Kwara State Reaffirms Commitment to Gender Equity & Women's Empowerment

• Kwara State Government reiterated its firm commitment to gender equality and women's rights
• Focus was on the encouragement of economic empowerment among women throughout the state
• Hauwa Nuru, Commissioner for Finance, made the promise in her keynote at the FinXperience 2.0 conference

The Kwara State Government has restated its firm commitment to improving gender equality, economic empowerment, and women's rights protection in the state. The promise was made by the Commissioner of Finance, Hauwa Nuru, during her opening address to the FinXperience 2.0 conference organized by the University of Ilorin.

The conference, "Women in Finance: Breaking Barriers and Promoting Gender Equity," brought finance students, professionals, and stakeholders together to deliberate on the increasing role of women in the financial industry.

Hauwa attributed progress under Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of making women enjoy a very friendly and conducive environment. She cited that the state's embracement of gender inclusion is seen through policy and appointments.

In a statement delivered by Press Secretary of the Ministry Babatunde Toyin, Hauwa stated, "Kwara State is proud to witness a vibrant tide of women leadership and collaboration, shaping change from the grassroots to the power rooms." She assured the people and students that the government would keep breaking the barriers for women to excel, as a strong society hinges on the unity, strength, and active participation of its women.

Hauwa applauded Governor Abdulrazaq's visionary leadership that has turned Kwara into a model of gender inclusion. In 2019, the state made history by having a predominantly female cabinet, and passed the Gender Composition Law of 2021 mandating at least 35 percent representation of women in public sector hiring.

She also cited milestone appointments that reflect such dedication, such as Shade Omoniyi as the first female Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS) and herself as Commissioner of Finance. In appreciation of her financial management excellence and promotion of women empowerment, Nuru was awarded the Award of Excellence by the Finance Students Association of the University of Ilorin.