Vice President, Kashim Shettima, temporarily ceded his seat at the Presidential Villa to a 14-year-old girl, Joy Ogah, a gesture aimed at promoting girl-child education and gender equality. The event was part of a meeting with a delegation from the development organisation, PLAN International.
The “One-Day Vice President” event follows a similar tradition established in Nigeria, which began with the “One-Day Governor” initiative in Lagos State.
Shettima described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a dedicated ally in advancing educational opportunities for girls, reiterating the administration’s commitment to gender parity and education, focusing on one of the critical development challenges in the country which is the significant number of out-of-school children, particularly girls.
The ceremonial handover provided a platform for the teenager to voice the concerns of millions of young people directly to the highest levels of government.
Ogah, who acknowledged the symbolic gesture of acting as Vice President for the day, emphasized that over 10.5 million Nigerian children are out of school, with more than 60% being girls.
She urged policymakers and partners to implement strategic actions to ensure safe, inclusive education, access to sanitation with provisions for sanitary pads, and protection of girls’ rights. She also stressed the need for sustained action;
I may be the Vice President for a day, but the struggles I represent cannot end in a day
Many Nigerians view the appointment as a powerful demonstration of political will, gender inclusion, and an attempt to inspire the next generation of female leaders.
Critics suggest that while the gesture is positive, it must translate into tangible policy interventions and increased budget allocations to address the systemic issues responsible for the high rate of out-of-school girls, arguing that symbolic acts alone do not fix deep-seated educational crises.
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