ABUJA— In a symbolic yet powerful display of youth advocacy, a Nigerian teenager, Joy Ogah, was handed the seat of the Vice President for a day, which she immediately used as a platform to passionately champion the rights and education of girls across the nation.
The symbolic handover took place during a meeting on Monday between Vice President Kashim Shettima and a delegation from PLAN International, led by Helen Mfonobong Idiong, Director of Programme, Quality, and Innovation.
Speaking from the Vice President’s chair, Ogah delivered an urgent call to action, highlighting the severe challenges facing girls in the country. She emphasized that over 10.5 million children remain out of school, with more than 60 per cent of that population being girls.
“We must invest in education that is safe and inclusive for every child in Nigeria,” Ogah stated, urging policymakers to prioritize interventions that protect and empower young girls.
Her specific demands included the provision of free sanitary products in schools and ensuring access to clean water, sanitation, and proper nutrition for all children.
“Every girl deserves a classroom, a choice, dignity, and not silence. When girls are protected, peace becomes possible,” she asserted. “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.”
Responding to the teenager’s compelling address, Vice President Shettima reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s commitment to advancing girl-child education and inclusive learning nationwide.
“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,” Shettima said. “In President Bola Tinubu, you have an ally you can believe in and invest your trust in.”
The event aligns with a growing national focus on gender inclusivity in education, bolstered by recent government initiatives aimed at equity, including the launch of the Renewed Hope Social Impact Interventions targeting women and legislative support for gender parity in access to learning.
