Gbemisola Saraki

Gbemisola Ruqayyah Saraki[2] (pronunciationⓘ; born 3 May 1965) is a Nigerian politician who served as the Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development of Nigeria since 6 July 2022 till 29th May 2023.[3] She served earlier as the Minister of State for Transportation from 2019 till she was moved by the President to the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development in 2022.[4][5][6][7]

Gbemisola Saraki
Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development
In office
6 July, 2022 – 29 May, 2023
Minister of State for Transportation
In office
August 2019 – July 2022
Succeeded byAdemola Adewole Adegoroye
Senator for Kwara Central
In office
3 June 2003 – 6 June 2011
Preceded bySalman Is'haq
Succeeded byBukola Saraki
Personal details
Born (1965-05-03) 3 May 1965
NationalityNigerian
Political partyAll Progressives Congress (APC)
RelationsNephews
Oluwaseni Saraki
Lani Saraki
Sola Saraki
Nieces
Tosin Saraki
Monike Edu
Layo Edu
Tomi Edu
ParentAbubakar Olusola Saraki[1]
Residence(s)Ilorin and Abuja
Alma materUniversity of Sussex
ProfessionInsurance, Politician

A former senator, she was elected to represent the Kwara Central Senatorial District in the year 2003 under the platform of the People's Democratic Party.[8] She was elected into the House of Representatives in 1999 representing Asa/Ilorin West Federal Constituency, Kwara State.[8] She is a sister of former Senate President of Nigeria (8th Assembly), Bukola Saraki.

Early life and education

Saraki was born on 3 May 1965 to Abubakar Olusola Saraki and Florence Morenike Saraki, her father was a leading senator in the Second Nigerian Republic (1979–1983) and father of politics in Kwara State.[9] Her brother, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, was governor of Kwara State from 29 May 2003 to 29 May 2011 and was the President of the 8th Senate of Nigeria.[10] She attended the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom and earned a bachelor's degree in Economics. She did her national service at the Nigeria Bank for Commerce and Industry, Lagos. She worked for the Societe Generale Bank (Nigeria) with the post of the Head of Money Markets and later as Head of Domiciliary Accounts. From 1994 to 1999, she was executive director of Ashmount Insurance Brokers, Lagos.[11]

Political career

Saraki was elected as a member of the House of Representatives in 1999[12] under the umbrella of the All People's Party (APP). She ran under the umbrella of the People's Democratic Party, (PDP) for the senate in 2003 and won the seat, representing the Central Senatorial District of Kwara State. She re-contested in 2007 and won again, serving as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for eight years (2003–2011). In 2011, she contested in the gubernatorial election of Kwara State under the ACPN party, losing election to PDP's Abdulfatah Ahmed. As a legislator, she was a member of several committees. At the Senate, Saraki chaired the Senate Committee on National Planning, Poverty Alleviation and Economic Affairs. She also acted as vice-chairperson of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Saraki was also a returning member of the ECOWAS Parliament.[13] Saraki defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015.[14] In February 2016, Saraki was appointed by President Muhammed Buhari as the Pro Chancellor and Chairperson of the Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State.[15] On 13 February 2017, Saraki was also appointed as one of the 16-member committee to re-negotiate its 2009 agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).[8]

On 21 August 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari appointed her Minister of State for Transportation[16] and on 6 July 2022, she was appointed Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development.[3]

See also

References
  1. "Where is Gbemisola Saraki?". Daily Trust. 8 October 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  2. "Gbemisola Rukayat - Saraki, Politician, Senator and Entrepreneur, Nigeria Personality Profiles". www.nigeriagalleria.com. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  3. Toyin Adebayo (6 July 2022). "Saraki resumes duties in Mines Ministry".
  4. Andrew Kintum (4 January 2020). "FMOT: All Eyes on Gbemisola Ruqayyah Saraki". Transport Day. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  5. "FG promises to expand rail transport infrastructure". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 5 November 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  6. "NASS urges transport ministry to check increased fares during festivities". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 16 July 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  7. "FOR THE RECORD: Official citations of Buhari's ministers, SGF - Premium Times Nigeria". 21 August 2019. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  8. "Sen. Gbemisola R. Saraki". National Assembly of Nigeria. Retrieved 6 December 2009.
  9. "Dr. Olusola Saraki: A kingmaker at 70". Daily Trust. 12 May 2003. Retrieved 6 December 2009.
  10. "Battle Royale for Second Terms Govs' Seats". ThisDay. 31 March 2009. Retrieved 6 December 2009.
  11. "Senator Gbemi Saraki". Gbemi Saraki. Retrieved 23 February 2010.
  12. "THISDAYLIVE". THISDAYLIVE. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  13. "Female Minister's Profile". Vanguard News. 26 July 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  14. Opejobi, Seun (29 July 2019). "Ministerial screening: You abandoned me - Saraki tells PDP Senators". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  15. "Female Minister's Profile". Vanguard News. 26 July 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  16. "Buhari assigns portfolios to new ministers". Premium Times Nigeria. 21 August 2019. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
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