Vice-President Kashim Shettima has underscored the urgent need to prioritize girl-child education in Nigeria, calling for a collaborative effort across various sectors to dismantle gender-based barriers to quality education.
During the International Conference on Girl Child Education held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Shettima emphasized that every child, regardless of gender or location, deserves access to quality education. He stressed the importance of engaging government officials, traditional leaders, religious figures, civil society organizations, and international partners to focus on this critical issue.
“Whatever reforms we adopt must be community-driven,” he stated, highlighting the role of local leaders in shaping policies that foster a safe educational environment for girls. He described education as the most powerful tool for empowering girls and urged for enhanced programs that inform them about their rights and health choices.
Shettima appealed to international donors, including the World Bank and African Development Bank, to contribute to meaningful changes in the education landscape. He remarked, “The dignity of the girl child defines every civilization,” emphasizing the collective responsibility to address the challenges faced in this area.
Citing alarming statistics on out-of-school children in Nigeria, the Vice-President warned that neglecting these issues could have dire consequences for the nation’s future. He concluded by calling for urgent, creative solutions to ensure that every child has the opportunity to learn and thrive.
