In a symbolic gesture promoting youth participation and girl-child empowerment, teenager Joy Ogah assumed the role of Nigeria’s Vice President for one day on Tuesday, October 21, 2025.
The opportunity arose during a courtesy visit by PLAN International to the Presidential Villa, Abuja, led by Helen Mfonobong Idiong, Director of Programme, Quality, and Innovation.
Vice President Kashim Shettima invited Ogah to temporarily take over his office, allowing her to address the nation and engage in the responsibilities of the country’s second-highest office for a day.
From the Vice President’s seat, Ogah expressed her gratitude and highlighted the educational challenges facing Nigerian children, especially girls.
She revealed that over 10.5 million children in the country are out of school, with more than 60 per cent being girls.
Ogah urged the government, policymakers, development partners, and citizens to take strategic action to advance girl-child education.
“We must invest in education that is safe and inclusive for every child in Nigeria,” she said, calling for enforcement of laws protecting girls’ rights, provision of free sanitary products in schools, and access to water, sanitation, and nutrition.
“When girls are protected, peace becomes possible,” she added. “I may be Vice President for a day, but the struggles I represent cannot end in a day. They must continue in our policies, classrooms, conversations, and budgets. Every girl deserves a classroom, dignity, and a voice.”
Vice President Shettima praised First Lady Oluremi Tinubu as a model of how an empowered girl-child can achieve greatness.
He reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to girl-child education and highlighted government programs such as the national school feeding initiative, emphasizing that well-nourished children are better equipped to learn.
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Shettima assured PLAN International of ongoing collaboration and reiterated the administration’s dedication to inclusivity and gender equality.
“In President Tinubu, you have an ally you can trust,” he said. “We cannot disenfranchise half of our population and expect the nation to grow.”
Helen Idiong commended the administration’s efforts and outlined PLAN International’s interventions, noting that over 11 million Nigerian children have benefited from programs in education, youth development, and entrepreneurship.
She also called for the removal of Value Added Tax on sanitary pads and diapers to further support girl-child education.
Ogah’s one-day tenure as Vice President serves as a powerful statement on the importance of empowering young girls, inspiring them to pursue leadership roles, and ensuring their voices are heard in shaping Nigeria’s future