Date: 2019-10-26

A coalition women groups has commended the Kwara state Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRasaq for appointing women into his cabinet.

They also called on other governors to take a cue from him in order to fast track the development of their states.

The National President, Women in Politics Forum (WIPF) Ebere Ifendu, made the call while delivering the statement by Nigerian Women at a press conference on gender inclusion in Kwara state.

"Against the background of years of struggle against patriarchy and non-inclusion of women in governance at all levels, Nigerians woke up to the news on 22nd October 2019 of the giant stride made by the government and people of Kwara state.

"The announcement of the final batch of appointed commissioners which included 5 more women (youths inclusive) to the cabinet of Kwara State. This now takes the proportion of women in the cabinet of Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRasaq to 56%.

"We consider this as a great achievement not only for the people of Kwara State but for Nigerians as a whole and the world at large," she said.

Ifendu expressed satisfaction that the affirmative action is being achieved from the state level, stressing that all the international conventions signed by the Federal government of Nigeria on gender can be achieved.

"All the international conventions signed by the Federal government of Nigeria on gender such as the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against women (CEDAW), The international Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), Beijing Platform for Action and the Regional Optional Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights as well as the Nigerian National Gender Policy can actually be a lived reality.

She further described the Governor's gesture "as a demonstration of the will to fastrack the deepening of democracy in Nigeria and to close the gender gap in order to achieve the much required and desired development.

"While Nigerians, particularly women commend this effort we call on other state governors and leaders to demonstrate their commitment to fastracking the development of their states by mainstreaming gender in their administration.