British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Gill Lever, has described Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, as a trailblazer for women’s rights and political inclusion, saying the state has become a model for gender equity under his administration.
This was contained in a statement signed on Tuesday by the Deputy Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mashood Agboola.
Lever was said to have spoken during a visit to the Ahmadu Bello House in Ilorin, where she commended the governor for appointing more than 50 per cent of women into cabinet positions and supporting the special seats bill for women.
“First of all, you’re a strong advocate for women’s representation in governance, and I think Kwara, under your leadership, has been a trailblazer for women’s rights and women’s participation in the political life of your state,” Lever said.
She added, “We know that you’ve appointed over 50% of your cabinet roles to women. So women’s representation in political life and lawmaking is essential to Nigeria’s economic development. I think we all see that.
“So I strongly commend you, Your Excellency. You are a model state for gender equity, and your endorsement of the special seats bill for women has earned you ‘HeForShe’ ambassador.”
Lever also said the British Government was partnering with states across Nigeria to improve digital skills and support innovation among young people in the technology sector.
According to her, the visit to the Ilorin Innovation Hub was to assess the impact of UK-backed interventions aimed at developing tech skills and creating opportunities for innovators.
“We’re visiting the Ilorin Innovation Hub today to see the progress of that particular set of UK assistance, see how it’s helped to develop skills and develop aspirations in the tech sector. This is allowing innovators to access global networks and opportunities,” she said.
She noted that through its digital access programme, the UK Government was helping to nurture talent and improve employment opportunities for young people in tech, adding that a community hub recently launched in Olayinka, Ifelodun Local Government Area, is expected to benefit over 50,000 residents with digital access and technology skills.
On Nigeria’s elections next year, Lever said the British Government supports peaceful, inclusive and credible polls, stressing that the United Kingdom remains neutral and has no preferred political party.
“We all want to see elections that are peaceful, that are inclusive, that are credible, with space for participation, with respect for institutions,” she said.
“The British government, as you’ll understand, Excellency, are entirely neutral. We do not favour one party or another, and we would never be in the business of telling Nigerian people how to vote,” she added.
Responding, AbdulRazaq said his administration had recorded progress across sectors, including health, education, agriculture and road infrastructure, since assuming office in 2019.
“We have made significant progress in different sectors of the economy: from health, education, agriculture and road infrastructure. When we came in 2019, things just weren’t working in the state,” the governor said.
He said the administration inherited backlogs of pensions and gratuities, salary arrears, poor school infrastructure and the blacklisting of the state by the Universal Basic Education Commission.
“When we came in, 99% of schools did not have WASH facilities and no fencing of schools; teachers were in fact owed months in salary arrears. Today, we are up-to-date in investment in basic education with payment of counterpart funds to UBEC,” he said.
AbdulRazaq added that the state had expanded access to education and healthcare, cleared salary backlogs and improved workers’ welfare, disclosing plans to increase the minimum wage to N100,000 this year.
The governor further said the state had completed two campuses of Kwara State University in Kwara North and South, while plans were underway to establish five teaching hospitals before the end of his tenure in 2027.
On agriculture, he said the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu was encouraging farming activities, adding that the state had established a Shea processing factory in Kaiama, which he said would become the second largest in Nigeria when operational.
AbdulRazaq also highlighted efforts by the state government and other stakeholders to improve security and protect rural communities from breaches.