of "obstructing" government's reforms in her ministry, as we were told last week, along with four other ministers, how come only she got the boot?

No loss to our women quota, though, since she was replaced by another woman. I wish I could tell you what her real sins were. But trademark Obasanjo, mum is the word. That is the kind of democracy we have been in, and, by God's Grace, we shall be spared with the demise of the Third Term Agenda and the coming of Elections 2007!

Again, hope rising for Nigerian Women. You should be proud of that!

Love
Dayo