Full Name: Gbemisola Rukayat Saraki

State of Origin: Kwara State.
Date of Birth: May 3, 1965.
Nationality: Nigerian
Marriage status: Divorced.
Ex-spouse: Segun Fowora
Parents: Abubakar Olusola Saraki
Alma mater: University of Sussex.
Occupation: Politician.
Political party: People’s Democratic Party (PDP)
Position(S): National Senator Kwara Central (May
2003 – May 2011).
Religion: Islam
Website : http://www.gbemisolasaraki.org
Facebook: gbemisola.saraki
Gbemisola Ruqayyah Saraki, born May 3, 1965,
and raised in a loving home by her father, the
Fulani-Yoruba Muslim legend, Dr. Olusola Saraki
of Kwara State, the Senate Leader of the Second
Republic and her Christian mother, Mrs. Florence
Saraki who hails from Ondo State from whom she
imbibed her impressive work-ethic and passion
for social issues.
From her youth, she was blessed with direct
access to people from all backgrounds and the
issues that affect them. This early exposure and
parental example would go on to determine her
decision to enter into the field of politics and
informs the approach of humility, empathy and
tolerance that endears her to her constituents and
colleagues to this day. Early in her life she took
more than passing interests in the lives of the
people and she developed a deeper passion to
make positive marks.
The young, brilliant Gbemi Saraki attended the
prestigious The Cheltenham Ladies College,
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England between
1972 to 1982. Encouraged by the sterling
performance of their young kid in her elementary
school, the Sarakis enrolled their gifted child in
another internationally acclaimed college, this
time, Brook House College, Market Harborough,
Leicestershire, England between the years 1982
to 1984. She thereafter gained admission into
one of UK’s first generation universities, the
University of Sussex. Ever since its creation,
Sussex has grown to become a leading teaching
and research institution across the globe. Quite
naturally, she had a memorable stay in the
university, breaking new grounds and making
friends that have till today remained part of her
life and family.
From a sterling academic foundation which saw
her traverse the length and breathe of the world
in pursuit of academic laurels to a rich
background in the private sector as a banker and
expert in insurance brokerage, Gbemi has carved
a niche for herself as a technocrat of repute in
Nigeria.
But not one to jettison the plight of her people,
GRS answered the clarion call to represent her
constituents at different times since 1999 when
the present democratic dispensation berthed. She
consciously left her comfort zone as a topnotch
Executive Director of one of Nigeria’s best paying
private companies to venture into the murky
water of politics of the country. She was at
separate time in both the Green and the Red
Chambers of the National Assembly as a
member, representing the Ilorin West and Asa
Federal Constituency and later, as a Senator
representing the Kwara Central Senatorial District.
And quite naturally, after a successful stint at the
National Assembly, GRS emerged as Nigerian
Best Female Legislator, with the highest number
of bills presented and got passed into law by
any female in the political history of Nigeria.
Before venturing into the arena of politics,
Senator Gbemi Saraki enjoyed success in the
private sector, gathering experience in various
capacities. Upon completion of a Bachelor’s
degree in Economics from the University of
Sussex, she returned to Nigeria for the National
Youth Service Corps.
She served at the Nigerian Bank for Commerce
and Industry, Lagos, with duties which included
loans assessment and disbursement as well as
credit analysis and risk management. She
continued to gain banking experiences with the
Societe General Bank (Nigeria) Limited, initially
as Head of Money Markets and later of
Domiciliary Accounts. She later resigned and
moved to Ashmount Insurance as director. She
got married and started a family.
When democracy returned to Nigeria in 1999,
Gbemi Saraki found her niche and joined active
politics. She was elected as Honorable Member
of House of Representatives under the banner of
People Democratic Party. She built her unique
political career on core value of positive impact
in the lives of her people and of course her
state, Kwara. She headed different committees
and she further enlarged her understanding the
dynamics of governance and the interrelationship
with leadership as a fulcrum of building a better
nation.
Among others, she was an active member of the
following House Committees:
1. House Committees on Aviation;
2. Foreign Travel Habitat;
3. Legislative Budget and Research Office;
4. Navy;
5. Privatization;
6. Special Duties;
7. Transport.
In 2003, the good people of Kwara Central
upgraded their trust in her leadership and voted
her as a Senator of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria. She was re-elected to the Senate for the
second term in 2007.
At the Senate, Gbemisola Saraki chaired several
high profile committees, including, the Senate
Committee on National Planning, Poverty
Alleviation and Economic Affairs and the Senate
Committee on Corruption. Her last duty call was
the Senate Committee on Marine Transport.
Apart from being the chairperson of the above
mentioned committees, she has also acted as
Vice-Chairperson of the Senate Committee on
Foreign Affairs and belonged to the following
Committees:
1. Media and Publicity;
2. Women Affairs and Youth development;
3. Environment and Ecology; and Public
Accounts.
4. Senate Committees on Commerce;
5. Rules and Business, Police Affairs;
6. Intergovernmental Affairs and Aviation.
She was also a returning member of the
ECOWAS Parliament.
Legislative experience in the House and the
Senate, chairing and membership of the divergent
committees and a broad life experience have
enabled GRS to develop a deep understanding of
the critical issues confronting Nigeria. She is a
visionary leader who works tirelessly to improve
the rating of our nation in key areas such as
poverty, corruption, economic development,
education, energy, health, agriculture, water
resources and the empowerment of women and
youths.
Senator Gbemi Saraki is blessed with
extraordinary drive, stamina and a daunting work-
ethic as evidenced by her legislative track-record.
This hard-working Senator has presented the
following bills to the Senate since 2003:
1. National Agency for Occupational Safety and
Health (Establishment) 2004
2. Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation
(Amendment) Bill 2004
3. Protective Helmets (Mandatory Use) Bill 2004
4. Legal Aid Council (Amendment) Bill 2004
5. Existing Vacancies (Publication) Bill 2005
6. Public Interest Disclosure Bill 2005
7. Skills Acquisition and Development Trust Fund
2007
8. Police Tax Fund 2007
9. Coast Guard Bill 2007
10. Anti-Terrorism Bill 2008
11. Mortgage Regulatory Bill 2009
12. Labour Act Amendment Bill 2009
By the end of her public career at the Senate,
Senator Gbemi Saraki had sponsored 13
Legislative Bills making her one of the most
active Senators in sponsoring bills that added
quality values to our democracy. Also of note is
the fact that her constituency, Kwara Central, had
the highest numbers of constituency projects in
Kwara courtesy of Senator Gbemisola Rukayat
Saraki. She built a wide political network
especially as a grassroots mobilizer.
In 2007 during the third term political imbroglio,
Senator Gbemi Saraki etched her name and brand
of politics on the national consciousness when
she stood fervently and openly against the
political illegality of extending the tenure of
President Olusegun Obasanjo. That was a period
that most of her contemporary were scampering
for the safety of their political careers. Her
speech on the floor of the Senate became a
landmark in the fight for the decency of
leadership and a safeguard of our nascent
democracy.
She has no intention of stopping there. She is
constantly researching a wide range of measures
to effect societal development across all strata of
society with an emphasis on action – legislative
and philanthropic that directly impacts the
common man.
2011 GOVERNORSHIP CONTEST
In 2011, she contested for the governorship seat
of Kwara State. She was very concerned about
the patterns of delivering good governance;
enamored by her political experience; and buoyed
by the understanding of the genuine needs of her
people. Under the Allied Congress Party of
Nigeria, she contested and came third in the
election.
She has no intention of stopping there. She is
constantly researching a wide range of measures
to effect societal development across all strata of
society with an emphasis on action – legislative
and philanthropic, that directly impacts the
common man.
However, instead of political flirting with
opposition against the dictates of her political
ideology rooted in genuine passion for the
development of her people and her state, Senator
Gbemi Saraki elected to maintain her ground of
faithfulness with the people and continued to
build her grassroots political followers. She
remained closer to their aspirations and
sympathized with their political needs.
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