The Deputy Governor of Kaduna state, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, has lauded the ‘visionary leadership’ of Governor Nasir el-Rufai in improving the lot of women in the state to both national and global levels.
Dr Balarabe pointed out that “out of 17 Commissioners, there are nine women as members of Kaduna State Executive Council, this figure represents about 53% of the appointed Commissioners in Kaduna state. The high number of women Commissioners in Kaduna state is undoubtedly the best in Nigeria and any sub-national in Africa”.
Speaking after swearing in political appointees on Wednesday at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Dr Hadiza noted that ‘’as of now, Kaduna state is the best destination to be a woman in Nigeria”.
The new appointees sworn-in include Umma K. Ahmed as Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, and Aminu Abdullahi Shagali as Special Adviser, Political Matters.
She noted that ‘’this is the first time that a woman will be presiding over the Ministry of Local Government Affairs as its commissioner in the history of this state. Before now, it has been the special preserve of men.
“Only Malam Nasir el-Rufai can easily dislodge traditionally held positions that hold back progress and development, like the male ‘ownership’ of the Ministry of Local Government. He has done that with so many issues since he became governor of Kaduna state.”
The deputy governor recalled that just last month she swore in another woman, Hajiya Umma Yusuf Aboki as the Commissioner for Planning and Budget.
She advised all women appointees not to let Governor el-Rufai down, and thereby help to keep the doors open for more women to come in, not only in Kaduna state but in other states of Nigeria.
Dr Balarabe also noted that “this was the first time, since the merger of the Christian and Muslim Pilgrims’ Boards under a new law, that an Executive Secretary of the new Pilgrim’s Board was sworn-in.
“The reorganisation of the pilgrims boards into one entity is intended to invigorate performance of government in pilgrimage matters irrespective of religion.’’
She enjoined all the appointees, who were sworn in “to continue contributing to the development of our people as you have been doing, it is your previous performances that earned you these positions”.
