Prominent Nigerians

Full Name: Abike Kafayat Oluwatoyin Dabiri-Erewa
State of Origin: Lagos.
Ethnicity: Yoruba.
Parents: Alhaji and Alhaja Ashafa Erogbogbo of Ikorodu
Date of Birth: Monday October 10, 1962               
Nationality: Nigerian
Marriage Status: Married.
Spouse(s): Mr  Segun Dabiri-Erewa
Residence: Lagos, Nigeria
Language: Yoruba and English
Religion: Islam
Alma mater: University of Ife, University of Lagos, Akoka and John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, USA.
Occupation:  Journalist, Politician Motivational speaker
Position(S): Nigerian politician and former member of the Nigeria Federal House of Representatives
Political Party: All Progressives Congress (APC)
Facebook: ADABIRI BIKE
Twitter: @abikedabiri

INTRODUCTION
Abike Kafayat Oluwatoyin Dabiri-Erewa, was born on October 10, 1962 in Jos, Plateau State, but she is a native of Ikorodu, Lagos in the family of late Alh. Sule Erogbogbo of Adegorunsen Compound (Grandfather), Ajina square, Ita – Agbodo, Ikorodu.
Abike got married to Segun Erewa in 2007, after the couple met two years earlier in South Africa.
In 2015, she was listed among the top 250 most influential women in the world

EDUCATION
Dabiri-Erewa started her primary school education at Maryland Private School, Maryland, Ikeja and for her secondary education St. Teresa’s College, Ibadan. After her O'level she obtained her first degree in English Language from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU) Ile – Ife. She obtained a post graduate diploma (PGD) in mass communication and also a master's degree in mass communication from the University of Lagos, Akoka. She also studied at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, USA.

JOURNALIST CAREER
Abike Dabiri-Erewa worked for the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) for fifteen years, She was anchoring the weekly NTA Newsline programme and taking a particular interest in poverty and social justice issues. She retired from her position at Nigerian Television Authority to stand for election in the House of Representatives, winning with a substantial majority.

While in this role, she stood against the third term bid of former President Olusegun Obasanjo

LOVE, MARRIAGE AND CHILDREN
Her first marriage broke up and she remarry to Mr Erewa.
In her first marriage she has two boys and she has no child for her second husband since both of them have two children each making four.
Her first marriage that broke up was not a moment of sorrow for her, because it didn’t just break up. It broke up over a period of time. Her ex went abroad and never came back. It was painful, but Abike didn’t dwell on it rather she concentrated on her new husband, her children and her job.
THE DAYS OF YOUTH:
Growing up was fun for Abike with a lovely family. She related:  she was 13 years there was a day she came back from school St. Theresa’s College Ibadan, during one of the holidays, her cousins just came in from England and they were staying together at Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja, Lagos. One of her cousins put a frying pan on the fire, and they started dancing to the music of Sunny Ade. They forgot the pan on the fire and it got burnt. Abike had to carry it with her bare hands, she was rushed to the hospital and the nurses said they gave me an award as the most courageous child of the year because I had saved our house from being burnt. She said she still has the scar in her right till today.
She also related another scenario:
She remembered a few of the pranks they played in was St. Theresa’s College, Ibadan, like jumping the fence to buy ‘Ofada Iya Akeem’s rice’. They were there on this particular day without being aware that the vice-principal had seen them. The VP waited for them to come back before she punishes them. Then the good days at University of Ife, I had so much fun on campus. Driving from Ife to Lagos was also fun.
On her successful marriage and motherhood
She has a successful marriage as a result of her husband support

INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT ABIKE KAFAYAT DABIRI-EREWA
She was the Chairman of the House Committee on Media & Publicity.
She worked for the Nigerian Television Authority for fifteen years, anchoring the weekly NTA Newsline programme and taking a particular interest in poverty and social justice issues.
She retired from her position at NTA to stand for election in the House of Representatives, winning with a substantial majority.
She was also the former Chair of the House Committee on Diaspora Affairs.
She was elected for the first time in 2003, and re-elected in 2007 and 2011
She was appointed as the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora IN 2015.

AWARDS, HONOURS, LAURELS AND RECOGNITIONS
She was the Chairman of the House Committee on Media & Publicity.
She was appointed as the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora IN 2015.
Awards

1. She has received several awards from different organizations:
2. Congressman Donald M. Payne (US House of Reps) Award and Certificate of special congressional recognition for her unwavering commitment to humanity and serving as Chairwoman for Nigeria House Representatives Committee on Diaspora Affairs.
3. Nigerian In Diaspora Organization Globe Awards F.R.N people’s choice Awards.
4. This Day 50 Women At 50 Achievers Award.
5. Award of Excellence in the Pursuit of Social Justice for all.
6. OAU @ 50 Ife; Merit Award for Excellence in recognition of her Immense Contribution to Political & Economic Development of the Nation.