From Abel Zwanke, Lafia
Angela Ayas Bako, an All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirant for the Nasarawa North Senatorial by-election, has said her ambition is driven by a commitment to lift residents out of poverty through economic empowerment and investment-focused policies.
Speaking on Saturday during an interview on Options FM Radio, Akwanga, Bako said her private sector background informed her understanding of wealth creation and policy impact on citizens.
“I feel a deep sense in my heart to take them out of poverty,” she said.
She explained that her professional experience in banking and the capital market exposed her to how policies influence economic growth and opportunities.
“I worked in the bank for 13 years and moved to the capital market,” she stated, adding that the exposure revealed gaps in development outcomes for ordinary citizens.
Bako said she observed disparities in economic opportunities across regions and stressed the need for stronger inclusion of youths in governance and development.
She noted that many educated young people in Nasarawa North remain unemployed and impoverished despite their academic qualifications.
“People that are well read are still poor,” she said, adding that this motivated her decision to join the senatorial race.
The APC aspirant insisted that youth and women must play a greater role in leadership, arguing that age and gender should not be barriers to political participation.
“Senate is not for older men alone,” she said, maintaining that younger Nigerians are capable of effective representation.
She dismissed concerns about challenges facing women in politics, saying leadership requires courage and risk-taking.
“I don’t see challenges as limitations,” she said. “Every step you take in life is a risk.”
Bako identified agriculture, solid minerals, and investment opportunities as key sectors that could transform Nasarawa North’s economy if properly harnessed.
She stressed the need for infrastructure, including roads and post-harvest systems, to attract investors and boost productivity in the region.
“We must ask ourselves if we have the right structures in place,” she said, noting that development must go beyond rhetoric.
Bako also pledged to continue developmental projects initiated by the late senator Godiya Akwahshiki representing the district, describing her ambition as a continuation of service to the people.