Women Declare Bello Most Gender-Sensitive Governor in Nigeria

By Ahmed Rahma

The Governor of Kogi State, Mr Yahaya Bello, has been honoured with the award of The Most Gender-Sensitive Governor in Nigeria” by a non-governmental organisation, National Council of Women Societies (NCWS).

The organisation, which in collaboration with Global Gold Consult organised the award programme, declared that Mr Bello’s nomination was in recognition of the purposeful and conscious effort of his government to place women in sensitive positions in the governance structure of the state.

The women also made it known that there are over 70 women in positions of authority in his administration.

According to the organisers, the governor will be decorated as a ‘HE 4 SHE of NIGERIA WOMEN’ which bestows on him the honour of a goodwill ambassador.

“The government of Yahaya Bello has gone far beyond the 35 per cent affirmative action for women and has made Kogi State a pacesetter and a model in gender inclusiveness,” the organisers said in a statement.

“This nomination is in recognition of the purposeful and conscious effort of his government to place women in sensitive and strategic positions in the governance structure of Kogi State.

“It is on record that the Governor is the only one amongst his colleagues with a female Aide de Camp (ADC) in Nigeria. The Secretary to the Government of the State and Head of Civil Service are women. He ensured that all the Vice-Chairmen and Council Leaders in each of the 21 Local Government Areas are women. There is a minimum of three women as Councilors in each of the Local Government Areas.

“There are more than 70 women in positions of authority in the State which include but not limited to Director General, Managing Directors, Chairpersons of Board, Commissions and Agencies. Some are Commissioner, Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants, Personal Assistants, and Special Assistants,” the organisers added.

The award presentation and decoration ceremony would be held on Saturday, January 16, 2021, at the Glass House of Kogi State Government House in Lokoja.

NCWS is a Nigerian non-governmental and non-partisan women’s organization composed of a network of independent women groups in Nigeria binding together to use its platform to advocate gender welfare issues to the government and society.