Former Nigerian Ambassador to Ethiopia and now a member of the House of Representatives where she represents Calabar/ Odukpani Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Hon. Nkoyo Toyo has been in the forefront of civil society movement. The founder of Gender and Development Action-GADA, Nkoyo is a veteran in gender advocacy and issues pertaining to governance. Nkoyo Toyo has sponsored bills like electoral reforms issues and that hasn’t got anything to do with my people but with my sectorial interest which is gender and social development. I’m however working on something that has to do with social work as an act. PROFILE OF HON. AMB NKOYO TOYO
Hon.Amb. Nkoyo Toyo is a
lawyer and social advocate of over 30 years, she has been engaged in several
social issues including those of human deprivation, inequities and women’s
rights. Born of an agriculturalist father and an entrepreneurial mother,
Hon. Nkoyo grew up in Northern Nigeria with seven other siblings.
Education
Her early education started at
University Primary School Nsuka, from where she went to Union Secondary School,
Ibiaku in today AkwaIbom State. She subsequently attended Amadu Bello
University where she studied Law; University of Lagos where she obtained her
Master in Law; University of Sussex in the UK; where she obtained another
Masters in Governance and Development.
Career
Her early work life started as
a practicing lawyer and later she went into development activities, founding
the Gender and Development Action (GADA), a leading National NGO on issues of
equitable rights between men and women. Nkoyo has worked for several national
and international organizations.
Driven by a desire to change
governance in Nigeria, Nkoyo contested in 2003 for the National Assembly; an
expedition that she achieved after three years elections lasting over 10years.
In between elections she was
appointed Nigeria’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the
African Union in 2008.
An outspoken advocate for women
and youth; Hon. Nkoyo hopes to be remembered for bringing the fine issues of
governance into big Governments. She is a member of House of the National
Assembly representing Calabar and Odukpani Federal Constituency of Cross
River State. Hon. Nkoyo is a member of several Committees including House
Committees on Justice, National Planning, Health, Foreign Affairs, and
Millennium Development to mention a few.