Ireti Kingibe Biography
Hajiya Ireti Heebah Kingibe was born on 2 June 1954, in Lagos State, Nigeria. Her diverse heritage includes a Muslim father, Abdulquadri Lanval, of Yoruba and Fulani descent, and a Christian mother with connections to Delta and Bonny in Rivers State.
Sadly, Ireti lost her mother at the tender age of five, leaving her upbringing in the hands of her strict but nurturing father. She has two brothers and a sister, with Ajoke Muhammed, the wife of former Nigerian head of state Murtala Muhammed, being her younger sister.
Ireti Kingibe Education
Ireti’s educational journey began at Emotan Preparatory School. She furthered her secondary education at Queen’s College Lagos and Washington Irving High School. The pursuit of her passion for engineering led her to the University of Minnesota, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering in 1980. This achievement marked her as one of the few female engineers in Nigeria during that era.
Ireti Kingibe Career
Early Career in the United States
Ireti Kingibe commenced her professional journey as a Quality Control Engineer with Bradley Precast Concrete Inc. from 1978 to 1979, showcasing her dedication to the field shortly after completing her engineering degree.
Engineer in Nigeria
Her commitment to her homeland drew her back during the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) year in 1981-1982. Assigned as a project supervisor at the Nigerian Air Force base in Ikeja, Lagos, she contributed her skills to national projects. Following her service year, Ireti joined the New Nigeria Construction Company in Kaduna as a planning engineer in 1982, later transitioning to the role of a consultant for Belsam Limited in 1985.
Regional Engineer and Consulting Roles
Ireti’s career trajectory saw her as the regional engineer for Lodigiani Nigeria Limited in Lagos from 1990 to 1994. Currently, she serves as a senior partner with Kelnic Associates, Abuja, contributing her extensive expertise to engineering and consultancy projects.
Ireti Kingibe Political Career
Ireti Kingibe’s foray into politics dates back to 1990 when she was appointed as an Adviser to the National Chairman of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Over the years, she navigated the complex political landscape, contesting as the FCT senatorial candidate for the All Nigeria People’s Party in 2003. Subsequently, she defected to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in 2006. In 2014, disillusioned with the politics within the PDP, she joined the All Progressive Congress (APC). Her commitment led her to the Labour Party in 2022, and she emerged as their FCT senatorial candidate for the 2023 elections, securing victory.
Senate and Committee Appointment
After winning the 2023 Nigerian Senate elections under the Labour party, Ireti Kingibe assumed the role of the chairman of the Senate Committee on Women Affairs. Her dedication to community development manifested in her pledge to contribute her basic salary to a fund addressing infrastructural deficits in rural communities within the nation’s capital.
Controversy and INEC Dispute
Despite her success, controversy arose following her victory. On Tuesday, 28 February 2023, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared her the winner of the Federal Capital Territory, an announcement met with dissent from other political parties’ agents. The authenticity of the results was questioned, leading to an uncooperative stance by opposing parties. Ireti Kingibe, at a press conference, vehemently defended her win, accusing opposition parties of bribery and expressing concerns about an alleged attempt to rig her out of the election.
Ireti Kingibe Personal Life
Marriage and Family
Ireti Kingibe was previously married to Baba Gana Kingibe, the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and a veteran politician. The couple shares two sons and one daughter. However, the marriage ended in divorce.
Religious Affiliation
As a Muslim from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ireti’s life is guided by her religious beliefs.
Ireti Kingibe Net Worth
As of 2024, Ireti Kingibe’s net worth is estimated to be around $2 million. Beyond her Senate salary of $48,000 per annum, she generates income from her engineering consultancy business. Investments in real estate and agriculture contribute to her financial portfolio.
Ireti Kingibe Awards and Recognition
Throughout her career, Ireti Kingibe has garnered recognition for her exceptional contributions. Some of her notable awards include the African Women Leadership Award (2018), Women Achievers Award (2019), Iconic Woman Award (2020), Outstanding Senator Award (2021), and Women in Politics Award (2022).
Other Facts About Ireti Kingibe
Recently, Hajiya Ireti Heebah Kingibe emerged as the winner of the senatorial election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT Abuja), making her the second female senator-elect of the FCT. At 69 years old, this civil engineer is set to replace the longstanding Senator Philip Aduda in the Red Chamber.
If the surname “Kingibe” rings a bell, that’s because she was married to Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe, a figure with an extensive political career in Nigeria. Her husband served as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Internal Affairs, Minister of Power and Steel, and was also the running mate to Chief Moshood Abiola in the annulled 1993 presidential election.
Born on June 2, 1954, Ireti comes from a culturally diverse Nigerian family. Her father, Abdulkadri Lanval, has Fulani and Yoruba ancestry, while her mother’s roots trace back to Asaba and Bonny. She is the younger sister of Ajoke Mohammed, the wife of former Nigerian head of state, Murtala Muhammed.
Ireti’s educational journey began at Emotan Preparatory School for her elementary education. She continued her secondary education at Queen’s College in Lagos and concluded it at Washington Irving High School. Subsequently, she pursued a degree in Civil Engineering at the University of Minnesota in the 1970s, a field still predominantly male-dominated at the time.
Her career kicked off in 1978 as a Quality Control engineer with Bradley Precast Concrete Inc. She later joined the Minnesota Department of Transportation Design unit as an engineer. After a break for national service in Nigeria from 1981 to 1982, she worked as a Project Supervisor with the Directorate of works, Nigerian Air Force base in Ikeja, Lagos.
From the 1980s to 1990, Ireti Kingibe worked with various organizations, including the New Nigeria Construction Company in Kaduna, Belsam Limited as a consultant, and Lodigiani Nigeria Limited in Lagos as a regional engineer. Currently, she serves as a Senior Partner with Kelnic Associates, an architectural firm in FCT Abuja.
Her political career spans over three decades, starting with her entry into the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in 1990. She took a break during the military era but returned to politics after the country returned to civilian rule. She has been associated with several political parties, including ANPP, PDP, APC, and finally, the Labour Party in 2022.
In the recent general elections on February 25, 2023, as the FCT senatorial candidate for the Labour Party, Ireti Kingibe emerged victorious. During her campaigns, she pledged to donate her basic salary to a special fund addressing infrastructural deficits in rural communities within the nation’s capital. Notably, her mixed cultural background has been seen as an asset, representing the interests of various groups, particularly minorities.
On Tuesday, February 28, 2023, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Ireti Kingibe the winner of the Federal Capital Territory senatorial seat, amid protests from other party agents. She received her Certificate of Return from the commission, and her victory was congratulated by Mr. Peter Obi, the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, who commended her commitment to women and youth.
Conclusion
Hajiya Ireti Heebah Kingibe, at 69 years old, stands as a trailblazer in the fields of civil engineering and Nigerian politics. Her journey, marked by educational achievements, a successful engineering career, and a resilient political trajectory, reflects a commitment to service and community development. Despite controversies, she remains a dedicated representative, striving to address infrastructural deficits and championing women’s affairs in the Senate.
Sage is a financial/consumer journalist and senior editor, personal finance, of TrendsHQ. EXPERTISE: Personal Finance, Careers, Jobs, Scholarships, and Entertainment.