title: Zainab Maina
text: # Zainab Maina
  
  Hajiya Zainab Maina, FCIA, MFR (born 7 August 1948) was the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. She was appointed in July 2011.
  
  ## Education and personal life
  
  Zainab Maina hails from Adamawa State in North-East Nigeria. She was educated at Kaduna Polytechnic where she obtained a Diploma in Administration and Higher National Diploma in Catering and Hotel Management. In addition, she also obtained a certificate in Secretarial Studies from the Federal Training Centre Kaduna and the Centre for Development & Population, Washington DC, USA where she received a Certificate in Institution Building Activities. She is married to Alhaji Umar Joji Maina, the Dan-maliki of Mubi in Adamawa State and they have children.
  
  ## Political and governmental career
  
  Prior to her ministerial appointment in July 2011, Zainab Maina was:
  
  * Board Chairman, National Commission for Nomadic Education, Kaduna (2009–2011);
  * Board Chairman, Garki Microfinance Bank (1998);
  * Board Chairman, NCWS, Garki Microfinance Bank, Abuja (1997);
  * Deputy Chairman, Police Community Relations Committee FCT Command (1998-Date);
  * Member, Vision 2010 Committee (1997);
  * Board Member, National Programme on Immunization (1998–2000);
  * Board Member, Adamawa State Primary Schools Board (1991–1994);
  * Board Member, Family Economic Advancement Programme (FEAP) (1997–2000).
  
  She was the National President – National Council for Women Societies (NCWS), Nigeria (1997-2001). In the ruling party in Nigeria, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Zainab Maina holds sway as part of the think-tank as Member, PDP Elders Committee; Member, PDP Board of Trustees; executive director, Women Affairs of the Jonathan/Sambo Presidential Campaign (2010); Member, PDP Presidential Electoral/Screening Committee (2010); National Women Representative, PDP Presidential Campaign Council (2007); Delegate, National Political Reform Conference (NPRC)-2005; Women Representative, PDP Reconciliation Committee on theExecutive/Legislative Impasse(2002); International Convener, Home Economics and Consumer Affairs International Council of Women (ICW) Bangkok, Thailand (1993).
  
  ## Non-governmental work
  
  * Founder and President, Women for Peace Initiative (WOPI) Nigeria
  * Patron, Young Muslim Women Association, Nigeria
  * Sub-Regional Coordinator- Anglophone Africa, International Council for Women
  * Member, World Association of NGOs (WANGO)
  * Member, West African Civil Society Forum (WACSOF)
  * INGO Ambassador, International Non-Governmental Organization(London, UK)
  
  ## Awards and honours
  
  * National Award of Excellence towards Women Development Abuja, Nigeria
  * Jean Harris Award – Rotary International
  * Winner of the Distinguished Eagle Achievement Award Newark, New Jersey, USA
  * Amazon Women Award for Contribution towards the Development of Womanhood, Lagos, Nigeria.
  * Africa Youth Congress Award on the authority of the Senate Headquarters, Banjul, the Gambia
  * Merit Award by the Mayor of Atlanta, USA
  * Meritorious Certificate for Loyal and Devoted Services to Development by the Nawar-U-Deen Society of Nigeria
  * Certificate of Recognition – University of Kansas, Lawrence, USA
  * Quintessence Award for Remarkable Contribution to Humanity by media in support of Humanity (MISH)
  * Ambassador for peace by the Universal Peace Federation and the Inter-Religious and International federation for world peace
  * Honorary citizen of Kansas City, USA
  * Fellow, African Business School – FABS
  * Fellow Chartered Institute of Administration – FCIA
  * Member of the Order of the Federal Republic – MFR
  