Girl child needs education, empowerment to unlock her full potential - Peter Obi

Eric Patrick

The Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has taken to his X {Formerly Twitter to celebrate the International Day of the Girl Child.

Peter Obi also said that, quality education remains the most valuable commitment we can make for the benefit of the girl child in our society.

The former presidential candidate and one-time governor of Anambra state wrote;

The girl child needs education for empowerment to unlock her full potential and fulfill her life’s purpose. Education for the girl child remains one of the best ways to remedy the disadvantage of women in our society.

Unfortunately, the unsteady political system, ineffective governance, and leadership misconduct in the country have consistently hindered the prospects of Nigerian youth, especially the girl child attaining a competitive level of education.

In particular, insufficient allocation of funds for education in Nigeria has created significant barriers, making it challenging for many young girls to access quality education. In addition, the pervasive insecurity in various regions of the nation, as well as various socio-cultural factors, persistently obstruct the education of the girl child in Nigeria.

Reports indicate that approximately 1.3 million girls discontinue their education annually, failing to progress beyond the last year of lower secondary school, which is Junior Secondary School Three (JSS 3).

In 2022, girls made up 60% of the 18.5 million out-of-school children, resulting in approximately 10 million girls being deprived of education. Regrettably, the numbers have since worsened.

This dire situation exacerbates gender inequality, with only 1 in 4 girls from impoverished rural backgrounds successfully completing their Junior Secondary school education in Nigeria.

The current challenges faced by Nigerian girl children on their path to success and societal impact are indeed substantial. We must, therefore, build a secure and conducive society where the girl child can thrive, develop, and realize her full potentials without constraints.

We must prioritize increased investment in education, strive for gender parity in school enrollment and work towards creating a safer nation for our children. By taking these steps, we can initiate the return of the 22 million out-of-school children in our nation to classrooms and equip the girl child with the knowledge, skills, and strong ethical background necessary for her to flourish and excel not only in Nigeria but also on the global stage.