President Tinubu initiates Equity & Inclusive Education Campaign.
President Bola Tinubu started a campaign on Monday to advance gender equality, skill development, and inclusive education.
Organisation of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD) is behind the #WeAreEqual campaign.
In a statement, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity), noted that the campaign, which focuses on gender-based violence, economic empowerment, health, and education, has been introduced in 15 African countries in various versions.
‘Education as a Powerful Tool for Change’ is the programme’s Nigerian component, which is being promoted by First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON.
Speaking during the State House campaign launch, President Tinubu commended African First Ladies for their dedication to advancing gender equality and closing the gender gap on the continent as members of OAFLAD.
For us Africans, this campaign is really important. I really applaud everyone of you, especially my lovely wife, First Lady of Nigeria Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who has made education her main weapon in her national campaign.
“If we are to achieve gender equality and guarantee equal chances for all, the launch of this campaign in Nigeria, ‘Education as a Powerful Tool for Change’, is crucial for the growth of Africa.
Without letting anyone fall behind, especially the girl child, we must keep providing chances for all of our children to receive a top-notch education. According to the President, creating a society where everyone has equal chances regardless of their background makes society stronger and more peaceful overall.
President Tinubu said that the campaign in Nigeria launched at the same time that the First Lady’s Alternative High School for Girls was reintroduced. He added that the programme gave young girls who had dropped out of school a second chance to finish their education and achieve their goals.
It gives me great pleasure to report that the First Lady recently lay the cornerstone of one of the schools in Osun State, western Nigeria. State governments, the federal government through the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), and other development partners are funding the many schools that are being built around the nation.
“I saw personally how social issues like unplanned adolescent pregnancy, domestic abuse, human trafficking, and drug addiction can impede the bright future of young girls when I was governor of Lagos State before I became President of Nigeria on May 29, 2023.
“In fact, the First Lady of Nigeria’s reintroduction of Alternative High School for Girls must have drawn inspiration from the successful execution of a comparable project in Lagos State throughout my tenure as governor,” the President stated.
The foundation of national growth, according to President Tinubu, is education, and communities, economies, and countries all prosper when females are given the freedom to follow their aspirations.
All parties involved, he added, must thus keep taking audacious and decisive steps to remove the systemic injustices that impede women’s progress on the continent.
We have to understand that reaching every one of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN depends on the empowerment of women and girls. Together, we need to support laws and regulations that uphold and advance women’s rights, make investments in the education and skill development of girls, and open up broadly accessible economic prospects.
For us in Nigeria, accomplishing these objectives depends on the Student Loan (Access to Higher Education) Act being fully operationalized since it will guarantee that all young people have unrestricted access to education.
“The Nigerian government, through the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, is also implementing a N50,000 non-repayable grant programme for one million Nigerians in Nano businesses and skilled trades, including women and youth,” stated President Tinubu.
“These measures will enable more women to succeed in different vocations and properly shape their future endeavours, from politics to engineering, science, technology, sports, and the creative economy,” the President said, adding that his administration will continue to work to end gender-based violence and increase learning opportunities for girls, in safe and conducive environments.
President Tinubu restated his pledge to make sure that no Nigerian child was denied access to high-quality education that equips women and girls to take charge and improve their communities.
Let us continue this programme, which guarantees to give an educated girl-child the ability to effect the required change and improve African communities.
It is now an honour for me to introduce the (#) We Are Equal Campaign in Nigeria. I hope your discussions are fruitful for every one of you. I hope you have fun while visiting our lovely nation, the President said.