Top Nigerian Leaders Unite To Champion Girl Child Inclusion And Empowerment

According to Ireporter Online, prominent Nigerian leaders have reaffirmed their commitment to advancing policies that promote the inclusion and empowerment of the girl child across all sectors of national development.

The pledge was made during the 6th edition of The Osasu Show (TOS) Symposium, themed “Girls Today, Leaders Tomorrow: Advancing Women Representation Through Policy,” held at the National Assembly Library in Abuja. The event brought together top figures including Vice President Kashim Shettima, represented by his Technical Adviser on Women, Youth Engagement and Impact, Hauwa Liman; the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Sa’ad Abubakar; Senate President Godswill Akpabio; and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, among other dignitaries.

The gathering underscored the urgent need for Nigeria to create environments where girls can thrive and fulfil their potential regardless of socio-economic challenges. Leaders agreed that boosting access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities for girls remains crucial to achieving sustainable national growth.

Discussions also focused on the proposal to reserve seats for women in both national and state assemblies — a move designed to ensure balanced representation and strengthen women’s voices in shaping public policy.

Vice President Shettima, through his representative, reaffirmed the administration’s belief that women play a pivotal role in nation-building. He emphasized that increasing female representation in parliament is key to driving progress and fostering a more inclusive society.

The Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Sa’ad Abubakar, reflected on Nigeria’s pre-colonial history, highlighting the strong participation of women in education and governance. He urged Nigerians to reconnect with their cultural heritage and values that once empowered women, stressing that collective effort and unity are vital to transforming girl child education.

“We must focus on educating our girls to the highest level and support one another — from the president to local leaders and all citizens — in building a nation where every child has equal opportunity,” the Sultan stated.

Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu cited UNICEF data showing that over 189 million girls globally serve as household leaders, noting that the girl child symbolizes strength and potential rather than vulnerability.

Convener of the symposium, Osasu Igbinedion Ogwuche, called for stronger collaboration between elected officials and citizens, lamenting Nigeria’s poor record of women’s representation in parliament, where it ranks 184th globally and last in Africa.

Ogwuche emphasized that reserving parliamentary seats for women would help close the democracy gap, promote justice, and unlock Nigeria’s full potential. “When women are at the table, nations prosper. When girls are empowered, societies thrive,” she declared.