She expressed concerns that across Nigeria, 10.5 million children are out of school, with over 60 percent of them being girls.
Teenager Joy Ogah addresses the nation after emerging as Nigeria’s Vice President for one day.
In what could be described as a demonstration of mentorship for the younger generation, particularly the girl-child, Vice President Kashim Shettima vacated his seat to allow teenager, Joy Ogah sit over the affairs of the second office of Nigeria for one day.
The gesture was said to be a reaffirmation of the commitment of the Tinubu led government to promoting girl-child education and gender equality.
The event took place when Vice President Kashim Shettima hosted a delegation from PLAN International led by its Director of Programme, Quality, and Innovation, Helen Idiong on Monday in his office at the Presidential Villa Abuja.
Speaking during the meeting the Vice President assured stakeholders and development partners of the commitment of President Bola Tinubu to promoting girl-child education across Nigeria.
He said among other government interventions in girl-child education, the school feeding programme remains essential.
“In President Bola Tinubu, you have an ally you can believe in and invest your trust in,” VP Shettima told the delegation.
The Vice President also described First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, as a symbol of how a properly empowered and supported girl-child can blossom into a great leader.
He recalled that when the First Lady served in the Nigerian Senate, she contributed actively to debates, especially those relating to girl-child education.
“I want to assure you, on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that this government is gender-friendly. We believe in inclusivity. We cannot disenfranchise half of our population and expect to grow as a nation,” he stated.
After his remarks, the Vice President invited Joy Ogah to take over his seat for a day to address the nation, an opportunity she gladly accepted.
Speaking from the Vice President’s seat, Miss Ogah called on the government, policymakers, development partners, and citizens to act strategically in advancing girl-child education, protect the rights of every girl-child as well as the need to provide free sanitary products in schools and ensure access to water, sanitation, and nutrition for the Nigerian child.
She expressed concerns that across Nigeria, 10.5 million children are out of school, with over 60 percent of them being girls.
According to her, Nigerian girls can become leaders if the necessary interventions are implemented by relevant authorities and stakeholders.
“We must invest in education that is safe and inclusive for every child in Nigeria. When girls are protected, peace becomes possible.
“I may be the Vice President for a day, but the struggles I represent cannot end in a day. They must continue in our policies, our classrooms, our conversations, and our budgets,” she said.
