Vice President Kashim Shettima yesterday demonstrated a powerful gesture of inclusivity by offering his seat to a young girl, Joy Ogah, for a day. Ogah, a teenager who was part of a delegation from the global development organization PLAN International, was granted the unique opportunity to address the nation from the Vice President’s office.
The initiative unfolded during a courtesy call at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, led by Helen Mfonobong Idiong, PLAN International’s Director of Programme, Quality, and Innovation.
“We believe in inclusivity. We cannot disenfranchise half of our population and expect to grow as a nation,” Vice President Shettima stated, emphasizing the administration’s commitment to gender balance and youth engagement.
Following his remarks, the Vice President personally invited Joy Ogah to symbolically take over his seat for the day, an opportunity the teenager enthusiastically accepted.
VP Shettima also assured the visiting delegation that the administration’s doors were open for continuous engagement, proudly adding, “the ladies on my team are the best people to engage.”
Earlier, the PLAN International delegation highlighted the ongoing challenges facing girls globally, noting that Nigeria is no exception. Idiong explained that the organization has intervened in the lives of over 11 million Nigerian children through programs focused on education, entrepreneurship, and youth development.
“We have been working across Nigeria to improve the lives of children,” she said.
The Director also recalled a similar “girl takeover” in 2024 at the Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives. To further support the girl-child, Idiong used the platform to call on the government to remove the Value Added Tax (VAT) on essential hygiene products like sanitary pads and diapers.
The day’s event showed the administration’s declared stance on engaging the youth and promoting the voices of girls in national dialogue and governance.
