A Nigerian teenager, Joy Ogah, on Monday symbolically assumed the seat of Vice President Kashim Shettima, using the rare opportunity to urge stronger government action toward protecting and educating girls across the country.
The event, organised by Plan International, took place at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. According to a statement from the Office of the Vice President, the handover was part of activities marking the International Day of the Girl Child.
Speaking from the Vice President’s chair, Ogah decried the rising number of out-of-school children in Nigeria, estimated at 10.5 million, with girls making up more than 60 percent.
“We must invest in education that is safe and inclusive for every child in Nigeria,” she said, calling on policymakers to ensure access to quality education, clean water, sanitation, and menstrual hygiene products for girls.
Ogah added that every girl “deserves a classroom, a choice, and dignity,” stressing that her symbolic leadership role should translate into real policy changes. “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,” she said.
Vice President Shettima praised Ogah’s advocacy and reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to advancing girl-child education and gender equality.
“We will continue engagement with Plan International to identify where the strength of government can be applied to your advice on girl-child education,” Shettima said. “In President Tinubu, you have an ally you can believe in and trust.”
The symbolic event comes amid growing national momentum for gender inclusivity in education. In recent months, the government has rolled out several programmes, including the Renewed Hope Social Impact Interventions, aimed at empowering over 10 million women across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas through livelihood support and digital inclusion.
The Ministry of Education and National Assembly have also pledged continued efforts toward achieving gender parity in access to learning.
Ogah’s one-day role as “Vice President for a Day” underscored the ongoing call for institutional commitment to inclusive education — a message resonating across policy circles and advocacy groups nationwide.