Betta Chimaobim Edu, born on October 27, 1986, is a former Nigerian politician whose political career took a turn when she was accused of diverting over 585 million naira ($640,000; £500,000) of public funds into her personal bank account. This led to her suspension as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. Prior to this controversy, she had served as the national women leader of the All Progressive Congress and held the position of Cross River State Commissioner for Health until her resignation in 2022. Additionally, she was the National Chairman of the Nigeria Health Commissioners Forum.

Background and Education:
Hailing from Abi Local Government Area in Cross River State, Betta completed her secondary education in 2001 at the Federal Government Girls College, Calabar. In 2009, she obtained her first degree in medicine and surgery from the University of Calabar. Betta furthered her education with a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Health for Developing Countries from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, a master’s degree in Public Health in Developing Countries from the same institution, and a Doctor of Public Health from Texila American University.

Career Highlights:
In 2015, Edu became the youngest person to be appointed Special Adviser to the Executive Governor of Cross River State, Benedict Ayade, on Community and Primary Healthcare. In 2020, she assumed the role of chairman of the Cross River State COVID-19 Taskforce and later became the National Chairman of the Nigeria Health Commissioners Forum in August of that year.

Betta Edu’s accomplishments also include being a Fellow of the Royal School of Public Health and the African Institute of Public Health Professionals.

Political Journey:
Betta Edu made history in March 2022 when she became the youngest national women leader of the All Progressives Congress. During the 2023 Nigerian general elections campaign, she assured women of a 35 percent affirmative action from President Bola Tinubu.

In July 2023, Betta received a vote of confidence from the state Women Leaders of the APC across all 36 states in Nigeria, including the Federal Capital Territory, during their visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Recognition and Ministerial Appointment:
In the same month, the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Maryam Babangida National Center For Women Development, awarded Betta Edu the Award of Excellence in Leadership for her dedication to gender inclusion and women empowerment. Subsequently, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu nominated her for minister, and she became the first female minister from Cross River State and the youngest minister at the Federal Executive Council of Nigeria in the Fourth Nigerian Republic. In August 2023, Betta was sworn in as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, leading to her replacement as the National Women Leader of the All Progressives Congress.