Women rights advocate pledges rural development in Ilorin West/Asa

A women rights advocate and aspirant for the Ilorin West/Asa federal constituency under the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mopelola Abdulmalik Bashir, has pledged to prioritise rural development, agricultural revitalisation and improved infrastructure if elected in the 2027 general election.

Speaking with journalists in Ilorin, the former Kwara State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Water Resources said the constituency has suffered from years of inadequate representation, which she blamed for the slow pace of development in key sectors.

Bashir noted that effective representation should be people-driven, stressing that lawmakers should consistently reflect the needs and aspirations of their constituents at the National Assembly.

She lamented the infrastructural deficits in Asa Local Government Area, including poor road networks, lack of potable water, declining human capacity development and the adverse impact of climate-related challenges on farming activities.

She noted that many farmers in the agrarian communities have continued to experience losses due to environmental and economic challenges, a situation she said requires urgent government intervention to safeguard livelihoods and strengthen food security.

In Ilorin West, the aspirant commended the state government’s efforts in women empowerment but insisted that more still needed to be done to expand economic opportunities for women and young people.

She said her decision to contest was informed by a desire to deepen women’s participation in governance and ensure more inclusive development across the constituency.

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Bashir also called for fairness in political representation, arguing that it was the turn of Asa Local Government Area to produce the next representative for the Ilorin West/Asa Federal Constituency in line with political understanding within the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 elections.

She identified youth unemployment, low school enrolment, poor infrastructure and inadequate access to clean water as major challenges confronting the constituency.

The aspirant further pledged to prioritise the rehabilitation of water dams and expand access to potable water, saying such interventions would improve public health and boost agricultural productivity across communities.

Bashir assured constituents of improved legislative representation, saying she would serve as a strong voice for their needs at the National Assembly if given the mandate.