••• Coordinator, Hon. Damilola Abbas Hails Governor’s Recognition of Women in Governance
By Saeed Tijjani
Kwara State First Lady, Her Excellency Prof Amb Olufolake AbdulRazaq has officially launched the Kwara State Female Aspirants Group, a pro-democracy group.
The group launched earlier Wednesday at the All Progressive Congress (APC) Secretariat in Ilorin, aimed at encouraging women’s political participation and strengthening their collective voice for inclusive governance.
The event, which drew prominent female politicians and stakeholders across the state was a tribute to the administration of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his globally recognized commitment to gender inclusion.
Hajia Mariam Nnafatima Imam, PhD, Kwara Commissioner for Social Development, who officially launched the group representing the First Lady, Her Excellency, Prof (Amb) Olufolake AbdulRazaq (Grand Matron) stated that the organization was launched to support women and encourage their participation in politics and governance.
She emphasized that it is also a way of supporting the leadership of His Excellency Gov AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his outstanding achievements in providing platforms for women’s participation which earned him the global HeforShe award recognition.
She further noted that the Governor has been supportive of women’s aspirants, candidates and progress in Kwara State evident in his cabinet position which shows women are doing very well in Kwara State.
The Commissioner admonished that the gov’s good legacy should be sustained and that is why they’re coming together as a force under the platform.
She encouraged the group to be united, adding that credible candidates for positions will be sourced from the organization.
On her part, Hon. Ms. Zainab Damilola Abbas, the Coordinator of the group and current Offa Local Government Development Officer, who also holds leadership positions in other national women political groups, spoke passionately about the need to support women and the Governor.
“Today is a dream that comes true for me. I’m always a woman that supports other women, because they said a cry for one is a cry for all,” she stated.
She added that many women in politics for decades have not been recognized.
The coordinator credited the Governor’s encouragement as the bedrock of the group’s strength and the reason why they are collectively supporting his administration.
Without the Governor, we can’t have it easier in Kwara, because he always stood by us, she added.
For aspirants to come together collectively and say they want to support the sitting governor means a lot, so I think for us to stand and say we want to be with our governor is because of the encouragement he has given us, Hon. Damilola added, reeling off statistics demonstrating the Governor’s commitment to gender inclusion.
“If you can see commissioners that we have today, the seat of the commissioner in Kwara is almost seven. We have 15 vice chairmen in each local government. We have one female chairperson among the chairmen of Kwara today. We have five female House of assembly members.” she said.
She stressed that a man with such creativity, who is taking women along, must be encouraged.
Hon. Damilola further clarified the group’s mandate, stating its intention to reach beyond the state level, that it is why there are National Matron and National Patron.
Adding that the Grand Matron is Senator Oluremi Tinubu, while the National Patron is Alhaja Fatima Abbas Tajudeen, the wife of the Right Honourable Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.”
Earlier in her speech, the Commissioner for Social Development encouraged unity, noting that the group is open to all who are willing to join from other parties while reaffirming their unalloyed loyalty and commitment to the Governor and the party.”
The event also featured keynote address by the guest Speaker, Hajia Hauwau Alabi-Bashir “Sofun Auntie Hauwa” on the theme: “Women and Our Place in Politics – What It Entails.
Dignitaries present included the Wife of the Kwara State APC Chairman, Princess Ayodele Fagbemi, Barrister Modupe, Yeye Afolayan Bola, Alhaja Mariam Abdullahi, other Executives members of the group, party loyalists, Stakeholders, among others.
