In a symbolic gesture to promote girl-child education and gender equality, Vice President Kashim Shettima temporarily stepped aside to allow 14-year-old Joy Ogah to assume the role of Nigeria’s Vice President for a day.
The move reflects President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s commitment to advancing girl-child education, as highlighted by Shettima during a meeting with a PLAN International delegation led by Helen Mfonobong Idiong, Director of Programme, Quality, and Innovation, in Abuja.
Shettima emphasized the importance of initiatives like the school feeding program, noting that well-nourished children perform better academically.
He assured PLAN International of the government’s dedication, stating, “In President Bola Tinubu, you have an ally you can trust. We are deeply committed to advancing girl-child education.” He cited First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu as an example of how empowering girls can lead to great leadership, recalling her active contributions to education debates during her time in the Senate.
Taking the Vice President’s seat, Joy Ogah expressed gratitude for the opportunity to represent millions of Nigerian girls. She highlighted that 10.5 million children are out of school in Nigeria, with over 60% being girls, and urged the government, policymakers, and citizens to prioritize safe and inclusive education.
Ogah called for enforcing laws to protect girls’ rights, providing free sanitary products in schools, and ensuring access to water, sanitation, and nutrition.
“When girls are protected, peace becomes possible,” she said, adding, “I may be Vice President for a day, but the struggles I represent cannot end in a day. They must continue in our policies, classrooms, conversations, and budgets.”
The one-day leadership initiative, pioneered by Tinubu during his tenure as Lagos State governor, aims to inspire children by giving them insight into governance.
