By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko, Ibadan
The Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr Olusegun Olayowola, has urged girls and women to see themselves as nation builders, not only as child bearers or caregivers.
Olayowola gave the charge in Ibadan on Friday during an event marking the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child, organised by Twenty-One Five Child Foundation (TIFF), with support from partners.
The International Day of the Girl Child, observed annually on Oct. 11, is themed this year: “The Girl I Am, the Change I Lead: Girls on the Front Lines of Crisis.”
Represented by Mrs Abigail Akande, Local Inspector of Education, Ibadan South-East, Olayowola encouraged girls to pursue professional and political ambitions to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s development.
He stressed that girls could lead global change through science, technology, engineering, mathematics and the arts, while advocating for gender equality in leadership and pay across professions.
“It is sad that females are sometimes offered less pay than their male counterparts for the same work.
“Every leadership position should go to whoever deserves it, regardless of gender,” he said.
The commissioner further described investing in girls’ education as both a moral obligation and a smart strategy to foster national growth, equity and social transformation.
Also speaking, Oyo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Mrs Toyin Balogun, said empowering girls was not a privilege but a principled commitment to equality and progress.
Represented by Deputy Director of Child Affairs, Mrs Bola Dada, Balogun urged communities to create systems and policies that empowered, protected, and celebrated girls’ contributions to society.
“A girl who is educated, confident, and supported becomes a mother who contributes meaningfully to nation-building,” she noted, urging girls to pursue knowledge and lead with courage and purpose.
“You are not secondary figures in history; you are the authors of tomorrow’s progress,” she said.
She charged the young participants to aspire beyond limitations and remain true to their values.
Founder of TIFF, Amb. Tolu Taiwo, called on stakeholders to prioritise girls’ rights, invest in their dreams, and recognise their potential as drivers of social change and peace.
“Every girl, everywhere, deserves equality, opportunity, and dignity,” she said, adding that empowering girls was essential for building prosperous, inclusive societies and sustainable futures.
Taiwo told the girls that leadership began with voice. “Every time you speak up, ask a question, share an idea or stand up for what is right, you’re already leading change,” she said.
She thanked partners, teachers, and guests for supporting the movement and showing faith in a future shaped by strong, confident, and courageous girls across communities.
A key highlight of the event was an interactive panel session where more than 350 secondary school girls received guidance on how to respond to abuse and other critical personal challenges.
Discussions addressed mental health, relationships, early marriage, human trafficking, entrepreneurship, girls’ wellness, and the importance of informed decision-making in the face of life’s obstacles.
Free sanitary pads were also given to the girls. (NAN)
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