Jeannette Schmidt Degener

Jeannette Schmidt Degener was a Nigerien businesswoman, feminist and politician. A member of the women's rights organization Union des Femmes du Niger, she became active in politics in the 1960s. From 1996 to 1999, she was the only woman to serve as a member of the National Assembly and was elected as the fourth vice president of its Bureau. She was successful in campaigning for the legal age for marriage for girls to be raised from 12 to 16.