Teen takes over Vice President seat to advocate for girls’ rights

Abdullateef Fowewe

Vice President Kashim Shettima has reassured stakeholders and development partners of President Bola Tinubu’s unwavering dedication to promoting girl-child education across Nigeria.

This was obtained from a statement on Tuesday by the Senior Special Assistant to The President on Media & Communications (Office of The Vice President), Stanley Nkwocha.

During a meeting with PLAN International on Monday, he highlighted key government interventions, especially the school feeding programme, as essential to supporting children’s education and well-being.

“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 stated.

He underscored that President Tinubu is “an ally you can believe in and invest your trust in,” and described First Lady Oluremi Tinubu as “a symbol of how a properly empowered and supported girl-child can blossom into a great leader.”

Shettima added, “This government is gender-friendly. We believe in inclusivity. We cannot disenfranchise half of our population and expect to grow as a nation.”

In a symbolic gesture, the Vice President invited 15-year-old Joy Ogah, a teenage advocate, to take over his seat for a day.

Speaking from the Vice President’s seat, Ogah highlighted the urgent need to support millions of Nigerian girls excluded from education.

She noted, “Across Nigeria, 10.5 million children are out of school, with over 60 percent of them being girls.”

Ogah made a strong case for inclusive and safe education, calling on authorities to enforce laws protecting girls’ rights, provide free sanitary products in schools, and ensure access to water, sanitation, and nutrition.

“When girls are protected, peace becomes possible,” she said, urging that “the struggles I represent cannot end in a day. They must continue in our policies, our classrooms, our conversations, and our budgets.”

Helen Mfonobong Idiong, Director of Programme, Quality, and Innovation at PLAN International, reinforced the need for ongoing support, recalling previous successes such as the removal of VAT on sanitary products following advocacy by young girls in government positions.

She stated, “We have been working across Nigeria to improve the lives of children,” and encouraged continuous efforts to make education affordable and accessible for all girls.

The administration’s commitment to girl-child education was firmly underscored, with Vice President Shettima assuring that “the administration’s doors are open for continuous engagement” and affirming the role of women on his team as key partners in these efforts.