From Sola Ojo, Abuja

Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has called for renewed national commitment towards the education and empowerment of girls in Nigeria, describing it as the most effective investment for the country’s development.

In a statement to mark the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child, Obi lamented that millions of Nigerian girls remain out of school, warning that the situation poses a grave threat to the country’s future.

“Today, as the world marks the International Day of the Girl Child, we are reminded of the immense potential that lies within every girl when she is given the right opportunities to learn, grow, and lead,” Obi wrote on his verified X handle on Saturday.

He expressed concern that Nigeria currently has more than 29 million out-of-school children, the majority of whom are girls, a situation he described as “a national emergency.”

“This grim reality confronts us with an uncomfortable truth: we are failing to safeguard the dreams and future of our daughters.

“A society that neglects its girls undermines its own progress and weakens the foundations of its future,” he stated.

Obi further stressed that empowering girls and women was not just a moral obligation but also an economic and developmental necessity.

“The empowerment of girls and women is the smartest investment any country can make.

“An educated girl becomes a pillar of stability in her family, a force for development in her community, and a beacon of hope for the nation,” he argued.

He, therefore, urged both government and citizens to take “deliberate and sustained action” to ensure that every Nigerian girl has the opportunity to thrive.

“We must commit ourselves to bringing every girl back to school, protecting her from abuse and domestic violence, and ensuring that she has access to education, healthcare, and dignity.

“The strength of our nation will be measured by how well we nurture the dreams of our girls and give them the tools to achieve them,” Obi noted.