My age, gender not barrier to my political success — 26-yr-old Kwara lawmaker-elect, Shittu

A member-elect of the Kwara State House of Assembly representing the Owode/Onire Constituency, Rukayat Shittu, has said that her gender (being a woman) and her age (being a young person) are not obstacles to her political life.

The Informant247 recalls that President Muhammadu Buhari on May 31, 2018 signed the Not Too Young to Run Act into law.

The new law was to ensure that many youth are given opportunity to become political leaders as minimum ages to contest elective positions in the country were reduced.

Shittu was one of the beneficiaries of the enactment as she has emerged the youngest female member elect of house of assembly in her state, Kwara State and beyond.

While granting a television interview on Friday April 7, the member of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC said being young and a woman should not be considered a barrier to her political success.

“I don’t see that as a hurdle to me; it is not an obstacle, because I believe no matter what you want to do in life, you just have to face one thing or the other,” she said.

“Regarding my age and gender, the atmosphere in Kwara has already redefined the roles of youths and women in governance, so I didn’t find it so difficult for me to sell myself to people because I am a female or a young person.”

She described herself as an enthusiastic person with strong drive for governance and development of community.

The 26 year old lawmaker-to-be said: “I have been someone who has been very passionate about governance and politics and this is something I have engaged myself with since my university days.”

“I have been able to prove to people that I have the capacity, I have the capability to do things and I know what the legislative work is all about. I did so well to occupy the legislative arm of the student union government.”

She implored young people to be full of optimism, responsibility and not stay away from the corridor of political authority, adding that willingness to compete is part of democracy.

“This is not something I woke up from the bed one day [to pursue]. Young people need to be optimistic. We don’t have more youths, we don’t have more women in the decision-making table,” she said.

“If I am privileged to get this kind of position, I want to use it judiciously to inspire young people and women in governance.”