The Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has expressed his commitment to advocate for a constitutional amendment that promotes gender inclusion in Nigerian laws. Women’s rights activists have applauded the gender policy implemented in Kwara State for its far-reaching effects and its potential impact on women’s development.
Speaking at a seminar organized by the University of Ilorin chapter of the National Association of Political Science Students, Governor AbdulRazaq urged the National Assembly to revisit the proposed gender parity legislation to ensure a more inclusive society.
The Governor, whose surprise presence at the event drew a standing ovation, delivered a speech on the theme of “Breaking Barriers to Women’s Participation in Politics and Governance in Nigeria: Kwara as a case study”. The seminar was attended by students, academics, activists, and public intellectuals.
Governor AbdulRazaq emphasized that his decision to empower women and sign legislation to institutionalize their participation in politics was driven by the need to ensure their voices are heard and they are not excluded from the decision-making process in the state.
AbdulRazaq stated, “We will try our best to push that agenda going forward. We will encourage other states to go along this time through a constitutional amendment.”
He further highlighted the significance of the National Association of Political Science Students in deepening the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5, which focuses on gender equality. He expressed his commitment to reintroduce the gender parity legislation in the 10th assembly to ensure the SDG 5 is fully realized.
The Governor lauded the progress made in Kwara State, noting that in the previous election, no woman was elected as a member of the national or state assembly. However, the state has now elected five women to the state assembly, highlighting the positive impact of the gender policy implemented in the state.
Furthermore, Governor AbdulRazaq stressed the importance of development partners introducing programs that reward governments prioritizing women’s political empowerment. He believes such programs-for-results would provide a significant boost to gender inclusion efforts.
Other speakers at the event commended the Governor for making Kwara State a shining example of gender mainstreaming. They emphasized that society must provide support to enable women to achieve their full potential.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, earlier outlined the Governor’s initiatives to institutionalize gender equality in government. These efforts have resulted in the passage of a groundbreaking law that is the first of its kind in the country and will continue to benefit the state beyond the current administration.
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