A Nigerian teenager, Joy Ogah, has made history by symbolically stepping into the role of Vice President for a day, a move that spotlighted her passionate advocacy for the education and rights of girls across the country.
According to a statement released by the Office of the Vice President on Tuesday, the symbolic leadership event took place on Monday during a courtesy visit by PLAN International to Vice President Kashim Shettima. The delegation was led by Helen Mfonobong Idiong, the organisation’s Director of Programme, Quality, and Innovation.
Sitting in the Vice President’s chair, Ogah drew attention to the alarming state of education in Nigeria, pointing out that over 10.5 million children are currently out of school, with more than 60 per cent of them being girls.
“We must invest in education that is safe and inclusive for every child in Nigeria,” she said, urging policymakers to prioritise programmes that empower and protect young girls.
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Ogah also appealed to the government to make free sanitary products available in schools and improve access to clean water, sanitation, and nutrition for children. She stressed that every girl deserves “a classroom, a choice, dignity, and not silence.”
“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,” she added.
Responding, Vice President Kashim Shettima reaffirmed the Tinubu administration’s commitment to promoting girl-child education and inclusive learning across Nigeria.
“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.
In President Bola Tinubu, you have an ally you can believe in and invest your trust in,” Shettima said.
Ogah’s symbolic leadership aligns with Nigeria’s growing momentum toward gender-inclusive education. On October 20, several advocacy groups urged federal and state governments to increase investment in girl-child education, mentorship, and awareness initiatives aimed at reducing gender disparity in schools.
In the same vein, the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Social Impact Interventions (RH-SII774), launched in September, targets over 10 million women across Nigeria with programmes in digital inclusion, clean energy, and livelihood grants.
Recent actions by the Ministry of Education and the National Assembly, including the passage of the Student Loans Act and workshops on inclusive education, further demonstrate Nigeria’s institutional push toward equitable learning, a vision echoed in Joy Ogah’s inspiring one-day vice presidency.
