Shettima vacates seat for Joy Ogah as Vice President

In a powerful demonstration of mentorship and support for gender equality, Vice President Kashim Shettima on Monday symbolically gave up his seat to a teenage girl, Joy Ogah, allowing her to serve as Nigeria’s Vice President for a day.

The inspiring occasion took place at the Presidential Villa in Abuja during a courtesy visit by representatives of PLAN International, led by its Director of Programme, Quality and Innovation, Helen Idiong.

According to Shettima, the gesture highlights the Tinubu administration’s dedication to promoting girl-child education and strengthening gender inclusion throughout the nation.

While addressing the visiting delegation, the Vice President reiterated President Bola Tinubu’s steadfast commitment to ensuring that every girl in Nigeria receives a quality education and fair access to opportunities.

“In President Bola Tinubu, you have an ally you can believe in and invest your trust in,” he stated, noting that various government initiatives such as the school feeding programme are crucial for keeping children, particularly girls, in school.

Shettima also praised the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, describing her as a living testament to the impact of empowering young girls.

“The First Lady is a symbol of how a properly empowered and supported girl-child can blossom into a great leader,” he said.

“I want to assure you, on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that this government is gender-friendly. We believe in inclusivity. We cannot disenfranchise half of our population and expect to grow as a nation.”

Following his remarks, Shettima invited Joy Ogah to occupy his seat, symbolically assuming the position of Vice President for one day. From this seat of power, Ogah delivered an impassioned message urging collective efforts to protect and educate girls across the country.

“We must invest in education that is safe and inclusive for every child in Nigeria. When girls are protected, peace becomes possible,” she declared.

Highlighting the concerning figure that 10.5 million Nigerian children are currently out of school with girls making up more than 60 percent  Ogah appealed to government institutions, development organizations, and citizens to take coordinated steps to eliminate educational barriers.

She further called for access to free sanitary products, clean water, proper sanitation, and nutrition in schools, stressing that these provisions are essential to keeping girls in classrooms.

“I may be the Vice President for a day, but the struggles I represent cannot end in a day,” Ogah stated.

“They must continue in our policies, our classrooms, our conversations, and our budgets.”

The event, widely viewed as a bold act of empowerment and inclusion, reflects the administration’s continued collaboration with development partners to uplift girls and young women nationwide.

Through symbolic initiatives like this, the Tinubu-led government reinforces that gender equality is more than a political promise it is a collective national mission.