Says he broke cycle of our exclusion
ILORIN, Kwara, Nigeria – A coalition of over 200 women organisations under the aegis of More Women Campaign Group (MWCG) have commended Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State for nominating nine women out of 16 persons in his cabinet.
According to them, the gesture and figure, representing 56.25 per cent would be recorded in history as the first of its kind in Nigeria as the governor has “broken the cycle of women’s exclusion in Nigeria.”
While applauding the All Progressive Congress (APC) for supporting the development in the state, the women groups called on all other state governors to “imbibe the culture of equitable representation for better and prosperous governance.”
Among the over 200 women groups who signed statement commending the governors were the chairperson, Transition Monitoring Group and co-convener of MWCG, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi who is also Executive Director of Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre.
Other signatories included Chief Executive of Gender and Development Action, Dr. Nkoyo Toyo; Executive Director, Women for Peace and Gender Equality Initiative who is also Coordinator, Civil Society Coalition on Sustainable Development Goals, Ms. Mojisola Akinsanya and Executive Director, Partners West Africa – Nigeria, Kemi Okenyodo.
The statement reads, “The More Women Campaign Group writes collaboratively as Nigerian women, professionals and experts representing different regions, ethnicities, economic, social and political allegiances as well as organizations for youths and persons with disabilities.
“We applaud Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq for nominating nine women out of his 16-persons cabinet. This gesture will be recorded in history as the first of its kind in Nigeria.
This step by Mr. Governor, resounds the yearning of well- meaning Nigerians, home and abroad. The appointment demonstrates his support for women voices and serves as a recognition of their relevance in the society.
“We believe that this form of democracy provides the opportunity for open, responsible and accountable system of governance that thrives on the principle that power belongs to the people and that every strata of the society is represented. We have noted with gladness the representation of young people and minority groups within the appointment.
“Modelling a best practice of this nature is important for the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals. We therefore applaud His Excellency breaking the cycle of women’s exclusion in Nigeria.
“We applaud the APC for supporting this development in the state and call on all other state Governors, to imbibe the culture of equitable representation for better and prosperous governance.
“We call on the distinguished women so appointed to embrace the culture of inclusion, transparency and accountability, to demonstrate the importance of women contributions to good governance. We appreciate you, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq for this gesture as it counts for your state and for Nigeria as a progressive feat!”
Signed by
- 100 Women Lobby Group
- ACTs Generation
- ADEM Community & Human Development Foundation
- Adinya Arise Foundation (AAF)
- Advocate for Health and Development Initiative
- African Women’s Initiative (AWI)
- Africanwomannig
- Ajegunle Community Project
- Alliances for Africa (Afa)
- Aminchi Women Cooperative Society
- Arise Nigerian Woman Foundation
- ATATA Development and Empowerment Foundation (ADEF)
- Briskila Emefesi Women Foundation (BEWOF)
- CEE-HOPE Nigeria
- Centa for Development
- Center for Economic Empowerment And Gender Activities Ceega
- Centre for Alternative Development and Self-Enhancement (CEADESE NG)
- Centre for Health and Development in Africa (CHEDA)
- Centre for Nonviolence and Gender Advocacy in Nigeria (CENGAIN)
- Centre for Peace Education and Community Development
- Centre for Women’s Health and Information (CEWHIN)
- Change Managers International Network
- Charity Women Spring of Salvation
- Chedal Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society
- Choung-Dung Women Association.
- Christian Women for Excellence and Empowerment in Nigerian Society (CWEENS)
- Christian Women in Nigerian Politics
- Coalition for Women inclusion in Governance
- Community and Youth Development
- Community Education Advancement of Peace and Development Initiative (CEAPDI)
- Community Initiative for Healthy and Peaceful Society
- Community Life Project (CLP)
- Community Rescue Initiative (CRI)
- Community Women Initiatives
- Courageous People Health and Development Initiative (CPHDL)
- Courageous People Health and Development Initiatives
- Daria Media Foundation
- Development in Practice Gender and Entrepreneurial Initiative (DIPGEI)
- Dorothy Njemanze Foundation
- Dream Alive Women and Orphans Support Foundation (DAWOS Foundation)
- Echoes of Women in Africa Initiatives
- Education as A Vaccine (EVA)
- Emerge Women
- Empowerment and Action Research Centre
- Enough is Enough Nigeria
- Equality Through Education Foundation ( ETEF)
- Equity Advocates (EA)
- Equity Advocates/ The Woman Today Newspaper
- FAME Foundation
- Federation of Informal Workers of Nigeria (FIWON)
- Federation of Muslim Women Association in Nigeria (FOMWAN)
- Federation of Paralegal Network (FEDPAN)
- Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA)
- Fembridge Development Initiative (FEDI)
- First Future Leadership
- Forward in Action For Education, Poverty And Malnutrition (FACE-PAM)
- Gender Action Awareness Trust (GAT)
- Gender Advocacy for Justice Initiative (GAJI)
- Gender and Constitution Reform Network (GECORN)
- Gender and Development Action (GADA)
- Gender and Environmental Risk Reduction Initiative (GERI)
- Gender Awareness Trust (GAT)
- Gender Development Initiative
- Gender Equality Center
- Gender Equality, Peace and Development Centre
- Gender Technical Unit (GTU)
- Girl Child Advocacy and Education Initiatives
- Girl Child Africa
- Girl Child Education, Care & Rehabilitation
- Girl Education Rehabilitation and Care (GERAC)
- Green Spring Development Initiative
- Hadis Foundation
- Heal Disability Initiative
- Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria (HERFON)
- HEIR Women Development
- Hope for New Life
- Initiative for Research, Innovation and Advocacy in Development (RIAD)
- Inter Africa Committee (IAC)
- Inter Gender Peace Foundation
- International Action Network on Small Arms Women Network of Nigeria
- International Hairstylists, Barber and Body Therapists (IHSTOBAN)
- International Society of Media in Public Health (ISMPH)
- Iyaniwura Children Care Foundation
- Jamatul Nasir Islam, Women Wing
- Jana Health Foundation
- Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC)
- Justice Development and Peace Mission (JDPM)
- K/Mashi Gamji Women
- Kebetkache Women Development and Resources Centre
- Kimpact Initiatives
- Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND)
- League of Queens International Empowerment
- Lift Initiative
- MBULA Women Association
- Media & Teens Network.
- Media Concern Initiative
- Mojubaolu Olufunke –Okome
- More Women in Politics
- Nasrul – Lahi-L- Faith Society (NASFAT)
- National Association of Women Journalist (NAWOJ)
- National Council of Women Societies (NCWS)
- Network of Reproductive Health Journalists of Nigeria, NRHJN
- Next Initiative for Gender Actions (NIGA)
- NGAS Women Farmers’ Cooperative Society
- Nigeria Association of Women Journalist (NAWOJ)
- Nigeria Labour Congress, Women Committee
- Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT)
- Nigeria Women Trust Fund
- Nigerian League of Women Voters
- Nigerian Women Politics Forum
- Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NTWF)
- Ogayem Merciful Care and Support Initiatives (OMCSI)
- Ogun Women Alive
- Omowumi Asubiaro Dada
- Onomese Foundation
- Osi Joe Touching Lives Initiative
- Ovie Brume Future Leadership Development
- Partners West Africa
- Peasant Dragnet
- Proactive Gender Initiative (PGI)
- Project Alert on Violence Against Women
- Rays of Hope Community Foundation
- Relief Development Initiative Kaduna
- Responsible Citizenship and Human Development Initiative
- South- South Professional Women Association
- Stephanie Peace Building Development Foundation
- Support for Needy Children and Women Initiative (SUNCHI)
- SWOFON National Abuja
- The Inclusion Project (TIP)
- The Priceless Jewels Foundation
- Transformation and Development Center (TDC)
- Transition Monitoring Group
- Tunde & Friends Foundation (TAFF)
- UC Women Commission
- Vision Spring Initiatives (VSI)
- Voice of Ogun Women (VOW)
- WADHI
- West African Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP Nigeria)
- Widows Development Organization (WiDo)
- Woman-Being Concern Nigeria
- Women & Youth Awareness Empowerment Network (WOYAEN)
- Women Advocacy, HIV Prevention and Other Diseases (WAHPOD)
- Women Advocates Research And Documentation Center (WARDC)
- Women Aid Collectives (WACOL)
- Women and Youth Empowerment for Advancement and Health Initiative (WYEAHI)
- Women Consortium of Nigeria (WOCON)
- Women Empowerment and Initiative Development
- Women Entrepreneurs Association of Nigeria (WEAN)
- Women Environmental Programme (WEP)
- Women Farmers Alliance
- Women for Peace and Gender Equality Initiative
- Women for Peace and Gender Equality Initiative (WOPEGEE)
- Women Foundation Initiative
- Women Foundation of Nigeria (WFN)
- Women in Africa Initiative
- Women in Agriculture
- Women in Mining
- Women in Politics Forum (WIPF)
- Women Information Network (WINET)
- Women Initiative for Democracy and Empowerment (WIDE)
- Women Law Development Center of Nigeria (WLDCN)
- Women Lead Agric
- Women League For Peace And Freedom (WILPF)
- Women of Vision Development Initiative
- Women Protection Organization (WOPO)
- WOMEN RADIO 91.7
- Women Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (WOWICAN)
- Women, Infants and Children Care Initiative (WICCI)
- Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF)
- Women’s Right to Education Programme
- Women’s Rights and Health Project (WRAHP)
- Women’s Right to Education Programme (WREP)
- Youth Future Savers Initiative
- Integrates Women Youth Empowerment Center (IWAYEC)
- Women for Peace and Unity Growth Initiative (WPUGI)
- Positive Women Development Initiative (POWI)
