TOP MARITIME WOMEN IN NIGERIA
Gbemi Saraki
G
bemi Saraki is a known figure in the
mar itime industry and a woman of
substance in Nigerian politics. Her
knowledge of the industry and contribution to
its progress as the Chairman, Senate
Committee on Marine Transport cannot
easily be forgotten by maritime operators.
Gbemi is currently the Minister of State
f o r T ra n s p o r t a t i o n a p p o i n t e d by
President Muhammadu Buhari on
August 21, 2019. She wasa former
senator, representing the Kwara
Central Senatorial District (2003-
2007). Prior to that, she had been
elected into the House of
Representatives in 1999 to represent
Asa/Ilorin West Federal Constituency,
Kwara State.
Gbemi attended the University of
Sussex in the United Kingdom and
e a r n e d a B a c h e l o r ' s d e g re e i n
Economics. She did her National Youth
Service at the Nigeria Bank for Commerce
and Industry, Lagos. She worked for the
Societe Generale Bank (Nigeria) as Head of
Money Market and later as Head of Domiciliary
Accounts. From 1994 to 1999 she was Executive
Director of Ashmount Insurance Brokers, Lagos.
She is widely known for her intelligence,
philanthropy, and love for education. It is on record
that besides her father, Dr. Olusola Saraki, no
politician from the North-central zone has given out
as many scholarships as Gbemi Saraki. She served
as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for
eight years(2003-2011), and holds the record of the
female legislator with the highest number of
sponsored bills in Nigeria. As a legislator, she was
an active member of House Committees, including
House Committee on Aviation, Legislative Budget
and Research Office, Navy, Privatization, Special
She is widely known for her intelligence,
philanthropy, and love for education. It is
on record that besides her father, Dr. Olusola
Saraki, no politician from the North-central zone
has given out as many scholarships as Gbemi
Saraki. She served as a Senator of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria for eight years(2003-2011),
and holds the record of the female legislator with the
highest number of sponsored bills in Nigeria.
Duties, and Transport.
In the Senate, Gbemi also chaired several high
profile committees, including, the Senate
Committee on National Planning, Pover ty
Alleviation and Economic Affairs, Committee on
Corruption and lastly Committee on Marine
Transport. Apart from being the chairperson of the
above mentioned committees, she also acted as
Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on
Foreign Affairs and belonged to the following
Committees:1. Media and Publicity, Women Affairs
and Youth development, Environment and Ecology,
Public Accounts, Commerce, Rules and Business,
Police Affairs, and Intergovernmental Affairs.
Gbemisola was also a returning member of the
ECOWAS Parliament. She is engaged in numerous
charity and humanitarian projects for the people of
Kwara State and her humanitarian disposition is
rated as the biggest among elites in the State.
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