Rukayat Motunrayo Shittu, a 26-year-old woman, has made history by becoming the first person from her village to represent her constituency in the Kwara State House of Assembly.
She contested under the banner of the ruling All Progressives Congress and won the election with 7,521 votes, beating her Peoples Democratic Party rival who polled 6,957 votes.
Here are five things you should know about Shittu:
- Education: Shittu attended Baptist LGA Primary School and later Government Day Secondary School in Oku-Ire, Ilorin. She went on to obtain a diploma in Mass Communication and Islamic Studies from Kwara State College of Islamic and Legal Studies. She also graduated from the National Open University of Nigeria, where she served as a students’ representative during her undergraduate days.
- Background: Shittu hails from Manyan in the Onire District of Kwara State. Prior to her election, her village had never represented her constituency politically.
- Leadership roles: Shittu has held various leadership roles in different organizations. She was the first female Senate President of the Congress of Open University of Nigeria and the Publicity Secretary for a pro-democracy group, Kwara Must Change.
- Political affiliations: Shittu is a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nigeria. She contested for the Owode/Onire Constituency seat under the party and emerged as the winner.
- Legislative duties: With her election, Shittu will be representing Owode/Onire Constituency in the Kwara State House of Assembly. She will be responsible for making laws and policies that will impact her constituency and the state at large.
Rukayat Motunrayo Shittu’s victory in the Kwara State House of Assembly elections is a clear indication that the Nigerian political landscape is gradually evolving, with more young people and women actively participating in politics.
Her election serves as an inspiration to young Nigerians who aspire to make a positive impact in their communities and the country at large.
