Vice President Kashim Shettima on Monday stepped aside to allow a teenage girl, Joy Ogah, preside as Vice President for a day at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The symbolic act took place during a courtesy visit by PLAN International, a global NGO advocating for children’s rights and gender equality. The event formed part of the organisation’s annual “Girls Takeover” initiative to mark the International Day of the Girl Child.
Shettima described the gesture as part of the Tinubu administration’s commitment to promoting girl-child educationand gender inclusion in Nigeria.
While hosting the delegation led by PLAN International’s Director of Programme, Quality, and Innovation, Helen Idiong, the Vice President reaffirmed the Federal Government’s support for initiatives that empower young girls and expand access to education.
“In President Bola Tinubu, you have an ally you can believe in and invest your trust in,” Shettima said, assuring the group that the government’s policies would continue to prioritise inclusivity and empowerment.
He also commended the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, describing her as “a symbol of how a properly empowered and supported girl-child can blossom into a great leader.”
According to him, “We cannot disenfranchise half of our population and expect to grow as a nation.”
After his remarks, Shettima vacated his seat for Joy Ogah, who delivered a stirring address urging the government, development partners, and citizens to strengthen support for girls across the country.
Speaking from the Vice President’s chair, Joy called for equal access to education, free sanitary products in schools, and improved water and nutrition facilities.
She lamented that over 10.5 million Nigerian children remain out of school, with more than 60 percent of them being girls.
“We must invest in education that is safe and inclusive for every child in Nigeria. When girls are protected, peace becomes possible,” she said.
In closing, Joy added, “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.”
