Teenager Joy Ogah becomes Nigeria’s vice president for one day

A teenager, Joy Ogah, has made history by assuming the role of Nigeria’s Vice President for one day.

Ogah’s takeover occurred during a meeting between Vice President Kashim Shettima and a delegation from PLAN International, led by its Director of Programme, Quality, and Innovation, Helen Mfonobong Idiong, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday, October 20, 2025.

Speaking at the event, Shettima, who invited Ogah to take over the seat of the vice president for a day and address Nigerians, assured stakeholders and development partners of the commitment of President Bola Tinubu to promoting girl-child education across Nigeria.

He said the federal government, through several interventions including the school feeding programme, remains committed to ensuring that every Nigerian girl has access to quality education.

Shettima, in a statement issued on Tuesday by his spokesman, Stanley Nkwocha, noted that studies have shown that well-nourished children are well-formed.

He stated: “We will continue the engagement with PLAN International and see where the force and strength of government can be brought to bear on your solid advice on girl-child education.

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“I want to assure you, on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that this government is gender-friendly. We believe in inclusivity. We cannot disenfranchise half of our population and expect to grow as a nation.”

After his remarks, the vice president invited Ogah to take over his seat for a day, an opportunity she gladly accepted.

Speaking from the Vice President’s seat, Ogah expressed gratitude for the opportunity to represent millions of Nigerian girls.

She noted that across Nigeria, 10.5 million children are out of school, with over 60 percent of them being girls.

Ogah emphasised that Nigerian girls can become leaders if the necessary interventions are implemented by relevant authorities and stakeholders.

The teenager called on the government, policymakers, development partners, and citizens to act strategically in advancing girl-child education.

She said: “We must invest in education that is safe and inclusive for every child in Nigeria.

“I may be the Vice President for a day, but the struggles I represent cannot end in a day. They must continue in our policies, our classrooms, our conversations, and our budgets.”

The Star