Kwara Gov Wants N’Assembly to Revisit Gender Inclusion in Constitution

Hammed Shittu

Kwara State Governor, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has urged the National Assembly to revisit the proposed gender parity legislation for a more inclusive society.

Speaking at a seminar organised by the University of Ilorin chapter of the National Association of Political Science Students last Wednesday, the governor, however, promised to champion national advocacy for a constitutional amendment to deepen gender inclusion in Nigerian laws.

The event also witnessed the launching of Classic Magazine of the National Association of Political Science Students (NAPSS), University of Ilorin chapter

The governor, whose surprise attendance at the students’ event drew a standing ovation in the school, spoke on the theme: ‘Breaking Barriers to Women Participation in Politics and Governance in Nigeria: Kwara as a Case Study’.

The event was attended by many students, top academics, activists, and public intellectuals, including a representative of the First Lady and Permanent Secretary of the 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, youths development advocate, Temitope Titilope Anifowoshe; President of National Association of Political Science Students (NAPSS) at the University of Ilorin, Raheem Azeez Arisekola; and Azeezat Adekanye of the Obafemi Awolowo University, 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 women are not shut out of the decision-making process in the state.

According to him, “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.

“It is a good thing that the National Association of Political Science Students put 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 an amendment to make sure that SDG 5 is attained.

“The passion for gender parity in governance is for the administration to be more committed to what we are doing. If you look at 2019, especially in Kwara State, 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 elected five women into the state Assembly. That is very good, coming from zero to five.”

He noted that a major boost for gender inclusion would be for development partners to introduce some programmes for results, which reward any governments that prioritise women’s political empowerment

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