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WIMBIZ LAUDS GOV. ABDULRAZAQ FOR WOMEN INCLUSIVENESS IN GOVERNANCE

Published

3 years ago

October 21, 2023

Joel Ajayi

The Kwara State Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has received accolades from the Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) in London for his female gender friendly administration.

The Governor, who was represented by the Kwara State Commissioner for Business, Innovation and Technology, Hon. Yusuf Adelodun Damilola, received the commendation at a Conference organised by the Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ), held at Hilton London Kensington.

Governor AbdulRazaq disclosed that his administration, since its inception in year 2019, has appointed 56.25 female majority cabinet and put in place a progressive legislation that mandates the State government to appoint at least 35% of female gender to public offices, whether political offices or civil service positions.

The Governor added that his government has also embarked on policy directions, programmes and projects that ensured balance in all its affairs as well as inspired and empowered generations of little girls to tackle every imaginary difficulties on their ways.

Governor AbdulRazaq reassured that the Kwara State government will continue to collaborate with relevant Stakeholders across the Globe including WIMBIZ, to push the agenda of women inclusiveness at all levels of government in Nigeria.

He added that “This is not a pity party, as some may assume; it is about having a balanced society where issues are discussed from all perspectives and decisions jointly taken to move our society forward.”

The Governor explained that the introduction of six months maternity leave for women, was meant to encourage them to nurture our children without necessarily losing their professional status or abandoning work.

He added that women as mothers or wives will choose between taking care of great generations of leaders and their careers, that they have nurtured after years of good education and hard work, which is one of the agenda of this admistration that also includes Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment(AGILE), which started in September.

While further highlighting that the purpose was to drastically reduce and eliminate the rate at which girls drop out of school on account of their gender and what nature attaches to the gender, he noted that huge investment has also been made on sanitation facilities in the State.

Also speaking, the Honourable member representing Ilorin East Constituency at the 10th Kwara State House of Assembly (KWHA), who was a former Commissioner for Business, Innovation and Technology, Hon. Arinola Fatimah Lawal (AFL), commended the Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and WIMBIZ for their initiatives and importance towards empowering and bringing women to the table where key decisions about the present and the future are made.

Hon. Lawal said that the present administration’s vision aligns perfectly with the goals of WIMBIZ, and “the commitment to creating an enabling environment for women entrepreneurs and leaders is commendable and also by empowering women, encouraging entrepreneurship, and promoting diversity, we are building a stronger and more resilient community that benefits us all.”

The Executive Director, Women in Management, Business and Public Service, Mrs. Hansatu Adegbite, appreciated all the participants who attended across the world and urged them to see the conference as a life-changing experience that has empowered and inspired them.

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AWESSA 2026: Customs Assures Border Cooperation for Women Entrepreneurs

Published

8 hours ago

October 25, 2026

The Gleamer

By James Samuel, Abuja

The Nigeria Customs Service has said the nation’s borders must become gateways of opportunity for African women entrepreneurs, not obstacles that kill their businesses.

This was disclosed at the African Women’s Economic Sovereignty Summit and Awards (AWESSA) 2026 held at the Customs House, corporate headquarters of the Nigeria Customs Service in Abuja.

Representing the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, his representative, an Assistant Controller, said hosting the summit inside Customs premises was deliberate.

“That this summit holds within the Customs premises is no accident. It is a statement of intent,” he said.

“The border is where the promise of every African trader either comes alive or dies quietly. And the men and women of this Service have resolved that for every woman entrepreneur of this continent, that promise will never die.”

He said women account for an estimated 70% of informal cross-border trade in Africa and over half of agricultural labour, yet they face documentation, standards, finance and harassment challenges.

“Too often she meets the border as an obstacle rather than a gateway. Because she trades in small volumes, in cash, in informality without formal papers, capable business women are now trapped in informality, invisible to trade statistics,” he noted.

He added: “AfCFTA will not be delivered by treaties alone. It will be delivered at border posts, in conference halls, and in market stores.”

Also speaking, the Executive Director of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Mrs. Nonye Ayeni, represented by a Director, said women are central to Nigeria’s non-oil export sector.

According to her, NEPC’s focus is now on building export- ready competitive enterprises through programmes like the Women in Export Initiative, Export Clinic, and Zero to Export.

“Our focus is no longer on encouraging exports alone, it is on building competitive export-ready enterprises. We are supporting women to move beyond production into value addition, quality assurance, standard compliance, branding and market positioning,” she said.

She said AfCFTA offers a market of over one billion people, but women need knowledge, certifications and institutional support.

“Empowering women economically is one of the most effective tools for achieving poverty reduction, food security, job creation and inclusive growth,” she stated.

The Convener, Helen Okon, who is the Publisher of Business Review Africa & Africa Today Magazine, as well as representatives of NAFDAC DG and NEXIM Bank MD, reaffirmed commitment to supporting women-owned businesses access standards, certification and finance.

The summit, with the theme of positioning women as drivers of trade and sustainable development, is part of activities marking the International Year of the Women Farmer.

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