A teenager, Joy Ogah, on Monday symbolically assumed the role of Nigeria’s Vice President for a day, using the platform to champion the rights, education and dignity of girls across the country.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Office of the Vice President, the symbolic handover took place during a meeting between Vice President Kashim Shettima and a delegation from PLAN International, led by Helen Mfonobong Idiong, the organisation’s Director of Programme, Quality, and Innovation.

Speaking from the Vice President’s chair, Ogah drew attention to the challenges confronting girls in Nigeria, noting that over 10.5 million children remain out of school, with girls accounting for more than 60 per cent of that number.

“We must invest in education that is safe and inclusive for every child in Nigeria,” she declared, urging policymakers and stakeholders to prioritise interventions that protect and empower young girls.

Ogah also called on the government to provide free sanitary products in schools and ensure access to clean water, sanitation, and proper nutrition for all children.

She emphasised that every girl deserves “a classroom, a choice, dignity, and not silence.”

“When girls are protected, peace becomes possible. I may be the Vice President for a day, but the struggles I represent cannot end in a day.  They must continue in our policies, our classrooms, our conversations, and our budgets,” she added.

Vice President Shettima commended Ogah’s advocacy and reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to advancing girl-child education and inclusive learning nationwide.

“We will continue the engagement with PLAN International and see how the strength of government can be brought to bear on your solid advice regarding girl-child education.

In President Bola Tinubu, you have an ally you can believe in and invest your trust in,” Shettima said.

The event aligns with growing national momentum toward gender inclusivity in education.

Just last week, advocacy groups urged all tiers of government to increase investment in girl-child education, mentorship and sensitisation programmes, calling for stronger efforts to eliminate gender bias in schools.

In September, the Federal Government launched the Renewed Hope Social Impact Interventions (RH-SII774), targeting over 10 million women across all 774 local government areas through livelihood grants, digital inclusion, and clean energy initiatives.

Similarly, the Ministry of Education and the National Assembly have reaffirmed support for gender parity and equitable access to learning, with recent policy workshops and the Student Loans Act signalling sustained institutional commitment to education equity — a vision powerfully echoed in Joy Ogah’s one-day symbolic leadership.