News

Olawande vacates Seat as Minister for the Winner of IDG Essay Competition

Published

2 years ago

October 14, 2024

Joel Ajayi

As part of activities to mark the International Day of the Girl Child, the Minister of State for Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande vacated his seat as Minister for the winner of this year’s International Day of the Girl Child, IDG Essay Competition to serve as Minister for a day.

This, according to the Honourable Minister is one of the steps being taken to break down the barriers faced by girl-child and create society that values, empowers and nurtures them.

At the “Girls Future Conference” with the theme: “Girls Vision for the Future”, organised by the Office of the Minister of state for Youth Development in collaboration with United Nations Fund for Population Activities, now renamed as United Nations Population Fund & Girl & Youth Re-integration Network, held at Afolabi hall of the Ministry in Abuja,Olawande stated that “the girl-child is not just part of Nigeria’s future. It is the future of Nigeria and by investing in their education, safety and empowerment, we are investing in prosperity, peace and progress of our nation”.

“As we can see today now that history has been made as we have a girl-child Minister of state for Youth Development for a day. What does this mean? It is to tell and encourage them that you can do whatever you want in order to become somebody that the whole nation will reckon with. This implies that she can sit down and be in the office as Minister to take decisions that will influence and improve the well being of girl-child’s life”,he further stated.

“We have a lot of MDAs that seek to the well being of girl-child like Ministry of Youth Development, Humanitarian & Disaster Management, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Ministry of Women affairs and so on but what we need among these MDAs is collaboration in order to make things happen for the upliftment of the girl-child, and when they make things happen, men follow”, the Minister opined.

In the same vein, the winner of the IDG Essay Competition, Esther Adesoye, a hundred level law student at University of Abuja,who is from Osun State, while delivering her speech after the handing over as a day Minister stated: “this is one of the best things that happened to me this year and so far in my life which I never expected. I have always aspire to be a change maker/change agent and a leader in this country, local government, and even in my small cycle but I never knew that one day, I will be presented with such opportunity as this. Indeed, it is a great honour and privilege to take this position for a day, and I really appreciate every single person”.

According to Adesoye, 7.6 Million girls are out of school in Nigeria, 3.9 Million at the primary and secondary school levels. In fact, more than 50 percent of girls are not attending school at the basic education level and each cohort, 1 Million girls drop out of school between the first and last year of primary school, and 0.6 Million between primary six and Junior Secondary School.

“This is a very disturbing figure indeed for the future of Nigeria as education is everyone’s right, and it is one of the crucial aspects of empowerment for women and every single citizen in this country.

Educated women contribute greatly to the society’s development and they can share the responsibilities with men in every walk of life”, she reiterated.

“Times have changed now, and girls who are and were entrusted by their parents and society are doing great and wonders in every field in the world today as we can see examples like late Dora Akunyili, Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Ibukun Awosika and other women who indeed utilised the importance and power of girl-child education.Thus, it is important that girl-child education is promoted. In envision the future of Nigeria, I see a country where technological advancements are honoured to uplift humanity and preserve our girl-child and our intellect, a future where education becomes accessible to all genders of both male and female alike in the country”, she concluded.

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth Development, Mr Olubunmi Olusanya, who was represented by Director, Enterprise Development & Promotion, Prince Olugbenga Momoh, appreciated comrade Ayodele Olawande for the various initiatives that Nigerian youths have benefitted under his watch since he assumed office as Minister of state for Youth, adding that this is the first time the Ministry of Youth Development would organise conference on girls future. He described the initiative as a laudable one which will not allow them to be segregated from being part of the society.

Share on Facebook

News

Musawa Seeks Broader Significance for June 12

Published

14 hours ago

October 3, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, Esq., says June 12 must be remembered as a sacrifice that gave Nigerians democracy, beyond its status as a public holiday.

In a statement signed on Saturday by the Senior Assistant Media & Publicity to the Honourable Minister,Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy Dr Nneka Ikem Anibeze Ph.D in Abuja.

Musawa stated this at the national premiere of “MKO”, a film on Chief Moshood Abiola, held at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, Lagos, to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.

She said 33 years after June 12, 1993, many young Nigerians know it only as a holiday, but the film turns it back into memory.

“For too many young Nigerians, June 12 is simply a public holiday. This film tells them that our democracy did not arrive by chance. It was fought for. It was defended. It was paid for. This documentary is in honour of the heroes of June 12, the men and women who gave their lives for the mandate of June 12, 1993 and for the democracy Nigeria enjoys today,” the Minister said.

Musawa hailed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chief Host, for his participation in the June 12 struggle and paying the price in exile, adding that Nigeria’s creative industry will keep telling the story of its democracy with courage.

“Through film and the creative economy, Nigeria will preserve its history. A nation that forgets its past loses its way to the future. Nigeria has a story and our story deserves to be told,” she said.

Earlier, the director of the investigative documentary, Ose Oyamendan, said the film was in honour and memory of heroes who fought for Nigeria’s democracy.

“There was Hope ’93 and now there is Renewed Hope. There was a man who sacrificed his life so we may have democracy and there is a man who almost lost his life fighting for democracy who is now helping build a lasting democracy.

“There was a great man called Bashorun MKO Abiola and there is now another great man called Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Democrats. Nationalists. Nation builders. Leaders of men and women. We must never forget our story. We must always honour and remember our heroes,” Oyamendan said.

Top government officials including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the wife of the President Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Chief of Staff to the President Rt. Femi Gbajabiamila, state Governors, members of the National Assembly, Ministers and other distinguished dignitaries attended the premiere.

Share on Facebook