In a remarkable demonstration of mentorship and gender inclusion, Vice President Kashim Shettima on Monday symbolically “vacated” his seat to allow Joy Ogah, a teenage girl, to act as the Vice President of Nigeria for one day.
The heartwarming event took place at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, during a courtesy visit by a delegation from PLAN International, led by its Director of Programme, Quality and Innovation, Helen Idiong.
Speaking during the event, Vice President Shettima said the gesture underscores the unwavering commitment of the Tinubu-led administration to promote girl-child education and ensure gender equality across Nigeria.
He emphasized that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains a strong advocate of inclusive development and is deeply committed to ensuring that every Nigerian girl has access to quality education and equal opportunities.
“In President Bola Tinubu, you have an ally you can believe in and invest your trust in,” Shettima stated.
The Vice President highlighted several government interventions, including the school feeding programme, which he described as crucial in keeping children — particularly girls — enrolled in school and motivated to learn.
Shettima also commended First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, describing her as a shining example of what an empowered girl-child can become when given proper support and opportunities.
“The First Lady is a symbol of how a properly empowered and supported girl-child can blossom into a great leader,” he said.“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.”
After delivering his remarks, Vice President Shettima invited Joy Ogah to take his seat, symbolically assuming the position of Vice President for a day.
From the second-highest office in the country, the young girl delivered an impassioned message calling for greater efforts to advance the rights and education of girls in Nigeria.
“We must invest in education that is safe and inclusive for every child in Nigeria. When girls are protected, peace becomes possible,” Ogah declared.
Citing alarming statistics showing that 10.5 million Nigerian children are currently out of school, with over 60 percent being girls, Ogah urged the government, development partners, and citizens to take collective action in breaking the barriers that prevent girls from accessing education.
She also appealed for free sanitary products, better access to water and sanitation, and nutrition support in schools, stressing that such measures are vital to ensuring that girls remain focused and stay in school.
“I may be the Vice President for a day, but the struggles I represent cannot end in a day,” she said.“They must continue in our policies, our classrooms, our conversations, and our budgets.”
The event has been widely hailed as a powerful symbol of mentorship, empowerment, and inclusion, reflecting the government’s ongoing collaboration with development partners to uplift girls and young women across Nigeria.
Through initiatives like this, the Tinubu administration continues to send a strong message that gender equality is not just a government policy but a shared national responsibility one that requires continuous action from every sector of society.
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