Betta Edu Biography, Net Worth, Controversies, Husband, Children

Betta Chimaobim Edu is a Nigerian politician, doctor, and the former Nigeria Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

She was born on the 27th of October, 1986, and hails from Cross River state, Nigeria.

Education

In 2001, she finished her secondary school education and graduated from Federal Government Girls College, Calabar. After that, she enrolled in the University of Calabar and graduated in 2009 with a degree in Medicine and Surgery.

Betta Edu holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Health for Developing Countries from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). Betta Edu holds a master’s degree in Public Health in Developing Countries from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and a Doctor of Public Health from Texila American University.

Career

Betta Edu’s political journey started far back as when she was still a student at the University of Calabar. She was the Vice President of the Student Union Government at the University of Calabar from 2007 to 2008. She also was the President of the female leadership forum at the University of Calabar.

In 2015, six years after she graduated from the University of Calabar, she was appointed the Special Adviser to the Executive Governor of Cross River State Benedict Ayade on Community and Primary Healthcare, making her the youngest person to ever hold the position.

In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, she was appointed the chairman of the Cross River State COVID-19 taskforce and in August 2020, she became the National Chairman of the Nigeria Health Commissioners Forum.

Betta Edu was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP until May 2021 when her principal, the former governor of Cross River State, Benedict Ayade defected from PDP to APC, and in solidarity, she followed suit. In March 2022, she became the woman leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), making her the youngest person to hold the position.

In July 2023, Betta Edu was among the 28 candidates that were nominated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the Nigerian Senate for ministerial appointment, and on the 21st of August, 2023, she was sworn in as the minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation.

Upon her ministerial appointment, the All Progressives Congress (APC) replaced her as National women leader.

Edu is a Fellow of the Royal School of Public Health in and the African Institute of Public Health Professionals.

On the 8th of January, 2024, she was suspended from her position as the minister over a N585 million scandal in the ministry.

Personal Life

Betta Edu is a happily married woman. She is married to Victor Varman Edu and they have two children together.

They both met at the University of Calabar. Victor Varman graduated from UNICAL in 2007, he was a member of the SUG parliamentary of UNICAL. Victor Varman hails from Abi Local Government Area, Cross River State.

Controversy

During the lockdown and COVID-19, in 2020, Edu was called out for posting fake pictures of ventilators when she was the commissioner of health in Cross River State. The Cross River state chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association passed a vote of no confidence on Edu over accusations of professional misconduct concerning the COVID-19 pandemic.

Betta Edu was also accused of misconduct in 2022 during her campaign to become the National Women Leader of the APC.

On the 8th of January, 2024, Betta was suspended from her position as the minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for an alleged ₦585 million scandal in the ministry.

The scandal caused outrage on social media as Nigerians were furious that she was already involved in such a level of corruption barely four months after she was appointed as minister. The President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to conduct a thorough investigation into the scandal.

Awards & Recognition

• Nigeria Quintessential Woman Award, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development (2020)
• Award of Excellence, National Youth Council of Nigeria (2020)
• Medical Expert of the Year (2020)
• Award of excellence in Gender inclusion, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs (2023)

Net Worth

Betta Edu has an estimated net worth of $1.6 million.

Social Media

You can connect with Betta Edu on social media via the usernames given below;

Instagram: @dr_betta

X/Twitter: @edu_betta