The history of Kwara cannot be complete without her name being mentioned. At least, for struggling to succeed her brother, who is the outgoing governor. She is Gbemisola Ruqqayat Saraki, daughter of the strong man of Kwara politics, Dr. Olusola Saraki, a Second Republic Senate Leader and also a younger sister to the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, Bukola Saraki.Educational career /working experience
Gbemi, as fondly called by her admirers, attended the Cheltenham Ladies’ College , England and University of Sussex in the United Kingdom and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics. She did her mandatory national service at the Nigeria Bank for Commerce and Industry, Lagos, after which she worked for the Societe Generale Bank ( Nigeria ) as Head of Money Markets and later as Head of Domiciliary Accounts. She was also the Executive Director of Ashmount Insurance Brokers, Lagos, between 1994 and1999.
Political career
Ms. Saraki as product of her father’s influence in Kwara politics, joined the political world in 1999, and was elected a member of the Federal House of Representatives, where she spent a term. In 2003, she opted for the upper chamber of the National Assembly, contested and won the Senate seat for Kwara central, where she now serves her second term. While in the House of Representatives, Ms. Saraki was in the House Committees on Aviation; Foreign; Habitat; Legislative Budget and Research Office; Navy; Privatization; Special Duties; and Transport. She is currently Senate Committee Chairman on Marine Transport and also serves as a member in the Senate Committees on Commerce, Rules and Business, Police Affairs, Intergovernmental Affairs, and Aviation.