Former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has urged Nigerians and the government to prioritize the empowerment and education of the girl child, describing it as a critical investment in the nation’s future.
In a statement shared via his official X handle on Saturday to commemorate the International Day of the Girl Child, Obi lamented the alarming number of out-of-school children in Nigeria, noting that the majority of them are girls.
“Sadly, in Nigeria today, more than 29 million children remain out of school, and the majority of them are girls,” he wrote. “This grim reality confronts us with an uncomfortable truth: we are failing to safeguard the dreams and future of our daughters.”
Obi stressed that a society that neglects its girls “undermines its own progress and weakens the foundations of its future,” adding that empowering women and girls remains the most sustainable path to national growth.
“The empowerment of girls and women is the smartest investment any country can make. An educated girl becomes a pillar of stability in her family, a force for development in her community, and a beacon of hope for the nation,” he said.
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He called for “deliberate action” to bring every girl back to school, protect them from abuse and domestic violence, and ensure their access to education, healthcare, and dignity.
“When we educate a girl, we elevate a family; when we empower a girl, we transform a nation,” Obi added.
Concluding his message, the former governor urged all Nigerians to renew their commitment to creating a society where every girl can “dream freely, learn confidently, and contribute meaningfully” to the country’s development.
“Let us, on this day, renew our resolve to build a Nigeria where every girl can dream freely, learn confidently, and contribute meaningfully to our shared destiny,” he wrote.