Gbemisola Ruqayyah Saraki is the sitting senator representing Kwara Central Senatorial District of Kwara State in North West Nigeria.

She attended the 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. She worked for the Societe Generale Bank (Nigeria) as Head of Money Markets and later as Head of Domiciliary Accounts. From 1994 to 1999 she was Executive Director of Ashmount Insurance Brokers, Lagos.

Her father, Abubakar Olusola Saraki was the former Senate leader during the Nigerian Second Republic (1979–1983). Her brother, Abubakar Bukola Saraki is the current governor of Kwara State having being elected first in 2003 and re-elected in 2007.

Gbemisola R. Saraki was elected as a member of the House of Representatives in 1999. She was elected as Senator for the Central Senatorial District of Kwara State in 2003, and re-elected in 2007.

While in the Senate, she has sponsored and co-sponsored about eight bills. Her contributions on the floor of the Senate have been described in various circles as brilliant and incisive while she is noted to be profoundly engaging at committee hearings and oversight visitations.

Gbemi is actively involved in philanthropy and many within and outside Kwara State can attest to her willingness to selflessly support the needs and aspirations of the less privileged in the society. Amongst the many non-governmental organisations she supports are the Jackson-Fife Foundation (which is focused on children with disabilities in Nigeria) and Hope & Vision for Ilorin Emirate (H.A.V.E.) Foundation. H.A.V.E. concentrates on the Ilorin Emirate with special emphasis on women's issues.

She is an influencial member of her party, the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and enjoys massive grassroots support all over Kwara State and beyond. Gbemi is currently running for the position of Governor, Kwara State in the 2011 gubernatorial elections with the apt slogan..."GRS...my choice...our choice for Kwara 2011".

There is a growing general consensus among political pundits that she might just be the very first woman in Nigeria to achieve this feat.

For more information: visit www.gbemisaraki.com