President Bola Tinubu has pledged that every Nigerian child will have access to quality education. He also urged for measures to eradicate the structural inequalities that hinder women’s progress in Africa.
Speaking at the Nigerian launch of the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development’s #Weareequal campaign in Abuja on Monday, Tinubu expressed his awareness of the campaign’s successful launches in 15 other African countries. The campaign focuses on health, education, economic empowerment, and gender-based violence. He commended the various initiatives undertaken by the First Ladies in their respective countries.
Tinubu emphasized that the campaign’s focus in Nigeria, ‘Education as a Powerful Tool for Change,’ is crucial for Africa’s development. He stressed the importance of gender equity and equal opportunities for all.
He called for continued efforts to provide all children, especially girls, with access to quality education. He highlighted the need for a society where everyone has equal opportunities, leading to a stronger and more peaceful society.
Tinubu praised the reintroduction of the Alternative High School for Girls by the First Lady of Nigeria. This initiative provides a second chance for young girls who have dropped out of school to continue their education and realize their dreams.
He noted with satisfaction that the foundation stone for one of these schools was recently laid in Osun State, western Nigeria, by the First Lady. He mentioned that more schools are being planned across the country, with support from state governments, the federal government through the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), and other development partners.
Reflecting on his tenure as governor of Lagos State before becoming President of Nigeria, Tinubu shared his firsthand experience of societal challenges such as unwanted teenage pregnancy, domestic violence, human trafficking, and drug addiction that can hinder the promising future of young girls.
He acknowledged that the First Lady of Nigeria’s reintroduction of the Alternative High School for girls might have been inspired by a similar successful initiative in Lagos State during his governorship. He reiterated that education is the cornerstone for national development and that empowering girls to pursue their dreams leads to thriving communities, prosperous economies, and successful nations.
Tinubu called for bold and decisive actions to eliminate the structural inequalities that hold women back on the continent. He stressed the importance of women and girls’ empowerment in achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. He urged for collective efforts to promote laws and policies that protect and promote women’s rights, invest in girls’ education and skills development, and create accessible economic opportunities.
He highlighted the importance of fully operationalizing the Student’s Loan (Access to Higher Education) Act in Nigeria to ensure that all young people have unrestricted access to education. He also mentioned the Nigerian government’s implementation of a N50,000 non-repayable grant program for one million Nigerians in Nano businesses and skilled trades, including women and youth, through the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.
Tinubu reaffirmed his commitment to ending gender-based violence and increasing learning opportunities for girls in safe and conducive environments. He emphasized that these measures would enable more women to succeed in various vocations and shape their future endeavors, from politics to engineering, science, technology, sports, and the creative economy.
While commending the African First Ladies for the #WeareEqual campaign, he called for more mentorship to help girls proudly embrace their cultural identities and traditions.
He concluded by reaffirming his commitment to ensuring that no Nigerian child is excluded from quality education that prepares women and girls to lead and bring positive changes to their communities.
