Full Name: Patricia Olubunmi Foluke Etteh
State of Origin: Osun.
Ethnicity: Yoruba.
Date of Birth: 17 August 1953
Nationality: Nigerian
Marriage status: Married.
Spouse(s): Mr Etteh
Parents: Mr and Mrs Alabi
Residence: Isale Popo,Ikire Nigeria
Language: Yoruba and English
Religion: Christian
Alma mater: University of Abuja
Occupation: Hairdresser, Beauty Therapist and Politician
Position(S): Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives until October 2007.
Political party: AD then PDP
INTRODUCTION
Mrs. Etteh was born on 17 August, 1954 to the family of Mr and Mrs Alabi in Ikire, Osun State.
She started her primary education at Baptist Primary School, Surulere, Ilorin in Kwara State where she obtained her Primary School Leaving Certificate in 1961, after which she proceeded to Aiyedade Grammar School, Ikire, between 1968 to 1973, for her Secondary School Certificate.
Thereafter, she went to London's Morris School of Beauty Culture in 1975 and London College of Modeling in 1976. In her thirst for more knowledge, she attended the University of Abuja between 1999 and 2003 for a part time Diploma in Law course and also has, in view, a Bachelors of Science degree in political science from the same institution.
Mrs. Etteh lost her father at a tender age, which left the responsibility of raising her and her siblings to her mother and the family. It was a tough and rough experience, which may have hardened and primed her to excel in a male dominated field of politics. She Married Engineer Etteh, an Akwa Ibom State indigene.
EDUCATION
She started her primary education at Baptist Primary School, Surulere, Ilorin in Kwara State, she proceeded to Aiyedade Grammar School, Ikire and later she went to London's Morris School of Beauty Culture and London College of Modeling, and finaly, she attended the University of Abuja .
CAREER
She was first elected to the House in 1999 on the platform of AD which, immediately, selected her as its Chief Whip. It was in 2002 that Mrs. Etteh decamped to the PDP, on whose platform she was re-elected to the House in 2003, in realization of the fact that opposition politics of the AD held little future for her.
While in the AD and in recognition of her leadership qualities, she was elected Deputy Majority Chief Whip in the House; a position she held from 2003 to 2007 alongside being the Leader of the South West Caucus in the National Assembly. She remained in that position until she fulfilled her date with destiny when she assumed the position of the first female Speaker of the House of Representatives on June 5,
Etteh represents the Ayedaade/Isokan/Irewole constituency in Osun State She was initially elected in 1999 as an Alliance for Democracy (AD) member, but switched to the People's Democratic Party (PDP) when running for re-election in 2003. She was elected to the position of speaker unanimously in June 2007, and is the only woman to have held this position in the Nigerian government.
In September 2007, she faced a committee of MPs over accusations that she had authorised the spending of 628 million Naira (about US$5 million) on renovations of her official residence and that of her deputy, and the purchase of 12 official cars meant for the House of Representatives. Accusations of theft were chanted at her as she tried to speak in the House, and she was escorted out by security as the situation degenerated into a commotion, though she has not been officially indicted. The PDP officially continued to back Etteh, although some members, such as Isyaku Ibrahim, criticised this stance. Author and academic Wole Soyinka was among those who called for her resignation, while former President and PDP member Olusegun Obasanjo continued to support her. On 30 October, following weeks of pressure, Etteh resigned her position as speaker. Her deputy, Babangida Nguroje, also resigned. However at the last seating of the 6th session House of Representatives, it was agreed that "There is no record or proceedings of the House where Patricia Olubunmi Etteh was ever indicted,"
LOVE, MARRIAGE AND CHILDREN
After her education she Married Engineer Etteh and has two children together.
INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT PATRICIA OLUBUNMI FOLUKE ETTEH
She trained as a hairdresser and beauty therapist
Speaker of the Sixth Session of the House of Representatives
She emerged the first ever woman Speaker of the House of Representatives
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