In a heart-warming and symbolic gesture, Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima handed over his seat to a teenage girl, Joy Ogah, for a day, marking a historic event that resonated across the country.
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.
“We will continue the engagement with PLAN International and see where the force and strength of government can be brought to bear on your solid advice on girl-child education,” the Vice President told the PLAN delegation.
He further told the delegation: “In President Bola Tinubu, you have an ally you can believe in and invest your trust in,” adding that the administration is passionate and deeply committed to advancing girl-child education.
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.
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,” Joy said.