Kwara State APC bigwig, Alhaji Rasaq Lawal has congratulated Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 7th Voice of Women Conference and Awards ceremony (VOW2023) which was held in Abuja penultimate Wednesday.
Recall that Governor AbdulRazaq was honoured with the unique and important award in recognition of his transformational gender inclusion policy in the State of Harmony.
Lawal, a one-time Commissioner for Special Duties described the new feat achieved by the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum as remarkable.
He noted that the latest honour bestowed on the governor by the global women was not by happenstance given his commitment to the emancipation of the women folk, adding that he actually earned it.
Lawal recalled how the governor had in the constitution of his maiden cabinet in 2019 surpassed the 35 percent affirmation for women in appointment to government positions.
He added that the governor also gave 50 percent slot to women in his current cabinet as they got nine out of the 18 commissionership positions. Governor AbdulRazaq, he noted, was also instrumental in the emergence of five women as members of the state House of Assembly out of the 24 house of assembly seats.
The influential politician therefore urged the people of the state, especially women and the young people to continue to support the programmes and policies of the current administration in the state under Governor AbdulRazaq’s leadership.
Engineer Nurudeen Adeyemi Balogun has also congratulated the governor.
He noted that the organizers of the VOW2023 took a decision that was based on sound reasoning and judgment by honouring the Kwara State governor with such an important award.
Calling Governor AbdulRazaq a history-maker and a glass-ceiling breaker, Alhaji Adeyemi, an Aero space engineer, who is based in the United States of America noted that the Chief Executive of the State of Harmony has long championed the cause of women and led others in advancing the rights, opportunities and full participation of women and girls in all endeavours of life while also giving them the needed encouragement to pursue their goals and ambitions in life.
Adeyemi also noted that the governor had at the start of his administration in 2019 formed a cabinet that had 56.25% females and reserved 50% slots for women permanent secretaries.
‘Governor AbdulRazaq, who currently has a 50% female cabinet, including young commissioners was also instrumental in ensuring that a legislation that mandates Kwara to have at least 35% gender parity in appointive political offices came into being.
He has changed the story with regard to an unbroken chain of all-male leadership, and he has encouraged everyone to end stereotypes and lift each other up. He has also done this in recognition of women as bridge- builders in good governance.
He has continued to speak in favour of girls’ empowerment and gender equality and the need to allow women in the upper reaches of all sectors, including politics and government.
The award was in recognition of his leading role when it comes to empowerment of women in the country, he has also continued to take necessary steps with a view to changing the face of Kwara State. He is passionate about Kwara State and the citizens and he is committed to changing things for the better and securing a good future for the state.
Everyone has also praised him for his humility, open-mindedness, open door policy, transparency and mentoring‘, he said.
‘ It is an important award, the programme was supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, it is a big deal award.
Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has continued to champion the cause of various groups in society that were previously relegated to background such as people living with disabilities, widows, orphans, and the less- privileged.
His approach ensures that these groups are duly recognized, accommodated and provided for in government policies and governance.
Equity and justice have continued to be his guiding principle. We pray that Allah continues to guide his steps and bless his handiwork. We wish him the very best in the discharge of his duties.
On behalf of my family and members of the ENACT Group, I heartily congratulate our dear governor, and I pray that more awards will come his way’, he submitted-
