From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Governor Yahaya Bello
The National Council for Women Societies has conferred an Award of Ambassador of Nigerian Woman on Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state as a result of his aggressive empowerment of the womenfolk since assumption of office.
The body also adjudged Bello as the Most Gender Sensitive Governor in Nigeria with a call on other of his colleagues across the country to emulate.
Governor Yahaya Bello while receiving the Award at the Government House, Lokoja over the weekend thanked the women group for the honour with a promise that the gesture would spur him to do more for the womenfolk throughout his tenure.
The Governor said that apart from the 35 per cent affirmative action threshold which we have always surpassed since we took Office, Goal Number 5 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have remained our guide in our dealings with the womenfolk.
According Bello “We are focused primarily on the 3 primary targets of that Goal. First, we have largely ended all forms of discrimination against women and girls in Kogi State. Secondly, we are working to eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation. Thirdly, we are doing our best to eliminate all harmful practices, such as child marriages, early and forced marriages and such abhorrent cultural practices as female genital and facial mutilation.
“It took us political will and dexterity to shield the women in Kogi State and ensure they reach where they are today. I believe the fastest way to achieve the Goals and Targets of the SDGs relative to females is to empower as many women as possible thereby enabling them to stand up for themselves and other women and girls. And if we have to restrict some of the men from certain areas to do so, no problems.
“On December 12, 2020 I led my party to the elections with a mandate to ensure that all the Vice Chairmen and Council Leaders in all the 21 Local Government Areas of Kogi State are women. Simply put, we made those positions off limits to men in the APC. We achieved that objective. Those 42 women join a minimum of three other women who we also presented and supported to emerge councilors in each of the 21 Local Government Areas. This means that at the grassroots level we have at least 105 women in elective offices in the state.
“At the State Level, the Secretary to the Kogi State Government of the State and the Head of Service are women. I am the only Governor with a female Aide de Camp (ADC) in Nigeria today. Until not too long ago I was also the only Governor with a female Chief Press Secretary in the country. Some even say across Africa and around the world.
“Beside those I have enumerated above, there are, at the state level, more than 70 other women in positions of high authority ranging from one commissioner, several Directors General, Managing Directors, Chairpersons of Board, Commissions and Agencies. Some are Commissioner, Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants, Personal Assistants, and Special Assistants, etc.
“You can boldly take the message to the rest of the world that the New Direction Administration of Governor Yahaya Bello in Kogi State has far exceeded the 35 per cent affirmative action for women. By the way, Kogi State was one of only 4 states invited to the 72nd UN General Assembly in 2017 as identified success stories in the SDGs, so we know what we are talking about. Kogi State is a recognised and will continue to be recognised as a pacesetter in gender inclusiveness.
“Let me also use this opportunity to mobilise and sensitise our women across the country that membership of a political party, the APC, is what gave us the opportunity to do all that we have enumerated. On the 25th of January, 2021, the APC is reopening membership registration and validation and I urge our Women to go out en masse and register themselves and their family members. I assure you that I will remain your advocate, to always.”
