Kwara Gov Calls For Revision, Strengthening Of Gender Equality Laws In Nigeria

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq  of Kwara state , who is Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), has promised to champion a national advocacy for a constitutional amendment to strengthen gender equality laws in Nigeria. 

Women rights activists  have also acknowledged the profound impacts  the Kwara gender policy  has had  on the country and its implications for women development.

AbdulRazaq’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Rafiu Ajakaye noted in a statement made available to Team@orientactualmags.com that the governor spoke during the seminar organized by the University of Ilorin chapter of the National Association of Political Science Students on Wednesday.

The governor , the statement added, has urged the National Assembly to revisit the proposed gender parity legislation for a more inclusive society. 

The governor, who had given the students a surprise by attending the event and had received a standing ovation, had ‘Breaking Barriers to Women Participation in Politics and Governance in Nigeria: Kwara as a case study’ as his keynote topic. 

The event was attended by dozens of students, top academics, activists, and public intellectuals, including representative of the First Lady and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tertiary Education ,Hajiya Habibat Salman Saidu; Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Professor I.P. Ifabiyi; former Dean of the Faculty, Professor Hassan Saliu; Head of Department of Political Science, Dr. Adebola Bakare; Professor Adedoyin Jolade Omede; Dr Abdulwasiu Olayinka Tejidini; youth development advocate, Barrister Temitope Titilope Anifowoshe; President of  the National Association of Political Science Students (NAPSS) , University of Ilorin, Raheem Azeez Arisekola; and Azeezat Adekanye of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife. 

The governor recalled that his decision to give voice to women, including signing a legislation to make it a permanent feature of the political space, was to ensure that they are not shut out of the decision-making process in the state. 

‘We will try our best to push that agenda going forward. We will encourage other states to go along this time through constitutional amendment’ AbdulRazaq later  told newsmen .

 The event featured a public lecture and the unveiling   of the  Classic Magazine  which was produced by  the National Association of Political Science Students (NAPSS), University of Ilorin chapter. 

‘It is a good thing that the National Association of Political Science Students puts this lecture together. It is part of deepening SDG 5. We are able to pass a (Gender Composition) law. We will make sure that in the 10th assembly, it is tabled again for amendment to make sure that SDG 5 is attained. 

The passion for gender parity in governance is for this administration to be more committed to what we are doing. If you look at 2019, especially in Kwara, there was no single female elected member at both national and state assemblies from here. Today, we can say that we have been able to push that agenda, and the people of Kwara state have gotten  five women elected as members of the state assembly. That is very good, coming from zero to five’ he said.

The governor  added that a major boost for gender inclusion would be for development partners to introduce some programmes-for results, which will reward any government that prioritizes women political empowerment.

Other speakers commended the governor for making the state a reference point in gender mainstreaming, adding that the society must support women to attain their full potential.

 AbdulRazaq’s Chief Press Secretary , Mr.  Rafiu Ajakaye had earlier detailed the efforts of the governor to institutionalize gender parity in government — a legacy he said would outlive the current administration because it is now codified in a law that is the first of its kind in the country.

Anifowoshe also said she ‘is proud of what Kwara has recently attained in gender inclusion’, adding, however, that women must build their capacity and support one another to make headway in the political space while Arisekola noted that  the Kwara story has been inspiring and could be replicated by other states of the federation-Team@orientactualmags.com
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