Amal Inyingiala Pepple is a former Head of the Federal Civil Service of the Federation and former Minister of Housing, Land and Urban Development. She is a seasoned public servant and a consummate administrator, Pepple was born in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State. She obtained a First Class Honours degree in Political Science from University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) in 1975 and MSC. degree from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, in 1981.
Pepple has a very rich experience of service to Nigeria, with a professional career spanning several sectors within the executive and legislative arms of government.
She served as a Director first in the Federal Civil Service Commission, then in the Economic Affairs Office, the Presidency, before she was appointed, at various times, as Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministries of Finance, Transport and Information and National Orientation.
She further served as a Permanent Secretary in the Federal Civil Service Commission and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, in which capacity she doubled as the Governor of OPEC for Nigeria, and a fellow of the Petroleum Training Institute. Also, she served as Permanent Secretary in the Ministries of Agriculture and Commerce.
In the legislative arm, Pepple was the Clerk Designate in the Senate and the Clerk of the Senate between 1990 and 1993. Some of the many honours of Pepple in the course of her rich national service were: Governor, Common Fund for Commodities; Alternate Governor, International Fund for Agricultural Development; Governor, OPEC Fund for International Development; Alternate Governor, Islamic Development Bank; Alternate Governor, International Monetary Fund; and Alternate Governor, African Development Bank.
Pepple equally served on the Boards of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Zenith Bank Plc and Oando Plc. Her interest in politics and political education informed her engagement as a lecturer in Political Science at Rivers State College of Education, Port Harcourt, Deputy Secretary of the 1989 Constituent Assembly, Administrative Secretary of the defunct Social Democratic Party, and the Sole Administrator of the then United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP).
For her service to Nigeria and humanity, she was conferred with the National Honours of the Officer of the Order of the Niger, OON (2003) and the Commander of the Federal Republic, CFR (2008) by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Pepple was, in April 2013, elected President of the 24th Session of the Governing Council of UN-Habitat.
Until her appointment as a Director in Suntrust Bank, she was a Member of the Board of Trustees, Lady Dorcas Orphanage, Diocese of Abuja (Anglican Communion).
She was the second awardee at WIMBIZ annual conference during the female achiever’s award ceremony. She broke the glass ceiling by being a pioneer woman to head the civil service of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. She was celebrated for her contribution to the development of the public sector.
During her acceptance speech at the award presentation which took place yesterday 7th of November 2019, she stressed on the need to support each other as women and to be actively involved in politics. She shared on the challenges women in politics face, identifying finance as a major challenge. For her, if finance is available, more women will be encouraged to participate in politics.
She also advised women never to see themselves as inferior to men. Using her story as an example, she said she was the only female in her class while at school and she came out tops with a First Class degree.
According to Amal, the fact that you are a woman is not a reason to limit yourself because, if given the same opportunity, what a man can do, a woman can do better.
Her expression of gratitude at the award and commendation of the organisers revealed the state of her heart. She encouraged women to be supportive of each other at all times and in all things.
