Vice President Kashim Shettima on Monday temporarily vacated his seat to allow teenager Joy Ogah assume the role of Nigeria’s Vice President for 24 hours, symbolizing the Tinubu administration’s commitment to girl-child education and gender equality.
The event took place at the Presidential Villa in Abuja when Shettima hosted a delegation from PLAN International, led by its Director of Programme, Quality, and Innovation, Helen Idiong.
Shettima reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s dedication to empowering girls through education and inclusivity.
“In President Bola Tinubu, you have an ally you can believe in and invest your trust in. 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.
He emphasized that initiatives such as the school feeding programme remain critical in promoting access to education, particularly for the girl-child.
After his remarks, the Vice President invited Joy Ogah to take his seat and address the nation, an opportunity she embraced with enthusiasm.
Speaking from the Vice President’s chair, Miss Ogah urged government officials, policymakers, and development partners to prioritize policies that advance girl-child education, protect girls’ rights, and ensure access to free sanitary products, clean water, sanitation, and nutrition in schools.
She expressed concern that 10.5 million children are currently out of school in Nigeria, with more than 60 percent of them being girls.
“Nigerian girls can become leaders if the necessary interventions are implemented by relevant authorities and stakeholders,” she said.
“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,” Ogah added.
