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.

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