Women Affairs and Social Development Minister, Pauline Tallen, has described the Kwara State’s gender-friendly cabinet as “a dream come true in fulfilment of the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerian women overtime.”
That came as the Kwara State House of Assembly on Tuesday commenced the screening of the state’s commissioner-nominees, with six of them appearing, fielded questions from the lawmakers for at least six hours.
Those who appeared on Tuesday were Ayinla Jawondo Salman (Asa); Suleiman Rotimi Iliasu (Moro); Aliyu Mohammed Saifudeen (Kaiama); Afolabi Oshatimehin Adenike Harriet (Ifelodun); Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu (Ilorin South); and Dr Raji Razaq (Ekiti).
In a letter to the Governor, Pauline said Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq had proven to be the most gender-friendly leader so far, calling on other governors to emulate him.
“I write to congratulate Your Excellency on this outstanding gesture extended to Nigerian women to address the low participation of women in the political landscape in Nigeria through Your Excellency’s appointment of nine women out of the 16 commissioner-nominees in Kwara State. This is by far the highest amongst states that have put in place their cabinet,” Tallen said in the congratulatory letter to AbdulRazaq.
Tallen applauded AbdulRazaq’s visionary leadership in giving female the space to contribute their quota to national development, saying the ministry would partner with Kwara to address topical issues affecting women and children in the state.
“Consequently, I write to inform Your Excellency that Nigerian women through my ministry will confer on you the ‘He-for-She’ Award of Excellence. This award is in recognition of your vision of changing the political landscape for the participation of women in Kwara State and by extension Nigeria,” she added.
Tallen said the award would be conferred on the governor at the National Council on Women Affairs scheduled for Thursday October 31 in Ondo State.
The event would be attended by all Commissioners for Women Affairs across Nigeria.
At the screening on Tuesday, the nominees fielded questions ranging from their understanding of government machineries and how they would deploy their education and professional backgrounds to build a viable state anchored on realistic policy thrust.
