Vice President Kashim Shettima on Monday handed over his seat to a teenager, Joy Ogah, who served as Nigeria’s Vice President for a day, as part of activities promoting girl-child education and leadership empowerment.

The symbolic gesture took place during a meeting with a delegation from Plan International, led by its Director of Programme, Quality, and Innovation, Helen Mfonobong Idiong.

Shettima reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to advancing girl-child education across Nigeria, noting that the administration’s ongoing interventions — including the national school feeding programme — remain crucial to improving learning outcomes.

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“Studies have shown that well-nourished children are better formed. We will continue to engage with Plan International and explore ways government can build on your advice and efforts to promote girl-child education,” he said.

The Vice President added that President Tinubu and First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu are passionate about empowering the girl-child, describing the First Lady as “a symbol of how education and opportunity can nurture leadership.”

Taking over the Vice President’s seat, Joy Ogah expressed gratitude for the opportunity, saying she represented the voices of millions of Nigerian girls.

Ogah highlighted that an estimated 10.5 million Nigerian children remain out of school, with girls accounting for more than 60 percent of that figure. She called on government and stakeholders to intensify efforts to ensure every girl has access to quality education.

Earlier, Idiong noted that Plan International has reached over 11 million Nigerian children through programmes on education, entrepreneurship, and youth development.

She recalled that in 2024, a similar initiative saw a girl take over the seat of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, advocating for the removal of Value Added Tax (VAT) on sanitary pads and diapers.