14-Year-Old Girl Appointed as Nigeria’s Vice President for One Day

In a symbolic gesture aimed at promoting girl-child education and gender equality, Vice President Kashim Shettimaon Monday temporarily handed over his seat to a 14-year-old Nigerian girl, Joy Ogah, allowing her to serve as Vice President for one day.

The event, held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, was part of a collaboration between the Office of the Vice Presidentand PLAN International, a global humanitarian organization advocating for the rights of girls and children.

According to a statement by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), the initiative reflects President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration’s unwavering commitment to advancing opportunities for the girl-child in Nigeria.

Speaking during the event, Shettima reaffirmed the government’s determination to strengthen education for young girls across the country.

“We will continue to engage with PLAN International and other partners to see how the strength of government can support your solid advice on girl-child education,” Shettima said. “In President Bola Tinubu, you have an ally you can believe in and invest your trust in.”

The Vice President highlighted the importance of the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, noting that “studies have shown that well-nourished children are well-formed,” emphasizing the administration’s ongoing efforts to ensure access to education and nutrition for all Nigerian children.

Shettima also praised First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu as an embodiment of the impact of empowering women and the girl-child, recalling her active contributions to debates on female education and social welfare during her time in the Senate.

Taking her symbolic seat as Vice President, Joy Ogah delivered a moving address, expressing gratitude for the opportunity and calling attention to the challenges facing millions of Nigerian girls.

“Across Nigeria, 10.5 million children are out of school, and over 60 percent of them are girls,” Ogah said. “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, classrooms, conversations, and budgets.”

She urged the government and stakeholders to ensure inclusive, safe, and equitable education for every Nigerian child, while also calling for the enforcement of laws that protect the rights of girls.

“Every girl deserves a classroom, a choice, and dignity — not silence,” she declared. “When girls are protected, peace becomes possible.”

Ogah further appealed for the provision of free sanitary products in schools, as well as improved access to water, sanitation, and nutrition, stressing that these are essential for keeping young girls in school.

The event drew praise from gender advocates, who described it as a continuation of President Tinubu’s legacy of youth inclusion — a practice he pioneered during his tenure as Governor of Lagos State, when he launched the “One-Day Governor” initiative to inspire leadership among young people.