Nigeria's Anambra Names First Female State Secretary at 39

History was made in Nigeria this week when Governor Chukwuma Soludo appointed Chiamaka Nnake as Anambra State's first female Secretary to the State Government. At just 39 years old, she's breaking barriers in one of the most powerful administrative positions in the state.

Nnake isn't new to making things happen in Anambra. Before this appointment, she served as Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, where she oversaw how the state's resources were allocated to support economic growth and community programs.

Her resume reads like a masterclass in getting things done. She's led multiple state boards including the Investment Promotion and Protection Agency and the Small Business Agency, always focusing on making it easier for people to start businesses and access opportunities.

What makes her story even more impressive is the depth of her experience. Before joining state government, Nnake worked as a Senior Strategy Consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers, handling over 30 major projects across different industries and markets.

She even helped develop Anambra Vision 2070, a 50-year roadmap designed to transform the state for generations to come. That kind of long-term thinking is exactly what communities need from their leaders.

Nnake graduated with First-Class Honours in Accounting from Benson Idahosa University and earned her MBA from Lagos Business School. She's also a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, bringing serious credentials to a serious job.

The Ripple Effect

When women break into leadership positions like this, the impact extends far beyond one person's career. Young girls across Anambra State now have a living example that the highest offices are open to them too.

Nnake currently serves as the state's Reform Champion for Ease of Doing Business, working to cut red tape and make it simpler for entrepreneurs to build their dreams. She's also the focal point for Social Investment Programmes, ensuring economic growth reaches everyone.

Her appointment comes as Governor Soludo begins his second term, signaling a commitment to fresh leadership and inclusive governance. The governor also announced several other key appointments, building a team to serve the state's nearly six million residents.

Women holding just 25% of leadership positions globally makes stories like this matter even more. Every appointment like Nnake's normalizes what should already be normal: qualified women leading at the highest levels.

At 39, she has decades ahead to shape policy, mentor the next generation, and prove what many already know: talent has no gender.