April 29, (THEWILL)- Stella Okotete, President Bola Tinubu’s ministerial nominee from Delta State who was later dropped recently clocked 40. Rather than shut down the streets of Abuja, she instead chose to celebrate her landmark age in a modest manner. Stella, who is an Executive Director (Business Development) at Nigeria Export-Import Bank NEXIM, started off the day with a worship session with her Creator at the GT event Centre in Warri, Delta State in a programme tagged a ‘Night of Worship’.
This was followed by some philanthropic acts that saw her sharing with the downtrodden, extending her hands of love to the needy through her empowerment scheme at Okotete Street in Ughelli, Delta State. She later wrapped up the celebration with a church thanksgiving service at the Christ Missionary Crusaders in Ekpan, Warri, Delta State. Stella who is no stranger to controversy has had it trailing her since she was first re-appointed a director at NEXIM Bank by ex-president Muhammadu Buhari in 2022 for another term of five years.
Many argued that her appointment was against the Central Bank of Nigeria’s criteria for approved persons’ regime for financial institutions, Critics insisted that she was not qualified for the position which required a minimum of first degree or its equivalent in any discipline plus a higher degree or professional qualification in any business-related discipline. Also, whoever occupies the position must also have a minimum of 18 years post-graduation experience, out of which at least 13 years must be in the banking industry and at least 2 years as General Manager.
But Stella, a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, does not have the 18 years of post-graduation experience required to occupy such high office neither does she have any experience in the banking industry as required by the law. Again, despite being nominated as a minister in the Bola Tinubu administration, she had to be dropped due to allegations of corruption and falsification of documents. Well, Stella seems to have moved past all these ‘landmines’ and is living her life one day at a time.
Ivory Ukonu is a versatile journalist with many years of experience, with entertainment and society reporting as her area of core competence.
