The Governor of Kano state Dr. Umar Ganduje has been described as leader who is giving unfettered opportunity to women in the state through political and governance positions, employment, empowerment as well as other welfare services.
The wife of the Governor, Her Excellency, Professor Hafsat Ganduje stated this during a luncheon held in honour of the Governor at the Government House Kano.
She said the Governor has ensured the appointment of many women as commissioners, permanent Secretaries, DGs, treasurer of the ruling, APC in the state (being the first in northern Nigeria), councilors, as well as teachers and medical personnel among others.
Professor Hafsat said Governor Ganduje is an epitome of gender inclusiveness by including huge number of women in all spheres of governance, with the view to achieve the desired goals of his administration because women are sincere and God fearing when it comes to management of resources.
“He respects women as mothers and role models of development. We have 88 women leaders and their deputies across the 44 Local Government Areas, 968 women leaders and their deputies across the 444 wards, 44 local government Advisers, 88 local government Supervisory Councilors, and 220 local government advisers.”
“In the area of governance, Governor Ganduje has appointed the first woman Head of Service in the state, first woman Auditor General in the state, commissioners in the Executive council, Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants, Executive Secretaries, DGs, MDs and many more.”
This has never happened in the history of politics and governance in Kano. We are top ranked in woman inclusiveness in the nation Nigeria.”
“It is because of his view and effort to uplift education and develop the girl child that he introduced free and compulsory education at basic and post basic levels in the state to ensure all families take advantage.”
“Indeed as a saying goes if you educate a woman, you educate whole nation and that is what Governor Ganduje has been doing,” said Prof. Hafsat
She said the governor also authorised the formation of the anti-drug ambassadors comprising of women and are currently at the fore front of fighting the war against drug abuse in the state.
“Similarly, the Governor has introduced a lot of youth empowerment Programmes for self-reliance including females, which has reduced a lot of social vices in the state,” she added
The Regional Coordinator of UK-FCDO, Nafisa Ado also described Governor Ganduje as a flag bearer of women.
“He is a flag bearer and always doing everything possible for women emancipation in the state, especially the girl child. I would want to advice female appointees to also mentor girls in their domain,” said Ado.
The Treasurer of the APC in Kano, Hajia El-Dada Bichi on her part said the governor has always demonstrated love for women to attain greater heights in the state, hence the many appointments given to women into political and governance position as well as empowerment.
“The event was organised to show case what the governor has down for women and the girl child development in the state because of the love he has for us,” said Bichi
The APC women leader in the state Zainab Abdulahi Dala in her remarks said the huge crowd gathered for the occasion was an indication that women appreciate the gesture from the governor.
“In my 41years of political career beginning from 1978, I have never seen a crowd of women like this gathered for one person. This is an indication that the women appreciate what the governor is doing for them,”
“We should continue do everything legally possible for APC to continue to win, otherwise if they fall, we will all fall together,” she advised.
The crowd consisted of women representatives from the three (3) Senatorial zones in the state, various ethnic groups, musicians and dancers. Awards were also given to deserving personalities.
Dominica Nwabufo
