The Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, has stated that the lot of women would greatly improve at both national and global levels, with visionary leaders like Malam Nasir El Rufai.

Dr. Balarabe pointed out that out of 17 Commissioners, there are nine women as members of Kaduna State Executive Council, adding that this figure represents “about 53% of the appointed Commissioners in Kaduna State.”

The Deputy Governor further stressed that the high number of female commissioners in Kaduna State “is undoubtedly the best in Nigeria and any sub-national in Africa.”

Balarabe, who made these remarks after swearing-in of political appointees on Wednesday, pointed out 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 the governor of Kaduna State,” she added.

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The Deputy Governor recalled that just last month she swore in another woman, Hajiya Umma Yusuf Aboki as the Commissioner for Planning and Budget.

Balarabe advised all female 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.”

She also noted that this was the first time, since the merger of the Christian and Muslin Pilgrims’ Boards under a new law, that an Executive Secretary of the new Pilgrim’s Board was sworn in.

“The reorganization of the pilgrim boards into one entity is intended to invigorate performance of government in pilgrimage matters irrespective of religion,” she added.

She further enjoined all the appointees who were sworn in to continue contributing “to the development of our people as you have been doing”, reminding that “it is your previous performances that earned you these positions.”

The Star