Abdulrazaq receives UN Women award

By Mosunmola Ayobami, Ilorin

UN Women Country Representative to Nigeria Beatrice Eyong has recognized Kwara state Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq as UN Women Global He for She Champion.

The award according to the Country Representative came for the governor’s gender equality and women empowerment.

Eyong urged the governor to push for women candidacy in the forthcoming Local government election as he has done with appointment.

She called on the governor to use his position as the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) Chairman to encourage other State governors to replicate more women representative in governance across the states.

The Country Representative also enjoined the governor on domestication of the Gender Equality Bill in the states.

Eyong decried that about 90% of public contracts goes to male counterpart while meager 10% goes to women calling for implementation of 35% affirmative action law in the state to this course also.

She intimated the governor of a low household bio gas which the organisation intended to launch in the state by June for women, adding that with the launch deforestation and the time women used for cooking would reduce.

The Country Representative commended the first lady for supporting the governor in achieving the feats in the state.

Responding, Abdulrazaq said the award would spur him to do more for the women folks in the state.

For the local government election, he assured that once a male has the ticket, women would be the vice and this would spread to the councilorship seats as well, nothing that women in governance already have not disappointed in the discharge of their duties.

The Governor urged UN Women to train women on company registration and political association so as to prepare them adequately for the task.

He commended the low-cost household bio gas initiative describing it the best option at this time.

Abdulrazaq assured the country representative who led other team members of future partnership in the state.