UN Lauds Kwara Gov on Appointment of Nine Women

The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women at the weekend lauded the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq, over the recent appointment of nine women as members of the state executive council.

The group, however, urged other state governors in the federation to take a cue from the governor in order to ensure gender equality in the sharing of political powers in the country.

The UN women body has long established itself as the voice of women, including female professionals and experts representing different regions advocating for economic, social and political participation of the womenfolk in governance and decision-making processes in the world.

 

The group in a letter of commendation addressed to then state governor, which was obtained by the journalists in Ilorin, said: “This bold and significant decision sets Kwara State apart as a role model for other states in Nigeria in upholding regional and globally agreed standards to promote the full and equal participation of women in all political and decision making processes."

The letter which was signed by the United Nations Women Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS,  Ms Comfort Lamptey, said: “Given the existing global body of evidence demonstrating a correlation between increased participation of women in governance and improved development dividends, I am confident that the strong representation for women in the governance of Kwara State will accelerate the realisation of the developmental targets for the state.”

Lamptey said AbdulRazaq’s gesture has won him steady support of the UN Women as he executes developmental projects in the state.

She also stated that "Governor AbdulRazaq’s cabinet composition has gone down in history as the most gender-friendly in Africa, with 56.25 of the incoming state executive council being women, following an election that produced 100 percent men as elected officials."

Last week, an amalgam of 169 women groups congratulated the governor for the gesture while the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development has recently conferred its ‘He-for-She’ award of excellence on him.