14-year-old Joy Ogah from PLAN International symbolically assumed the role of Nigeria’s Vice President for a day on October 20, 2025, during a special session at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The young advocate met with Vice President Kashim Shettima, where she passionately called for greater investment in girl-child education and protection of girls’ rights. Ogah revealed that 10.5 million Nigerian children remain out of school, with over 60% of them being girls, citing poverty, insecurity, and cultural barriers as major obstacles.
She urged the government to prioritize safe and inclusive education, provide free sanitary products, and ensure that schools become spaces where girls can thrive without fear of discrimination or violence.
Vice President Shettima, while commending Ogah’s courage and advocacy, reaffirmed the Tinubu administration’s commitment to improving access to education through programs such as the national school feeding initiative and other social investment schemes aimed at keeping children—especially girls—in school.
The symbolic takeover, part of PLAN International’s “Girls Takeover” campaign, highlighted the potential of young girls to lead and influence policy when given the opportunity.